What are some good places to visit in El Salvador?

What are some cool places to visit in el salvador?

• (like a historic place)

• Answer:

  Starting in San Salvador there's the National Museum. Downtown San Salvador is an interesting and 'exotic' place. It's overwhelming with activity, people, noise, etc. The City Hall has been doing a lot of efforts to try to clean up the area and have been somewhat succesfull. A lot of work still remains to be done. If you decide to visit the 'old' San Salvador, visit the National Palace (a jewel of 'tropical' neoclassical architecture, the National Theatre (undergoing renovation after the 2001 earthquake), the cathedral (modern), Iglesia del Calvario, La Basilica, Iglesia Don Rua, Mercado Cuartel (for local handicrafts- very interesting). In downtown San Salvador keep your eyes open since there are beautiful 19th century buildings that haven't been restored but offer a good idea of what the place must have looked like some 100 years ago, visit La Casa de la Cultura del Centro where they usually host different kinds of exhibits, musical presentations, theatre, literature, poetry readings, and a small cafe. I found a good website containing some excellent pictures of downtown San Salvador at www.asa2000.org.sv. A great place to visit while in San Salvador is Punto Literario in Zona Rosa. They have a small cafe (good food and tropical fruit juices in a courtyard-garden), a book store with excellent books about El Salvador and a wonderful art gallery that showcases salvadorean artists. The Botanical Gardens of La Laguna are a must see in San Salvador. They are located in the crater of an extinct volcano and sourrounded by a small tropical forest. They are impeccably kept and offer a relaxing day trip to learn about the rich flora and fauna of this beautiful country. Another great place is the Teleferico San Jacinto, an amusement park on top of a mountain. There is a wonderful view of San Salvador on one side and lake Ilopango on the other side. You go up by way of a cable car, which in itself is worth the trip for the amazing views. T he nearby archeological site of Joya de Ceren is part of UNESCO's World Heritage since it's the only example of a Mayan village preserved by the eruption of nearby Volcano Caldera (called the Pompeii of Central America) it's a truly interesting site with guided tours for a small fee - given the nature of the place it's worth it to take the guided tour to really know what you're looking at. They also have a samll museum with pieces coming from the site. Their web site is: http://ceren.colorado.edu/ Nearby the ceremonial center of San Andres with it's small but well presented museum completes the visit. This is a truly exceptional site and worthwhile to visit. Don't expect to find the soaring pyramids of Guatemala but instead an insight into Mayan daily life. A unique place to visit when in El Salvador is the Cerro Verde National Park. The view from the spectacular Hotel de Montaña on to the Izalco Volcano is one you will never forget. The Cloud forest around the hotel is very beautiful and there are clearly marked pathways leading to amazing vistas of Coatepeque lake, Santa Ana Volcano, etc. If you like mountain and volcano climbing this is a good place both for beginners and pros. Visit many of the ruins. Joya De Ceren is one of the best and most complete. Take the Ruta De Las Flores - You'll view a string of charming western towns - Visit Juayuya for the hiking and Ataco for the colonial setting. Visit San Salvador. The cultural heart of the country, with a hopping nightlife, top-notch museums, and a packed events calendar. Suchitoto - A laid-back colonial town with magnificent views and a great arts scene. Visit any of the many national parks. My favorite - Parque Nacional El Imposible starts in Tacuba and is a long gorgeous hike that is mostly downhill. Try surfing, as it is becoming big in El Salvador. Go to el Sunzal and KM59. Visit the many water parks. Atecozol and Entre Rios are excellent! The pools in Atecozol are amazing, and the thermal waters of Entre Rios are said to be therapeutic. Finally, you can't go wrong with any of the beaches out there. They are incredibly fun and inexpensive. You can also try private beach clubs (Tatami, Salinitas, DeCameron, etc) and pay a daily fee.