El Salvador has plenty to keep visitors busy for a long vacation, regardless of
their interests. For a small country still recovering from a civil war, there’s
a surprising number of good art galleries and museums, and a number of historic
sites documenting the war. Most visitors will want to explore the country’s
great outdoors, whether at its national parks, its volcanos, or its beaches—or
all three.
Credit: Collected by Julie Schwietert Collazo, AFAR Local Expert
El Rosario Church
Catholic church · San Salvador
"From the outside, it’s hard to imagine that the interior of Iglesia Rosario is anything special, but just wait; once you’re inside you may well agree with the numerous travel writers who have called this the most beautiful contemporary church in Latin America. An arched roof with inlaid stained glass creates a constantly changing light show, a multi-colored gilding of an otherwise simple scene."
Photo by David Stanley/Flickr
National Palace
Building · San Salvador
"Visit the Palacio Nacional The country’s original Palacio Nacional burned down in 1889; the one standing today was rebuilt between 1905 and 1911. It’s said that the structure was paid for by levying a sort of tax on coffee exports: one colón for every 100 pounds of coffee. Visitors may be disappointed that they can’t access most of the interior rooms, but they can walk through the beautiful courtyard and learn more about the building’s history with museum exhibits in English and Spanish."
Photo by David Stanley
Balaré Academia de Baile Santa Tecla
Dance school · Santa Tecla
"Take dance lessons True, the dance and music forms known as bachata and salsa didn’t originate in El Salvador, but that doesn’t mean you can’t perfect your own moves while on a vacation here. The Balaré Academy in San Salvador offers bargain-priced classes for people of all skill levels; most are held in the evening."
Photo by Vladimir Pustovit/Flickr
Parque Nacional El Imposible
National park · San Francisco Menéndez
"El Salvador’s national parks system consists of six parks, a national bird sanctuary, a nature reserve, and the Jiquilisco mangroves. Among them, visitors can enjoy a variety of landscapes, from volcanoes to valleys, as well as native fauna, including eagles, hawks, and pumas. Arguably the jewel in the national parks crown is El Imposible, or “The Impossible,” so named for its deep and dangerous gorge that claimed the lives of many farmers and their mules en route to the Pacific port region with loads of coffee for export. Eight rivers flow through this park, which is best visited with a tour guide."
Photo by SipoteSalvadoreño/Flickr
Mercado Nacional de Artesanias
Market · San Salvador
"Shop at local markets Shopping at local markets is always a highlight of travel in Latin America, where you can often learn about the crafts and items for sale from the vendors—many of whom are the same artisans or craftspeople who made those objects. At the National Handcrafts Market in San Salvador, textiles, pottery, paintings, and musical instruments are just some of the items for sale, reflecting the typical arts and crafts of El Salvador and neighboring countries."
Photo by Chris Hsia/Flickr
What to Do in El Salvador
5 Places
El Salvador has plenty to keep visitors busy for a long vacation, regardless of
their interests. For a small country still recovering from a civil war, there’s
a surprising number of good art galleries and museums, and a number of historic
sites documenting the war. Most visitors will want to explore the country’s
great outdoors, whether at its national parks, its volcanos, or its beaches—or
all three.
Credit: Collected by Julie Schwietert Collazo, AFAR Local Expert
El Rosario Church
Catholic church
"From the outside, it’s hard to imagine that the interior of Iglesia Rosario is anything special, but just wait; once you’re inside you may well agree with the numerous travel writers who have called this the most beautiful contemporary church in Latin America. An arched roof with inlaid stained glass creates a constantly changing light show, a multi-colored gilding of an otherwise simple scene."
National Palace
Building
"Visit the Palacio Nacional The country’s original Palacio Nacional burned down in 1889; the one standing today was rebuilt between 1905 and 1911. It’s said that the structure was paid for by levying a sort of tax on coffee exports: one colón for every 100 pounds of coffee. Visitors may be disappointed that they can’t access most of the interior rooms, but they can walk through the beautiful courtyard and learn more about the building’s history with museum exhibits in English and Spanish."
Balaré Academia de Baile Santa Tecla
Dance school
"Take dance lessons True, the dance and music forms known as bachata and salsa didn’t originate in El Salvador, but that doesn’t mean you can’t perfect your own moves while on a vacation here. The Balaré Academy in San Salvador offers bargain-priced classes for people of all skill levels; most are held in the evening."
Parque Nacional El Imposible
National park
"El Salvador’s national parks system consists of six parks, a national bird sanctuary, a nature reserve, and the Jiquilisco mangroves. Among them, visitors can enjoy a variety of landscapes, from volcanoes to valleys, as well as native fauna, including eagles, hawks, and pumas. Arguably the jewel in the national parks crown is El Imposible, or “The Impossible,” so named for its deep and dangerous gorge that claimed the lives of many farmers and their mules en route to the Pacific port region with loads of coffee for export. Eight rivers flow through this park, which is best visited with a tour guide."
Mercado Nacional de Artesanias
Market
"Shop at local markets Shopping at local markets is always a highlight of travel in Latin America, where you can often learn about the crafts and items for sale from the vendors—many of whom are the same artisans or craftspeople who made those objects. At the National Handcrafts Market in San Salvador, textiles, pottery, paintings, and musical instruments are just some of the items for sale, reflecting the typical arts and crafts of El Salvador and neighboring countries."
