By Marina Kuperman
Central America Travel Expert, about.com
El Salvador is one of the smallest countries in Central America
but don’t let it fool you. In it you will be able to find a wide range
of things to do and places to visit. Its main attraction is definitely
the black sanded beaches that offer surfers amazing breaks. The country
is actually known as one of the best places to visit for surfers in
Central America.It is also home to colonial towns, the gorgeous Coatepeque Lake, forests and volcanoes. The volcanoes and mountains in El Salvador are not too tall but they do offer a fun walk and gorgeous views to all of their visitors. Among all of the hiking trails (there is no shortage of them) in the country the following five are a few of the best.
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5 Amazing Hikes in El Salvador:
1. Santa Ana Volcano
This volcano is also known as Ilamatepec and is only 2,381 meters over sea level. It makes it the highest volcano in the country. Its last eruption happened in 2005.Santa Ana Volcano provides a short, moderate hike that first takes you through a cloud forest, then through an almost deserted landscape and finally you will reach its crater. Aside from the gorgeous views you get from the surroundings and the nearby Izalco Volcano, you also get to peek inside of the crater where you will find a turquoise sulfur lake.
2. Izalco Volcano
As I mentioned before, Izalco volcano is located right on a side from Santa Ana Volcano. This is a relatively young volcano because it started forming in 1770 and stopped in 1958. Because of its constant activity and how close it is to the coast it got the name of the “Lighthouse of the Pacific” during the colonial days.[post_ads]To get to the point where you start climbing the volcano you have to first go to Cerro Verde and climb down a ridiculous amount of stairs in the middle of the forest.
The actual volcano isn’t covered by plants yet, so you will be walking up a sea of lava in the form of thick black sand.
3. Montecristo Cloud Forest
It is located on the northwest part of the country and will feel as heaven for all those who enjoy walking in the middle of a cloud forest searching for wildlife and different kinds of orchids. Its highest point is 2,418 meters, providing an easy to moderate walk.This is also the most humid area of the country to bring your waterproof attire.
4. Cerro El Pital
This is a mountain located near the border with Honduras and at 2,730 meters above sea level its peak is the highest point in El Salvador. This is also a great place to visit if you want to experience the beauties of a cloud forest.It is known as home to many endangered species including quetzals. This is also the coldest part of El Salvador with temperatures that do down to -6c°.
The mountain offers a moderate to hard hike and it will take you almost all day to climb up and down.
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5. Laguna de las Ninfas
It consists of a tiny lake, located in the middle of the forest. It gets its name after the Mount of Nymphs that can be seen living on its surface.When you come here you can explore the trails in the surrounding forest in search for orchids and local wildlife, you can also hang out and relax by the lake as you enjoy the view.
