El Salvador - In the Shadow of the Volcanoes

El Salvador is one of the smaller states in Central America and borders on Guatemala and Honduras. Its Pacific coast is about 300 kilometres long. The country is divided into 14 provinces. Its most important cities are San Salvador, Soyapango and Santa Ana. The climate is tropical and the average yearly temperature is 24 °C. Since the country is rather mountainous, temperatures differ from region to region. It is considerably colder in the mountains, while it can get very hot in the valleys. The rainy season lasts from May to November. Hurricanes are also part of the country's weather spectrum.

El Salvador can be divided into three geographical areas. In the south, you find the long coast at the Pacific Ocean. Its beaches are excellently suited for going bathing and doing water sports. Since the country's main origin is volcanic activity, there are numerous black sandy beaches but you also find fine golden beaches in some places. The second area is the green plateau with fertile valleys. It is followed by the mountains in the north. The highest mountain is El Pital with a height of 2,730 metres. The country's main attractions are its six great volcanoes, including a volcanic caldera (Ilopango) and Santa Ana Volcano. Izalco (a stratovolcano) is also called the "Lighthouse of the Pacific" because sailors could already see the bubbling volcano from the sea.

Travellers who want to get to know El Salvador's nature should visit Santa Ana Department. It accommodates the Lago de Coatepeque - a real crowd puller and a very idyllic location. Nearby you see Santa Ana Volcano with a fairy-tale turquoise green crater lake. Another popular destination for a day trip is Puerta del Diablo - the Devil's Gate. The distinct rock formation is almost 1,000 metres high and offers a spectacular view of the capital of San Salvador. Since the country's avian fauna is very diverse with members such as flamingos, hummingbirds and parrots, El Salvador is a great destination for animal watching. Many travellers come here to relax at the beach. Popular beaches are the Playa los Cóbanos and the Costa del Sol. The water temperature is very pleasant all year.

Culture enthusiasts should not miss out on El Salvador's Maya sites. On example is Joya de Ceren (UNESCO) with the adjacent museum and the Tazumal ruins with the pyramids from the 6th century. The capital of San Salvador offers a number of attractions such as churches and cathedrals, museums and the leisure park at Monte San Jacinto. Families reach the park by a cable car, which offers a wonderful view of the city. Travellers best get to know the country and its people in the rural regions. Colourful municipalities like Apaneca are very hospitable.

You get the national dish papusa at every corner. The large corn tortillas are filled with beans, meat and cheese and are a must on every holidaymaker's trip through El Salvador. Fresh juices provide a welcome refreshment in the tropical sun. The Spanish and Mexican cuisine are very common. If you are looking for a beautiful souvenir, you should visit San Salvador or tourist areas like Santa Ana. You will definitely find some authentic products here. In the evening, visitors listen to the sound of mariachi bands and spend relaxed nights in San Salvador's bars and clubs.

Since the country has hardly been developed for tourists yet, travellers have the vast beaches to themselves most of the time. Only a few surfers have discovered the part of the world so far. That is why El Salvador is a great destination for relaxing holidays at the seaside. In addition, holidaymakers can enjoy the country's wonderful landscape on hikes to the volcanoes and in the lake areas.

The dry season is a better time for a trip to El Salvador than the rainy season. It can, however, get rather hot and stuffy in these months. It is already dry in December but not as hot and from March to April, travellers can enjoy ten hours of sunshine per day without extreme heat.