Overview
Take a trip to Volcanoes National Park on your El Salvador Vacation
Covering an area of 6,300 acres of government and private land, Volcanoes National Park is a UNESCO Biosphere located an hour west of San Salvador, the capital city of the country and a place to be experienced on an El Salvador vacation.
The park is a protected natural area that encircles three massive volcanoes, Ilamatepec(or Santa Ana Volcano), Izalco and Cerro Verde. The Ilamatepec Volcano sits at 2,381 m (7,811.68 ft) above sea level making it the highest volcano in the country. The Izalco Volcano is 1,952 m (6,404 ft) above sea level and is nicknamed the “Lighthouse of the Pacific” because its eruptions once provided a beacon of light to ships crossing the ocean at night. Finally, Cerro Verde, which translates to “Green Hill”, is an extinct volcano with an eroded crater that is covered by a cloud forest. This crater is a haven for bird enthusiasts on an El Salvador tour providing a habitat for over 125 bird species.
What do the experts say?
Festival de Los Farolitos is an annual nighttime festival held every September in the town of Ataco, where the streets, houses, and plazas are illuminated with thousands of handmade lanterns (farolitos). Families craft them using colored paper, wood, calabash gourds, or jars, each with a candle inside. Although it's tied to the eve of the Virgin Mary’s birthday, it has evolved into a cultural celebration of community, light, creativity, and town pride.
The people and culture will make you fall in love with El Salvador. What I love most about it is how close it is to everything. You can visit several places in a very short amount of time. The beaches are stunning, and travellers looking for great surfing will find that this is the ideal country to visit.
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