Trek the Volcano Trilogy Around This Central American National Park

Plus a lake that changes color, a flower route of cute towns, and delicious pupusas along the way.

Imagine a national green wrapped into a conelike figure , like a carpet of trees spin into an up spiral . Cerro Verde is not just a volcano within a interior park ; this volcanoisthe internal park itself . Thistreasure of Central Americais like a hobo camp playground along biased gradient — and it ’s not the only lava - filled batch in sight . Known as the Volcano Complex , three volcanoes sit next to each other in this part of El Salvador , all overlooking a shimmer drear lake .

Cerro Verde National Parkis located about 90 minute from the capital city of San Salvador , and it ’s not your typical volcano experience . For entrant , it does n’t look like what most people expect from a vent . Meaning “ green hill , ” Cerro Verde is lavishly lush , totally cover in Tree , bushes , flower , and other works , so it ’s smart unripe from top to bottom . That intend you do n’t just get to the top and appear down into a crater , you may also hike through the forest that ’s arise onto the volcano .

Of of course , you may have plenty of more traditional volcano sight , too , like the green - puritanical crater lake of nearby Santa Ana volcano or the black - George Sand side and smoldering hole at the top of Izalco ( one of the youngest volcanoes in the world ) . While most visitors only tackle trails on a single volcano in one day , challenging tramp can endeavour to boost all three in one sidereal day , known as “ the trilogy . ”

Cerro Verde en El Salvador

There are three volcanoes to hike around this national park.|Photo by Kikerodry/Shutterstock

Whenever you finish exploring , you may pass the night on the volcano . It ’s not every sidereal day that you could remain at an incredible national common hotel that is bothona volcano and overlooksothersurrounding volcanoes . Talk about a vent lover ’s dreaming .

All this innate wonder is situate next to a trail of charming Ithiel Town called Ruta de los Flores , or The Flower Route , that you ’ll want to spend some metre making your way through . Throw in dangerous undertaking on Lake Coatepeque ( that mysteriously changes colors from peacock blue to lazuline ) and some delicious pupusas , and you ’ve got yourself a packed route . Here ’s everything to do in and around Cerro Verde National Park .

When to go to Cerro Verde and what to bring

Like most national parks ( and pretty much any attractor in the worldly concern ) , Cerro Verde tends to be busy on the weekends , since many locals head to the park for picnics , playground , and amble . To keep off these crowds , visit during the week . To avoid the rainfall , come during the wry time of year , which scarper from October to May .

To touch the parkland , you have several option . El Salvador ’s roads are in fantabulous condition , there ’s slap-up signage along the highways , and Google Maps works pretty well , so in ecumenical , renting a car is a estimable musical theme . Driving yourself to the park ( and then on to your next adventure ) is the easiest and most popular option , but you could also engage a individual taxi to bring you to the parking lot , which costs about $ 100 roundtrip from San Salvador . If you ’d like to hire a number one wood , ensure outthese shipping providersor speak to your hotel to coordinate a drive . If you want to get there by public transportation , catch a bus from San Salvador to either Santa Ana or El Congo , where you could connect to another bus that will take you to Cerro Verde . motorbus are secure and cheap , but , of course , they require more fourth dimension and patience .

Whether you ’ll behikingorbirding , wreak some urine and bite to asseverate your hydration and vigour , but pull through elbow room for the street food for thought that ’s sold along the ballpark roads and in the main parking lot . Pupusas are El Salvador ’s interior ravisher and these hot griddled Zea mays cake stuffed with tall mallow , meat , beans , and vegetables are the utter pre- or post - hike snack .

Santa Ana El Salvador

You can see a glowing crater lake at Santa Ana volcano.|Photo by Natalia Mostova/Shutterstock

Since the conditions dumbfound cooler the higher you channelize up on the vent , be sure to bring a crown or windbreaker to detain fond . Also , do n’t be dissipate by the nerveless melodic phrase , as you ’re close to the Lord’s Day ’s strong electron beam , so it ’s wise to bring along some sunscreen as well .

Hike El Cerro Verde and neighboring Santa Ana Volcano

Because trail are prized and protect in Cerro Verde National Park , the only elbow room to hike is togo with a local guide , who holds the keys to unlock these gate trails . Even if you take alicensed guidefor a multi - daytime trip around El Salvador ( not necessary , but very helpful ) , you would still need to hire the local hitch guide in the internal park . These usher cost $ 5 ( El Salvador ’s prescribed currency is the US dollar , how convenient ! ) and you may find one at the chief entry to the parking lot by the large parking tidy sum .

There is only one main track within Cerro Verde National Park , a comparatively relaxed 0.5 - mile route ( 1 mile round trip ) that use up you into the crater and which take about 45 minutes to dispatch . As the parking lot is also a razzing sanctuary with over 120 avian species ( including peckerwood , quetzal bird , and hummingbirds ) , it would n’t hurt to bring some field glasses . From Cerro Verde , you could also hike to neighboring Ilamatepec ( also call the Santa Ana vent ) , which is most popular on the weekends , when there are more organized tours to join .

Because hike in Cerro Verde is pretty easy compared to the other two volcano , many travelers are draw in to the more strenuous trails on neighboring Izalco and Santa Ana , but then lead to Cerro Verde for food and charge with dramatic sight . Note that while licensed guides are required for Cerro Verde ( the easiest ) and for Izalco ( the most unmanageable ) , you could breast Santa Ana on your own without too much problem .

Cerro Verde National Park El Salvador

Lake Coatepeque is in the background of every volcano around Cerro Verde.|Daniel Humberto Umana/Shutterstock

The 4.5 - mile roundtrip tramp ( which has about 1,600 feet of elevation gain ) on Santa Ana contract most people three to five hours to fill out . Aside from a mates vendors selling ice pick toward the top , there ’s no food or drink usable along the rise , and much of the road is fully exposed to the sun , so be certain to bring collation and water . At the top , you ’re treated to a dazzling position of the cobalt blue waters at the base of the crater and a 360 - grade view of the entire Volcano Complex area .

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Sleep on a volcano

While day spark to the parking lot are both possible and pragmatic , there ’s quite a few dramatic nightlong accommodation options . The most luxurious alternative is theCasa 1800 Cerro Verde , which is the only hotel that sits right on the volcano within the internal park . Here , you ’ll find broad rooms with big foliage - filled patio overlooking the Santa Ana volcano . Even if you do n’t sleep here , the hotel has an excellent restaurant with incredible views , so it ’s also a pop lunch smear for nature lovers who lodge elsewhere . The fare is a mix of Salvadorian classics ( hearty Gallus gallus soup and pupusas ) and American front-runner ( pizza and burgers ) , but if you want the secure of both worlds , go with their popular pupizza , an tremendous pupusa stuffed with your favorite pizza toppings .

At the base of the vent complex , you could overnight in rustic cabins atCasa Cristalor in individual “ igloo ” cortege atHotel Finca Campo Bello . Both offer stunning view of the surround volcano . The boutique Campo Bello is more upscale and it ’s also situate on a specialty java farm with its own trail electronic web . Should you pull off to pull yourself away from the marvellous views from your way ’s private patio , you ’ll have quite a little to do right wing on the property .

Play or relax on Lake Coatepeque

One of the master draws of the Volcano Complex area is nearbyLake Coatepeque . Initially formed after two vent eruptions collapsed the stack vizor , this lapis - colored lake is best known for its water sports . Swim , fish , jet ski , water ski , kayak , canoe , scuba dive , or take a sauceboat ride across this three - by - four knot lake , or just posture along the shoring savor the view . Lakefront cabin rentals are also available , should you want to lounge on a beautifully - landscaped lawn or swim in a private pool while overlooking the water .

utter of the water , Lake Coatepeque is unique in that it in reality changes color from dark to turquoise . The cyclic phenomenon does n’t have any established shape , but the change sometimes happens annually and sometimes wo n’t take place again for another five or six years .

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Road trip to cute towns along the Ruta de las Flores

About an hour southwest of Cerro Verde is Nahuizalco , the first of five colonial towns that make up the Ruta de las Flores . These “ flower route ” villages span about 20 mile and are jazz for their historic church , walkable Ithiel Town squares , lively green groceries markets , and traditional handicraft shops — as well as unbelievable food .

The Ithiel Town of Juayua , which is right in the center of la Ruta de las Flores , is specially well - known for its weekend food festival and waterfalls , Chorros de la Calera . The last town on the route is Ataco , know for its street mural , great coffee , and nearby hot springs . While you could hit all five towns in one day by down into each for a quick walk of life or a snack , you could easily drop a sidereal day explore just one or two to really get a feel for the local vibe and culture .