Must See

Cerro Verde National Park

Those looking for adventure can find it at Cerro Verde Volcano National Park, located west of San Salvador, where energetic souls can take a hike to the top of the volcano. From the 1,910 metre viewpoint, there are outstanding vistas of the Coatepeque Lake, Izalco Volcano and the Pacific Ocean.

Mayan Civilisation

Ancient archaeological sites dating back to the third century BC can be found in El Salvador, including the village of Joya de Ceren, which was preserved by volcanic ash that buried it 1,400 year ago.

The fertile soil of the San Andres area once housed Mayan settlements, which travellers may now visit. The architectural marvel, the acropolis, is a highlight.

The best preserved site, however, is at Tazumal (literally 'pyramid where the victims were burned'), where artefacts have been found stretching over a thousand-year period, showing trade links with places as far as Panama and Mexico.

Montecristo Cloud Forest

Located at the border with Honduras and Guatemala, the Montecristo Cloud Forest is home to diverse species including pumas, spider monkeys and toucans. Oak and laurel trees grow to such heights that their leaves form canopies 30 metres high, impenetrable by sunlight. The area receives 200 cm of rain every year and suffers from 100% humidity. This is a perfect place to hike, camp or go bird watching.

San Salvador

The second largest city in Central America was founded in 1525 by Spaniard Pedro De Alvarado at the foot of the San Salvador volcano. A mix of modern architecture, colonial design, wide plazas, parks and monuments give the city its character today.

Highlights include the National Treasury, the Catedral Metropolitana (metropolitan cathedral), the Teatro Nacional (national theatre) and the Palacio Nacional (national palace). The city is also home to many beautiful colonial churches, such as St Ignatius Loyola (once the shrine of the Virgin of Guadalupe), which features a traditional Spanish colonial façade.

An amusement park on San Jacinto Mountain, reachable by cable car, gives excellent panoramic views of the city. A bird's-eye view of the city can also be seen from the 1,200 m (3,900 ft) rock formation, the Puerta del Diablo (Devil's Doorway), just south of the Balboa Park, 11 km (7 miles) from San Salvador.

Also close by to the city (15 km south) is Panchimalco, around which live the Pancho Indians (pure-blooded descendants of the original Pipil tribes), who retain many of their old traditions and dress.