El Salvador
My trip to El Salvador took me to a land with hundreds of scenic volcanoes, along a stunning coastline with beautiful beaches and excellent surf spots, and on a taste testing tour, trying out many different types of the country's famous pupusas. El Salvador surprised me in all the best ways!
GETTING THERE
Most people arrive in El Salvador at the main airport SAL, in the capital of San Salvador. Visitors come on direct flights from the USA, or from Central America and South America. I intentionally booked an extra long layover, during a South America trip. A tour company specializing in airport layovers made it easy for me to enjoy the experience worry-free. They picked me up at the airport and dropped me off in time for my next flight!
AMAZING EXCURSIONS
San Salvador Volcano overlooked the capital, appearing ominous and awesome at the same time. My tour guide said it last erupted in the early 1900's, but the internal rumblings made earthquakes in the area common. I hiked up the volcano, through El Boqueron National Park, to the ledge of the crater. The pretty nature trail along the slope had Pine trees, Cypress trees, and blossoming flowers. I was lucky to see the country’s national bird, the colorful Torogoz, sitting on a branch, with its blue, yellow, green and black feathers clearly visible.
At the top of the crater there were wooden platforms so I could see inside the giant crater, which was filled with lush vegetation, a small cinder cone, and giant Vultures flying around. I could also see many of the surrounding volcanoes, one of them was in nearby Guatemala! On the way down the volcano I had a spectacular view of the city, yet another tall volcano in the distance and a large lake below it.
I traveled thru rolling hills and fertile green valleys to get to the coast. El Tunco was a fun beach town packed with young people, lively restaurants and fabulous affordable meals! It was a top surf destination and the waters were full of surfers having a blast! Little businesses offered surf lessons and boards to rent. On top of that, there were waterfalls nearby to explore!
I also visited San Salvador's downtown area, and discovered a mix of modern architecture and historic Spanish colonial buildings. It had intricate cathedrals, a regal Presidential Palace which offered tours, and large monuments. There was also a massive modern library, several stories high and covered in reflective metal panels! All around the city, there were military guards standing watch, and I felt very safe.
It was fascinating to drive through the El Salvador countryside. Shacks along the roadside sold coconuts to drink and fresh fruit to eat. Mango and papaya trees were everywhere. Trucks full of sugarcane packed the street because it was harvest season. I drove past Coffee fields in the mountains and Cocoa farms near the ocean. My tour guide said El Salvador supplied chocolate to Belgium, France, and Switzerland!
El Salvador was known for its delicious pupusas and I wanted to try them all so I went on a taste testing tour! Each pupusa was stuffed with a filling - cheese, flowers, chicken, or seafood - all of it infused with fresh aromatic spices and surrounded by dough, then flattened and gently grilled. The pupusas made with edible Loroco Flowers were my favorite. I also liked Jacote Fruit - the green ones were sour & crunchy - the red ones were very sweet and tasted like a cross between mango and nectarine. The leaves were combined with lemonade to make a very nice bright green sweet & sour drink. Another yummy drink was Morro Horchata, it was rich and creamy, made with Morro fruit, cinnamon, rice, and peanuts, not one taste overpowering the other.
I met some travelers heading to see the ancient ruins of Joya De Ceren and the Mayan pyramids of Tazumal, others were taking overland trips to Guatemala and Honduras, but most were in El Salvador to stay and surf.
While it wasn't possible for me to fully experience all of El Salvador during a long layover trip, I managed to see and do so many things, and I liked my visit so much that I'm eager to return another time. I truly enjoyed the fun beach town vibes, the captivating volcanoes, the different types of architecture, and the authentic pupusas.
