El Salvador
Capital:
San Salvador
Description:
El Salvador, officially the Republic of El Salvador, is a country in Central America. It is bordered on the northeast by Honduras, on the northwest by Guatemala, and on the south by the Pacific Ocean. El Salvador's capital and largest city is San Salvador.
Major Cities:
San Salvador
Soyapango
San Miguel
Santa Tecla
Santa Ana
3★+ Accommodation Starting At:
$21
(Per Room, Per Night)
Atlandis Top 3 'Things to Do'
Santa Tecla
This bustling urban center named after the famous 2nd century hero, Saint Thecla, is home to roughly 133,000 residents. Travelers to this thriving metropolis, which is tucked at the foot of San Salvador Volcano, can explore the nation’s unique arts, rich culture, deep-rooted religion and eclectic local life while wandering the streets of Santa Tecla.
From the famed halls of the Santa Tecla Museum—built as a prison in 1902—to the neo-classical architecture of the Municipal Palace, to the iconic El Carmen Cathedral, it’s the historical landmarks of Santa Tecla that make this city truly worth a trip.
After exploring the history and architecture that makes Santa Tecla famous, visitors can unwind in Daniel Hernandez Town Square, where locals lounge on grassy patches of land under shaded trees to escape the heat. Travelers will find the three malls that make up Plaza Merliot to be the perfect place for purchasing local food, handicrafts and even designer items.
Guajoyo River
Easily reached from both Santa Ana and San Salvador, the Guajoyo River is a major tributary of the Lempa River, which runs 422 km through southern Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador, before flowing into the Pacific south of San Salvador.
Despite running for less than 15 km, the Guajoyo River is home to one of El Salvador’s four hydroelectric power stations, but it’s best known to tourists as the country’s top destination for white water rafting, with Class II and III rapids open to thrill-seekers all year round.
Museum of the Revolution
Even though the Civil War in El Salvador ended in 1992, it still feels current, ongoing, and real, at Perquín’s Museum of the Revolution (Museo de la Revolución Salvadorena). For one thing the guides who work the museum were onetime guerilla fighters—risking their lives in tunnels and jungles to fight for the rights of the poor. When visiting this moving, informative museum, see remains of the downed helicopter that killed Colonel Monterossa—the leader of the Atlacatl Battalion responsible for the El Mozote massacre. You’ll also find craters created by bombs supplied by the US military, as well as weapons used by guerrillas to battle the government army. As this section of country was pro-FMLN, it also housed the influential Radio Venceremos, which helped to spread the leftist message throughout the rural communities. Nearby, another site has hand-dug tunnels where guerrillas would hide in the hills, and visitors are welcome to climb in the tunnels to feel the cramped, dark sense of space guerrillas endured every day. While the drive from San Salvador to Perquín is lengthy—over three bumpy hours in total—it’s a journey that’s more than worth the reward for learning these tales from the war.
'Things To Do' information provided by Viator and TripAdvisor. Contact Atlandis Vacations for the best prices.