Our El Salvador holidays & tours
Our El Salvador holidays explore a tiny country with a huge history, and one that remains very much tourist-free. That means that you’ll have stunning destinations such as Bosque El Imposible National Park or Montecristo Cloud Forest almost to yourself. The volcanic region of San Miguel is only beginning to erupt with ecotourism, while the Mayan sites of Tazumal, San Andrés and Joya de Cerén still feel timeless. Visit the tiny rainforest community of La Cinqera and your guide may be a former guerilla who fought in the country’s civil war and is now part of a fledgling tourism initiative here. And the La Ruta de Las Flores trail through colonial towns and coffee plantations continues to be a wonderful way to support local artisans, with the craft shops and food markets here a highlight of many tours.
Highlights of El Salvador holiday
Explore El Salvador on this small group adventure
From
£1745 to £1755
11 days
ex flights
Nicaragua & El Salvador tour
Central American adventure, away from the tourist trail
From
£3865 to £4060
19 days
ex flights
El Salvador tailor made holiday
A tiny country with big heart, truly off the beaten track
From
£2375
11 days
ex flights
4 week Central America tour
Fast-paced adventure through the best of Central America
From
£3000 to £3570
28 days
ex flights
Central America highlights tour
Experience five Central American countries in just two weeks
From
£2625 to £3085
16 days
ex flights
Central America guided trekking holiday
Off the beaten track volcano trekking
From
£3995
21 days
ex flights
Contact Us
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El Salvador map & highlights
Little El Salvador is surprisingly packed with colonial, cultural and coastal treats; there is more than enough here to keep you busy for a couple of weeks, especially as the laid back vibe means that hours easily drift into days. It is possible to spend a week or two here exclusively, but many holidays combine the country with Honduras, or as part of longer Central American overland tours, crossing over from Guatemala or Honduras. El Salvador’s compact size means that in just a few days you can visit colonial towns, volcanoes and wildlife-rich coast, with the Ruta de las Flores providing an excellent tour-within-a-tour which can be completed in a day. Long drives are, happily, minimised, and the proximity of many attractions means you can often spend two or three nights based in one town.
1.
Jiquilisco Bay
2. Joya de Cerén
3. Ruta de las Flores
4. Ruta de la Paz
5. San Salvador
6. Suchitoto
7. Tazumal
2. Joya de Cerén
3. Ruta de las Flores
4. Ruta de la Paz
5. San Salvador
6. Suchitoto
7. Tazumal
Jiquilisco Bay
1. Jiquilisco Bay
This network of mangroves, islets and natural canals is El Salvador’s most important marine ecosystem, hosting a huge number of native birds and reptiles, as well as endangered hawksbill turtles, which nest here from May to September. Kayak though the mangroves, hike through the forest, learn about turtle conservation projects or visit a nearby cocoa plantation to learn how chocolate is made.
Joya de Cerén
2. Joya de Cerén
In 600AD, the Laguna Caldera volcano erupted, burying a nearby farming community. Today, the site is known – unsurprisingly – as the ‘Pompeii of the Americas’. Unlike Pompeii, however, it seems that all inhabitants escaped. This is the best preserved example of pre-Hispanic life in the region, as homes, a sauna, agricultural tools, religious items, sleeping mats and even fields have been found virtually intact.
Ruta de las Flores
3. Ruta de las Flores
The pretty name is somewhat misleading, as the real gems along this 36km route are not the flora, but the many colourful artisan villages. If you can, visit at the weekend, when the markets and plazas really come alive with traders and food festivals. This is also prime coffee country, so you can visit a plantation en route, and learn how to harvest and roast the beans. Don’t miss the museums, churches and craft galleries.
Ruta de la Paz
4. Ruta de la Paz
To learn more about El Salvador’s more recent – and tragic – history, head to the Ruta de la Paz – the Route of Peace. The Museum of the Revolution tells the story of the civil war, while a scenic hike up Cerro Pericón traverses landscapes that were once guerrilla strongholds. The village of El Mozote was the scene of one of the war’s bloodiest massacres; today, residents do their best to spread messages of peace to visitors.
San Salvador
5. San Salvador
While many Central American capitals are best whizzed through, this 500-year-old city is chaotic but surprisingly attractive, with plenty of trees and an impressive cathedral overlooking the main plaza. Walking tours reveal a jumble of architectural styles, as San Salvador was rebuilt several times following historic earthquakes. Visit the national palace, the excellent museums and buzzing marketplaces.
Suchitoto
6. Suchitoto
Suchitoto was at the centre of a thriving indigo trade during colonial times, and you can still visit a functioning workshop today. Wander through its cobbled streets with pretty, painted houses, learn to prepare the national dish of pupusas, visit the galleries and laid back cafes, or head to the adjacent Lake Suchitlan where you can kayak and look out for the migratory birdlife, particularly birds of prey.
Tazumal
7. Tazumal
Tazumal was once a thriving Mayan city, which was abandoned some eight centuries ago. In its heyday its trade and cultural networks reached as far as Copan in Honduras and Chichén Itzá in Mexico. The most important structures are two large pyramids, and artifacts recovered from the site can be seen in the onsite museum as well as in San Salvador’s Museum of Anthropology.
Our El Salvador holidays reviews
4.3
6El Salvador holidays reviews
Sue Jones23 Mar 2025
Boat trip on Atitlan Lake to San Juan, all the beautiful buildings in Grenada. Mombacho volcano hike where we saw 3 sloths in their natural habitat were the highlights.read more
Jeff Watts02 Dec 2024
Seeing the active volcanoes, amazing lakes and wonderful local people.read more
Jacquie Radford08 Dec 2022
The most memorable part was seeing the inside of a volcano at night and the lava bubbling away or running (mostly walking) down the side of another volcano or zip lining through the Costa Rican jungle.read more
