VOLCANOES NATIONAL PARK

DESCRIPTION

VolcanoesNational Park features the “Lighthouse of the Pacific”. In the 1800´s and early 1900´s, ships sailing on the coasts of El Salvador guided themselves with the glowing lava being expelled by the crater of Izalco Volcano. El Salvador is the country with more volcanoes per square kilometers in the world. This is because there are many volcanoes in a very small area, a country of only 20,000 square kilometers. In Volcanoes National Park, three amazing volcanoes embrace beautiful Coatepeque Lake, which fills the crater of an extinct volcano, these are Izalco, Santa Ana, and Cerro Verde. Izalco is one of the youngest volcanoes in America, given that it was born in the 1700’s, whereas Santa Ana is thousands of years old. No lava is currently flowing, but both volcanoes are still active since constant fumaroles are present. 

In Cerro Verde, located in the middle of the other two volcanoes, you can enjoy an easy walk around its extinct crater, providing breathtaking views of Izalco and Santa Ana Volcanoes and Coatepeque Lake, which has been considered as one of the most beautiful lakes in the world.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Three volcanoes along with a volcanic lake.

  • Hike to the crater of Izalco or Santa Ana Volcano.

ACTIVITIES

  • Trekking and Hiking.

  • Camping.

  • Sightseeing.

DISTANCE

  • From San Salvador City: West 80 Kilometers / 1 hour 15 minutes.

RECOMMENDS

  • Walking shoes, (Hiking gear if hiking) light jacket for afternoon/evening (sometimes windy), sunscreen, and sunglasses.

As an option, you may choose to hike one of the volcanoes along with experienced local guides. Izalco is a cone-shaped volcano made up of sand and lava rock, creating a challenging but rewarding hike. Once at the summit, you will be able to walk around the crater experiencing the warm fumaroles and the amazing views. With a personal and experienced guide, the total hike takes about 5 hours. The other option is Santa Ana. This volcano provides a different hike since it is a more solid and massive body. At the top, it offers the view of Coatepeque Lake as well as the sulfur green lagoon inside the crater. Total hike takes about 4 hours. On a clear day, even the ships on the Pacific Ocean can be seen.

The parkextends 11,120 acres and the topography varies from 500 to 2, 381 meters above sea level. It is framed by a mixture of landscapes enclosing cloud forests, highland páramos, vegetation over lava, denude lava fields, sulfurous lagoons, forestry, coffee plantations, and grasslands. For its diverse habitats, this reserve was declared a Biosphere Reserve by.