LA PALMA
DESCRIPTION
La Palma is also known as the “cradle of peace”. The first peace negotiations between the guerrilla and the government started in this town on October 15, 1984. The region was also a stage of constant battles between these opposing forces, causing many people to flee their homes. After the 1992 Peace Accords, people started to slowly come back to their normal lives. Now, at 1,000 meters above sea level, it is a very charming town where the houses and electric posts are beautifully painted with a very special art style that is original from this town.
La Palma is the most important town for crafts elaboration in the country, this being the most important economic activity for the area. It started in the 1970´s when Fernando Llort established himself in La Palma and developed a unique crafts style based on the “copinol” seed where artisans use vivid colors to paint abstract drawings about everyday life. There are about 100 federations of artisans of which about half export all of their product. Tourists are able to participate in workshops to create wood crafts painted with vivid colors.
HIGHLIGHTS
Walk through La Palma charming town and create your own wood craft. Trek to the highest peak of
El Salvador at 2,730 meters above sea level and enjoy amazing views of El Salvador and Honduras.
Pick your own fruits and vegetables that grow in the highlands.
ACTIVITIES
Trekking and Hiking.
Camping
DISTANCE
From San Salvador City: North; 50 Kilometers / 1 hour 30 minutes.
RECOMMENDS
Warm clothing, sunscreen, sunglasses, extra clothes for river swimming.
Around La Palma there are several mountains that reach the highest elevations in El Salvador. Actually, the area is one of the oldest rock formations in Central America. One of the most famous is El Pital, which is the highest point of the country at 2,730 meters above sea level. Tourists can reach this peak from where they can admire the beautiful and broken landscape of El Salvador as well as the mountainous areas of neighboring country, Honduras. The area is also very important since it holds several pine species (Abies, Pinus, Globosa) that are found nowhere else in the world.
The cool weather favors vegetable farming such as cabbage and other crops that prosper in the highlands. Tourists can pick their own tomatoes, radishes, carrots, lettuce, cabbage, strawberries and flowers from small scale farmers.