EL BOQUERÓN

DESCRIPTION

It has been asleep for almost 100 years. The last time he woke up destroyed part of the city. It is San Salvador’s Volcano, an icon of the city of San Salvador, and its crater is called El Boquerón. Locals gave him this name since the crater resembles a big mouth (Boquerón). During the last eruption in 1917, huge quantities of lava were expelled. The petrified lava can still be seen outside of the city of San Salvador.

This natural reserve provides a beautiful escape from the city since it only takes about 25 minutes to reach. The drive is a journey in itself. In the slopes of the volcano one can admire beautiful coffee plantations. These plantations produce high quality coffee since they grow in a combination of volcanic fertile soil, high altitude and cool climate. Also, one can stop at the various viewing points in order to admire spectacular views of San Salvador City as well as Ilopango Lake and other volcanoes.

HIGHLIGHTS

  • Walk to the edge of San  Salvador’s Volcano Crater.

  • Enjoy the beautiful coffee houses and charming restaurants.

  • Enjoy the amazing views of San Salvador City.

ACTIVITIES

  • Sightseeing.

  • Hiking and Trekking

DISTANCE

  • From San Salvador City: 12 Kilometers / 25 minutes.

RECOMMENDS

  • Walking shoes, light jacket for afternoon/evening, sunscreen, sunglasses.

Once we reach El Boquerón Natural Reserve, we would be at an altitude of about 1,700 meters above sea level. This allows for a very pleasant temperature in between 15 and 23 degrees Celsius. The visitor can walk through the trails and admire the different varieties of native flowers such as terrestrial flowers, orquids and exotic ornamentals. These trails will lead us to the edge of the crater which is almost 600 meters deep and 1.6 kilometers in diameter. There is the option to hike down to the crater, but it is a challenging hike and should only be attempted by experienced hikers and always with local guides.

This experience is complemented by enjoying breakfast, lunch or dinner at one of the several restaurants of the area which are decorated with beautiful flowers and offer amazing views. If only a cup of coffee is desired, there are several charming coffee houses along the way.