The green of our mountains and forests. This itinerary includes the experience of participating in sea turtle conservation, hiking a volcano, glamping, enjoying a dry tropical forest and a cloud forest, and engaging in a nonprofit activity focused on conservation.
DAY 1: LAGUNA DE ALEGRÍA - BAHÍA DE JIQUILISCO
Laguna de Alegría is located within the crater of the Tecapa Volcano and is also known as the Emerald of the Americas due to its turquoise color. During the tour, you can hike to the edge of the crater and observe the sulfur in the lagoon. Alegría is also a charming town that offers stunning views of the central valley. Next, we will continue to the Bahía de Jiquilisco, which has been designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Four species of sea turtles nest in El Salvador: Leatherback, Black, Olive Ridley, and Hawksbill. The Hawksbill turtle, which is critically endangered, finds its primary nesting site in the entire Eastern Pacific at Bahía de Jiquilisco. Overnight in Bahía de Jiquilisco.
DAY 2: SEA TURTLE CONSERVATION
On this day, you will participate in a sea turtle conservation experience alongside local biologists. You will witness how they safely capture a turtle for study, and you'll have the opportunity to assist them with measurements. During this process, various data are collected, such as DNA samples, the exact location where the turtle was found, and more. All this information is entered into a database that provides invaluable insights into sea turtle behavior and helps design conservation strategies. After the study, the turtle is safely released back into the ocean. Overnight in Bahía de Jiquilisco.
DAY 3: BOQUERÓN – LOS VOLCANES NATIONAL PARK – GLAMPING
DAY 4: HIKE TO SANTA ANA VOLCANO - SHARE SMILES
DAY 5: MONTECRISTO CLOUD FOREST
DAY 6: EL IMPOSIBLE DRY TROPICAL FOREST - SAN SALVADOR
El Salvador has the most volcanoes per square kilometer in the world. After checking out of the hotel, you will begin your journey to El Boquerón, which means "big mouth" and is the name of the crater of the San Salvador Volcano. The area offers stunning views of the city of San Salvador, along with a variety of restaurants, cafés, and the El Boquerón National Park, where we will hike to the edge of the crater at 1,900 meters above sea level. Next, we will continue westward to Los Volcanes National Park, which has been designated a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve. Today, we will stay at a glamping site nestled among three volcanoes. Overnight in Los Volcanes National Park.
Los Volcanes National Park consists of three volcanoes and a volcanic lake. One of them is the Izalco Volcano, also known as the "Lighthouse of the Pacific," because between the 1800s and early 1900s, ships navigating the Salvadoran coast were guided by the glowing lava from its crater. It is also the third youngest volcano in the Western Hemisphere, having formed in the 1700s. On the other hand, the Santa Ana Volcano is thousands of years old. Currently, neither volcano erupts lava, but both are active, constantly emitting fumaroles. Both volcanoes have accessible trails leading to their craters.
Today, we will hike the Santa Ana Volcano, and once we reach the summit, we will enjoy stunning views of Lake Coatepeque, as well as the green sulfur lagoon inside the crater. On a clear day, you can see ships in the Pacific Ocean. The hike takes approximately 4 hours. In the afternoon, you'll spend quality time with local children through our nonprofit organization, Share Smiles, which supports communities in areas with tourism potential. The activity will focus on conservation. Overnight in Los Volcanes National Park.
Today, we will set out early in the morning for the Montecristo Cloud Forest. With elevations ranging from 800 to 2,400 meters above sea level, it boasts the widest variety of flora in El Salvador. In its 100-Year Garden, we can admire around 250 different orchid species, and with a bit of luck, you might also spot the magnificent Quetzal bird. One of the park's trails will take us to the exact point where the three countries meet: El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. Return to Los Volcanes National Park. Overnight in Los Volcanes National Park.
After checking out of the hotel, we will continue to El Imposible Forest, one of the most important natural parks in El Salvador, as it represents one of the world’s endangered ecosystems: the dry tropical forest. It also offers a rich diversity of wildlife and a vital source of water resources. Enjoy a walk and a refreshing dip in one of its pristine rivers. We will then continue to the city of San Salvador.