Highlights of El Salvador

11 days
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4.6/5 Excellent
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Small Group Tour
Often overshadowed by its neighbours, El Salvador is a little hidden gem. With turtle nesting on the miles of coastline, volcanoes concealing deep crater lakes and delicious food being prepared in beautiful colonial villages, this country is not to be missed. Jiquilisco Bay - Take part in a turtle-monitoring project with a local biologist Santa Ana Volcan...
$2,706
From$2,230
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Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Premium - 4 star
Physical level
Moderate

Highlights

    • Experience the hidden gem of El Salvador, from towering volcanoes to colonial villages
    • Feast on tasty Salvadoran delicacies during a cooking class
    • Explore the cobbled streets of tranquil Suchitoto

What's this trip about?

    Often overshadowed by its neighbours, El Salvador is a little hidden gem. With turtle nesting on the miles of coastline, volcanoes concealing deep crater lakes and delicious food being prepared in beautiful colonial villages, this country is not to be missed. Jiquilisco Bay - Take part in a turtle-monitoring project with a local biologist Santa Ana Volcano - Hike up El Salvador's highest volcano and get outstanding views of the surrounding valley Suchitoto - Learn to make traditional pupusas in this charming village

Details

Itinerary focusOff the Beaten Path
Group sizeSmall Group - max of 20 people
Age range16 to 85 years
Flights and transport
Start CitySan Salvador
End CityLa Libertad

Travel Themes

  • Cultural
  • Hiking & Walking

Attractions

  • Central America
  • Flores
  • Pompeii
  • Salvador

Activities

  • Hiking

Max Group Size

  • Max Group Size: 20

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 Join trip in San Salvador

The trip starts today in San Salvador, El Salvador's capital. After some major regeneration works, the leafy plazas and pedestrianized central zones of El Salvador's main city have never been safer and more pleasant to explore. Encircled as it is by volcanoes, San Sal...

Day 2 Head to Jiquilisco Bay; boat trip with a local biologist to monitor hawksbill turtles

This morning we drive to Jiquilisco Bay, a biosphere reserve and large network of canals and mangrove-lined inlets that are largely undeveloped, hosting over 200 species of bird and playing an important role in turtle conservation efforts within the country. Due to th...

Day 3 Optional kayaking or a visit to a local cacao farm

Today, those that did not participate in the boat trip yesterday will head out on the excursion through the mangrove canals in search of the hawksbill marine turtle. There will also be the opportunity to participate in the optional visit to the local cacao farm, where...

Day 4 Drive to Suchitoto via the Laguna de Alegria; evening pupusa-making class

The drive from our coastal location to the colonial town of Suchitoto is only three hours, giving us plenty of time to explore El Salvador's countryside en route. Our first stop will be Laguna de Alegria (Happiness Lagoon), located within the crater of the dormant vol...

Day 5 Visit the ex-guerrilla community of La Cinquera; free afternoon in Suchitoto

Just a short ride out of Suchitoto is the rainforest community of La Cinquera, a former FMLN stronghold (the FMLN were the main left-wing guerrilla faction during El Salvador's civil war, and is now one of the country's major political parties). This small village has...

Day 6 Discover San Salvador on foot; visit the Joya de Ceren; drive to Cerro Verde via Lake Coatepeque

We drive west this morning making a stop at San Salvador for a walking tour of the city, visiting the main attractions including the Iglesia El Rosario. This enormous concrete church looks nondescript from the outside, but the architects have cleverly designed a spect...

Day 7 Hike the Santa Ana volcano to the impressive Llamatepec crater lake; drive to Ataco via the Tazumal Archaeological Site

The Santa Ana volcano is El Salvador's highest, at approximately 2300m high. Our campsite is already at 1800m, and the ascent is only a moderate grade as we start our hike through forest, slowly ascending for approximately 1 hour 15 minutes. The landscape begins to ch...

Day 8 Explore the small villages on the Ruta de las Flores; explore the street food markets

El Salvador's Ruta de las Flores is a beautiful, meandering set of small villages, each with an array of different colonial-era buildings. It is designed to be visited slowly, savouring the food and the ambiance. Ataco, where we are staying, is one of the main village...

Day 9 Coffee farm visit; drive to the Los Cobanos protected marine area; continue to La Libertad

Before we leave Ataco this morning, we'll visit one of the area's small coffee 'fincas' (or farms). We'll stop for a drink here, and find out more about the farm's small scale coffee production, which is still a growing industry here in El Salvador. From the farm we c...

Day 10 Free day on the coast in Sunzal

Our final full day in El Salvador is free to spend as we choose. The beaches on this coastline are rugged, with great surf, and one of our options today is a surfing lesson to make the most of this. Alternatively, take a drive outside La Libertad to the San Antonio Wa...

Day 11 Trip ends at La Libertad

The trip ends after breakfast this morning in La Libertad. There are no activities planned today, so you are free to depart from La Libertad at any time. If you would like an airport transfer today, you need to depart from El Salvador International Airport (SAL), which is approximately a one-hour drive from our hotel.

Meals Provided : Breakfast

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Dates & Availability

Price From $2,230
Price per day$203
Last Updated: 3/14/2025
Departure Date
Finish Date
Base Price
Single Room (Optional)
Availability
11 Oct 2025
21 Oct 2025
$2,440
$650
08 Nov 2025
18 Nov 2025
$2,440
$650
31 Jan 2026
10 Feb 2026
$2,570
$700
07 Mar 2026
17 Mar 2026
$2,570
$700
24 Oct 2026
03 Nov 2026
$2,570
$700
21 Nov 2026
01 Dec 2026
$2,690
$720

Check current availability, prices, specials & more.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Explore! Reviews & Ratings

4.6/5  Excellent
Excellent
10,427
Great
3,358
Average
527
Disappointing
158
Terrible
80
T

Trusted Customer

Feb 2025

Written on

Highlights of El Salvador

The highlight of the trip was our Tour Leader Dionisio who was fantastic. The hotel selection needs improvement. The only hotel I enjoyed was the igloos by Santa Ana...

T

Trusted Customer

Feb 2025

Written on

Highlights of El Salvador

Thanks to the expertise and dedication of the tour leader, this...

L

Lesley

Nov 2024

Written on

Highlights of El Salvador

Well organised and a good standard of hotels. Varied itinerary at an easy pace allowing free time to use the hotel swimming pools and other facilities. A colourful ...

T

Trusted Customer

Nov 2024

Written on

Highlights of El Salvador

Our tour leader, Dionisio, was fantastic--super friendly, knowledgeable, immediately took care of any issues that came up. It was a small group of 6 so we were very ...

D

Doreen

Nov 2024

Written on

Highlights of El Salvador

Excellent insight into life in El Salvador.

Write a Review

Other Explore! Reviews

T

Trusted Customer

Mar 2025

Written on

Efficient, timely and cordial

Quick to answer the phone

T

Trusted Customer

Mar 2025

Written on

Upgraded - Discover Vietnam

Great locations and a fantastic guide

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Logistics

Accommodation

Transportation & Flights

Bus, Boat,

Transportation & flights

Bus, Boat
Guides
Explore Tour Leader, Activity Guide(s), Driver(s), Naturalist(s)
Cancellation policy
These conditions are applicable to Discovery & Wildlife, Cycling, Walking and Family Trips. These conditions were updated November 2022. Booked a Polar trip? Please refer to our Polar booking conditions. To make it easy to know the detail of our flexibility, we’ve put it in a grid (these terms apply to all trips apart from our Polar Voyages.) Standard cancellations or changes within 69 days of travel If you’re getting closer to your trip, cancellation charges will apply as follows: For trips confirmed by 31st December 2022: 59-42 days before trip start date – 30%, or loss of deposit if higher 41-28 days before trip start date – 60% 27-14 days before trip start date – 90% Less than 14 days before trip start date – 100% For trips confirmed from 1st January 2023: 69 -42 days before trip start date – 30%, or loss of deposit if higher 41-28 days before trip start date – 60% 27-14 days before trip start date – 90% Less than 14 days before trip start date – 100%
Travel Insurance
We strongly recommend purchasing travel insurance alongside your travel package to safeguard against unforeseen circumstances such as medical expenses, trip cancellations, and other contingencies. It offers you peace of mind and ensures you are prepared for unexpected events that may occur before or during your journey
Visa requirements
El Salvador: Citizens of the UK and most EU citizens do not require a visa. Nationals of Canada, Greece, Portugal and USA must buy a tourist card (current cost 10USD)on arrival, this is valid for 30 day from entry. Other nationalities should consult the relevant consulate. All visa information is subject to change. You should confirm all visa related issues with the relevant Embassy prior to departure. USA: If your flights pass through the USA, even if only in transit, you will require either a visa or an ESTA (an e-visa). Please read on for more information. Citizens of the UK, New Zealand, Australia, Canada and passport holders from several EU countries can apply for an ESTA under certain conditions. This applies if you enter the country by sea or by air, and this must be done online via https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov, no later than 72 hours prior to travel. Travellers who have not registered before their trip are likely be refused boarding. You must have a biometric passport to apply for an ESTA. UK passports which are biometric feature a small gold symbol (camera) at the bottom of the front cover. If you have visited Iran, Iraq, Libya, North Korea, Somalia, Sudan, Syria and Yemen since 2011 or are dual nationals of these countries, you cannot travel with an ESTA and instead you will need to apply for a visa from the nearest US Embassy or Consulate. If you are unable to provide a valid visa before boarding flights to the US, or entering via another method, you may not be permitted to travel. You should also be aware that if you have travelled to or have been in Cuba since the 12th of January 2021, you will not be eligible for an ESTA visa waiver and will need to apply for a US visa. You should consult the US State Department website to determine which you will need. Your ESTA application will ask for Point of Contact information. Please note that if you're only transiting through the USA then this is not required. If you're visiting or staying in the USA on an Explore trip, then our USA contact information will be listed on your final documentation which you will receive approximately 3-4 weeks before departure. Entry requirements for the USA can change regularly, therefore, please ensure you have the most up to date information before you travel by checking the US embassy website. Visa applications - http://london.usembassy.gov/niv/apply.html Canada: An electronic travel authorisation (ETA) is required by British citizens transiting via Canada. For more information see the official Canadian government website: http://www.cic.gc.ca/english/visit/eta.asp Other nationalities should consult their local embassy or consular office
Health & Safety
Nothing compulsory, but we recommend protection against typhoid, infectious hepatitis and polio. Please consult your travel clinic for the latest advice on Malaria, Dengue and Zika Virus. Please take preventative measures to avoid mosquito bites - these include mosquito repellent as well as long trousers and long sleeve shirts to cover up when necessary. Please note many countries in Central America, South America and the Caribbean require a yellow fever vaccination certificates if travelling from infected areas. A detailed list of these countries can be found on the NaTHNaC website - http://travelhealthpro.org.uk/countries. Also on the NaTHNaC site there is a list of Countries (and specific areas within a country) which are at risk of infection and a vaccination is therefore recommended. Please check the latest requirements with your travel clinic or doctor prior to departure. The above is not an exhaustive list. Further information regarding vaccinations and travel health advice can be found by following the NHS and NaTHNaC links at <a href="https://www.explore.co.uk/essential-information/know-before-you-go/travel-health">Explore Travel Health</a> and from your local healthcare provider. Visa and vaccination requirements are subject to change and should be confirmed by you before travelling.
Meals Included
  • Breakfast : 10
  • Dinner : 2
  • Lunch : 1
Age Requirements
16 to 85 years
Additional Information
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Trip ID
explore-HES

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