San Salvador

A year after the Spaniards entered El Salvador in the early 16th century, San Salvador was established as the center of Spanish conquest in Central America by Pedro de Alvarado, a Spanish conquistador—Spanish for “conqueror”. Even after the region won its independence in 1821, San Salvador served as the united Provinces of Central America’s capital. When El Salvador eventually gained complete independence in 1841, San Salvador remained the capital of the country. El Salvador's largest city has a deep respect for its history and cultural heritage, which is evident at the Museo de la Palabras y la Imagen, or the Museum of Word and Image, which houses an impressive collection of historic artifacts and photos.

The Catedral Metropolitana de San Salvador was visited twice by Pope John Paul II, who said the building was “intimately allied with the joys and hopes of the Salvadorean people.” The main altar features an image of the Divine Savior donated by the Holy Roman Emperor Charles V in 1546, and features a churrigueresque, an ornamental sculpture prominent in 18th-century Spanish cathedral construction. The famed Archbishop Óscar Romero is entombed in the cathedral after his assassination in 1980.

Today, more than half a million residents live in this cosmopolitan hub, which is just in reach of mountainous wonders and stunning beaches. The capital also sits on the Cocos tectonic plate whose movement has led to devastating earthquakes in recent years. In the background of San Salvador’s cityscape looms the city’s famous volcano. Fortunately, the San Salvador Volcano hasn’t erupted since the early 20th century. At the tip of this volcano is El Boquerón National Park. This national park, whose name means "big mouth," boasts breathtaking views of the crater and beyond, and has several hiking trails along the volcano that will give you a glimpse of the area's distinct flora and fauna.

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• Route of the Maya

Joya de Cerén

Despite being buried in the sixth century by a volcanic eruption, Joya de Cerén is an archaeological dream due to its highly preserved condition and abundance of artifacts that provide a glimpse into the lives of the inhabitants of this ancient city. Known as the Pompeii of El Salvador, Joya de Ceren is an ancient, pre-Hispanic, 7900-acre village that is frozen in time. While no human remains were found at the site, evidence of pots, garden tools, and animal bones is present. Archaeologists believe that the village's residents were able to escape before the dangers of the eruption reached the area. While most Mesoamerican ruins have traces of temples or royal artifacts, Joya de Cerén was most likely a farming community. Uncovered in 1976, the ruins were designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1993.

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• Route of the Maya

Suchitoto

Suchitoto, meaning "bird-flower" and charmingly nicknamed "Suchi," is a quiet colonial town that was established by the Pipil people (descendants of the Aztecs) around 1,000 years ago before being conquered by the Spaniards, who established the capital near the town's current location. Today, Suchitoto is known for its creative spirit, in part thanks to local filmmaker Alejandro Coto who preserved the history and culture of Suchitoto and El Salvador in his films. The filmmaker was so important and respected in the country, that his home in Suchitoto was converted into a museum dedicated to his life and work. This creativity is also celebrated at the town's many arts festivals that take place regularly throughout the year.

The tradition of filmmaking lives on in the city’s almost weekly arts events and the Permanent International Festival of Art and Culture throughout February, where representatives from over 30 countries attend annually. Another major celebration is the Parade of Torches and Costumes in September, where the streets fill with music, dance, and people in costumes representing the many legends and traditions of Suchitoto.

Outside of the city's colonial architecture and prominent 19th-century Santa Lucia Church, Suchitoto has an abundance of natural wonders. Stroll around Lago Suchitlán to take in views of the expansive lake and the surrounding verdant hills—you may even spot a hawk or falcon flying overhead as Suchitoto is home to more than 200 bird species.

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Cihuatán

Moss-covered temples and ball courts mark the ancient ruins of Cihuatán. This site is believed to have been established around AD 900 and was inhabited by the Maya and Lenca who enjoyed a short period of prosperity before the ancient city was destroyed in the tenth century. Archaeologists believe that a fire swept through the city during the warmer, dry months, causing the residents of Cihuatán to abandon their homes and belongings. Today, Cihuatán is El Salvador's largest archaeological area.

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Cinquera

Travel off the beaten path to get a glimpse of the turbulent history and natural beauty of Cinquera, a small, mountainous town with a population of around 1000 people.

In the late 20th century during El Salvador's Civil War, Cinquera was the target of violent attacks by the Farabundo Martí National Liberation Front (FMLN), a rebel group disguised as a political party in El Salvador. Today, the central El Salvadorian town rebuilds itself, but permanent scars from this dark period in time still lingers. Bomb- and bullet-damaged buildings line the streets, and the town even established a Museum of Historical Memory to remind locals of this complicated part of Cinquera’s past and to ensure that history doesn’t repeat itself. Out of the darkness, Cinquera has become a model for locally-led, sustainable development with an emphasis on youth, historical memory, and environmental preservation.

Despite Cinquera’s violent history, there’s still beauty to be found here in Parque Ecológio. This 9689-acre park is a serene getaway from the city as it boasts small waterfalls, a lush rain forest, and scenic hiking trails.

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Ruta de las Flores

Along the Ruta de las Flores, or Flower Route, is an intermingling of spectacular natural wonders and insightful cultural attractions. Discover the route's verdant setting, where waterfalls rush down craggy mountains and volcanoes dot the landscape. The nutrient-rich soil that surrounds the volcanoes is ideal for cultivating coffee plants, an important crop to El Salvador. After the stock market crashed, Nahuatl coffee farmers were hit hard in 1932. The coffee farmers grew poorer and the landowners grew richer, causing tension between the two classes. As a result, the farmers revolted against the wealthy elite, but the government took action to suppress this group by killing nearly 30,000 locals in what became known as the Peasant Massacre.

In terms of coffee, the small mountain town of Ataco is world-renowned for having the best coffee in Central America. With some of the best land for growing the crop, Ataco has developed an economy based on coffee with many coffee shops and retail stores to bring it to the masses.

Today, the 22-mile Ruta de las Flores takes travelers to the heart of Salvadorian culture and history where food and craft festivals abound. Visit towns like Juayúa and Sonsonate to get a true glimpse of life along the route. Juayúa, one of the town's where the Peasant Massacre occurred, is known for its picturesque, cobbled streets, nearby natural wonders, and a 16th-century Black Christ statue, while Sonsonate is a quiet town located at the end of Ruta de las Flores that is known for its colonial-style architecture.

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