The BEST 1 Week El Salvador Itinerary!

If you’re strapped for time but looking to explore the rich history and vibrant landscapes of El Salvador, then you’ve come to the right place. This 1 week itinerary is based on our own experience in this country and it was one we found to be perfect in order to capture a really good glimpse of this amazing place. So without further ado, let’s begin!

We want to mention that this itinerary can be reversed. We started in Santa Ana, then headed to Juayua, and finally ended in San Salvador.

Things to know:

• El Salvador does not have their own currency. They use US dollar and Bitcoin as their official currency.

• Be sure to have a source of internet available as public wifi is hard to come by. We would recommend picking up and eSim to save the hassle of trying to find a sim card in person. Our go to is Airalo as it has access to over 200 countries/regions and the process of downloading is super easy!

Santa Ana - 3 nights

Day 1 - Arrive and Exploration

Depending on the time you arrive depends on what you can do. Unfortunately, we encountered every backpacker's worst nightmare: food poisoning that we had brought over from Honduras, so we decided to rest and recover. If you have time on this day, we highly recommend taking a walking tour organized by the owner of Hostel Zweibel. The availability of the tour depends on the owner's schedule, so we suggest either visiting the Hostel and inquiring in person or messaging him on Whatsapp at +503 68515122 :) The tour provides valuable insights and information, as the owner is clearly passionate about his home and country. He offers a local's perspective on the country's progress towards a safer society, which is truly fascinating! In addition to being the tour guide, he is also the owner of the hostel. We've heard from our friends that it's a great place to stay, and the best part is they have a hostel dog named Bush! You can consider booking your stay there or exploring other accommodation options in Santa Ana using the search bar below :)

Day 2 - Santa Ana Volcano and Coatepeque Lake

Probably the most touristy thing to do in Santa Ana is to hike it’s named volcano and for good reason. The hike is relatively easy, inexpensive, and offers breathtaking views, with the main highlight being the opportunity to see a stunning blue sulfur lake inside the crater.

To get there you want to get bus number 248. It departs from LA VENCEDORA at 7:30am however we got on at one of the stops and for reference, the location was here. There are other bus times but they will get you there later which will cause you to miss the last bus back from the volcano which is at 1:15pm. If your unsure if you are on the right bus don't worry as everyone on board is a tourist! The journey takes about an hour and a half and upon arrival you'll be approached by tour guides who will ask you to pay a fee for them to guide you to the top of the volcano. Now there is mixed information online whether you require a guide to complete the hike. From our understanding we believe you have to pay as some people have been turned away if you go up without a guide. So we paid the $3 USD per person but don't expect to much of a guided experience because you will be in a large group so you'll most likely split away from the pack.

About 10 minutes into the hike, you'll reach a booth where you will need to pay the mandatory entrance fee of $6 USD per person. Then it is about an 1.5 - 2 hour hike to the top of the volcano. You will have roughly an hour there before needing to start making your way back in order the catch the bus back to town!

Instead of heading straight back to town though you have the option of getting off earlier and heading to Coatepeque Lake for a well deserved swim. For us, we were pretty tired after the hike (still recovering from food poisoning) so we opted to just head back to town. However getting to the Lake from the volcano seemed pretty straightforward. The bus stop is unknown to us however the driver will stop there and you will notice a lot of tourists will get off. Your best best though is to ask the driver or other fellow travellers if you are unsure. After getting off you will have to catch another bus that will take you down to the Lake or you can opt to walk.

If you do decide to visit Coatepeque Lake, there's no direct bus back to Santa Ana, so ordering an Uber is the most convenient and affordable option, especially if you share the ride with other tourists.

Day 3 - Swimming spot and local cooking class

If your looking for a place to escape the heat and dive into some local cuisine then this day is for you! Located about a 25 minute walk from the city centre you’ll find Apanteos pool. This is a natural FREE swimming pool and by natural I mean the water has elements such as seaweed and fish! Definitely wasn’t my cup of tea as I have a slight phobia of fish and they do nibble at ya but Bree absolutely loved it! This spot is definitely a local favourite, with hardly any other tourists around, making it perfect if you're seeking a more authentic experience.

Now, when you visit El Salvador there is no doubt you will have heard of or come across pupusas. This is their national dish and one that they are sure proud of. I’ve had locals say that they eat 6-8 pupusas for each meal of the day! With that being said, the best way to try some is to learn how they are made and have a go cooking them yourself.

The local tour guide/ hostel owner who we mentioned on day 1 promotes a really great cooking class that is run by the kindest local family. He actually plays a big part in helping this family in not only bringing in business but he goes out of his way to teach them English to help them adapt to the increasing tourism in El Salvador. We then had the opportunity to make and cook our own pupusas on the grill, making about 5 each, which turned out to be quite a challenge to finish! We also got included plantain for desert and a hot chocolate all for the low price of $12USD! So if you are looking for an affordable cooking class about one of the most popular dishes in Central America then this is definitely it! You can book the class at Zweibel hostel or message the owner on Whatsapp +503 68515122. For reference the cooking class is not held at the hostel it is at this location.

Juayua - 3 nights

Day 4 - Head to Juayua and Explore

First of all, you'll need to make your way to Bus Terminal Francisco and catch a direct bus 238 to Juayua. The bus departs at 6:30am, 9:30am, and 12:30pm, and the fare is just $1USD per person. The journey typically takes about an hour.

Upon your arrival, you'll have some great options for exploring the local area, such as visiting Juayua Central Park. For dinner, we highly recommend checking out Pupuseria Esmeralda They serve the most delicious pupusas you'll ever taste so if you haven't tried the national dish of El Salvador yet then this is the perfect place to have your first experience. We woukd suggest trying the Queso/Loroco pupusa, as that was hands down the best one I have ever had, it was incredible!

Day 5 - The  7 Waterfall Tour

One of the most popular activities in Juayua is the 7 waterfall tour, which is a definite must-do when visiting. For just $10 USD, you'll receive hotel pickup, a knowledgeable guide, and the opportunity to witness some truly incredible waterfalls. To book, you will want to message this number on WhatsApp +503 7730 0402 and do so at least the night before. The tour typically begins at around 8:30am and concludes around 11:30am. From start to finish, this tour is truly remarkable, especially since there is a segment where you'll have the opportunity to climb up a waterfall. Having a guide present is highly beneficial for assistance during this part of the tour. Throughout the tour, there are abundant opportunities to capture stunning photos of the waterfalls and even indulge in swimming at two of them which both offer breathtaking views of the forest from above.

Day 6 - Food festival

If you can, we would 100% recommend you time your visit to Juayua to fall on a weekend as that is when the town hosts their popular food festival. The main square is transformed with so many street food stores serving not only incredible food but also at really affordable prices. It's hard to recommend one particular store but we opted for a place that for $10 USD you got 4 prawns, 2 meat skewers, rice, vegetables, salad and some bread.

San Salvador - 1 night

Day 7 - Head to San Salvador and Explore

Now it is off to our last location for this itinerary, the capital city of San Salvador! To get there, you first want to head to Juayua Bus Terminal and catch the 249 bus to Sonsonate. The bus leaves approximately every 15 minutes however I would double check that with your accommodation just to be sure. The cost for this leg of the journey is 0.60 cents, and it should take about 35 minutes to reach your destination. Upon arrival at the main terminal  in Sonsonate, you'll need to cross the road and make your way to the smaller terminal. I've pinned the location for you here to make it easier to find. From the smaller terminal, you'll then catch bus 205 to San Salvador. The cost is $1 for the original bus and $1.30 for the especial bus which I believe has aircon and reclined seats (we unfortunately missed that one). The journey takes about 1h and 15 minutes and you will arrive at Terminal de Buses de Occidente.

When you arrive in San Salvador, you'll discover that it's more than just a transit point for onward travel. The city offers a fascinating mix of architecture and modern designs, creating a striking contrast with the rest of El Salvador. You'll definitely want to explore the historic district, where highlights include Plaza Morazán, Catedral Metropolitana de San Salvador, National Library of El Salvador, Plaza Libertad, National Palace of El Salvador, and Iglesia El Rosario. And if you have some extra time, consider a visit to the National Craft Market for a chance to pick up a unique souvenir before embarking on your next adventure!

Summary

El Salvador is a fascinating country with incredibly kind people and amazing food that truly makes us want to visit again soon. We hope that our experience and recommendations have inspired you to consider grabbing your passport and exploring El Salvador!

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If you have any questions at all or want more information, please fill free to leave us a comment below or contact us via email.

Happy travels

Aiden & Bree :)