8-Nights The Colors of El Salvador: San Salvador, Suchitoto, Lake Coatepeque & More

Goway Travel

Discover the vibrant colors of El Salvador on this incredible 9-day El Salvador vacation, taking you from the capital, San Salvador, to the gorgeous colonial town Suchitoto, the archaeological sites near the spectacular Coatepeque Lake and Volcanoes National Park, and the scenic Pacific Coast.

Enjoy a private guided tour of San Salvador, Central America's second-largest city, and uncover the city's top landmarks. Make your way from the Central Square, home of the National Palace, a beautiful early 20th-century neoclassical building, before exploring the neo-romanesque and Byzantine-style Metropolitan Cathedral. Continue to the Rosario Church, where you'll find the grave of Father Jose Matias Delgado, a very significant Central American independence figure.

Journey onward to Sucitoto, The Place of the Flower Bird, for a leisurely stroll along the town's cobblestone streets, meeting friendly locals and visiting colonial-era homes. Learn about Sucitoto's history with an engaging and passionate journey into the significance of indigo, a natural colourant extracted from the Xiquilte plant and a very important element of Mayan society used for religious and spiritual rituals, as well as for medicine, pottery, and painting. El Salvadorian indigo has always been recognized as the highest quality in the world, with an ounce once worth the same as an ounce of gold, making it the perfect ingredient for your own scarf-making lesson.

Continue to western El Salvador, where you'll explore several incredible archaeological sites, such as Coatepeque Lake and Volcanoes National Park. Begin at the UNESCO-listed Joya de Ceren, buried by the ashes of the nearby Loma Caldera sometime around 6000 AD, offering a unique glimpse and understanding of Mesoamerican daily life. Marvel at the views of Coatepeque Lake from your lakeside hotel before exploring the UNESCO-listed Volcanoes National Park, walking along extinct volcanic craters and embracing the unforgettable views and history of the Izalco, Santa Ana, and Cerro Verde volcanoes.

Explore the four towns along the scenic Flower Route en route to Ataco, embracing the region's comfortable climate. Enjoy lunch in Apaneca and a walking tour of Ataco before your coffee mill tour, discovering the region's coffee production process and enjoying a delicious coffee-tasting experience. Continue along the Flower Route to your Pacific Coast resort, where you'll cap off your El Salvador trip with beachfront relaxation and scenery.

Vacation Inclusions

• Private arrival and departure airport transfers
• 1 night in premium accommodations in San Salvador
• 2 nights in moderate accommodations in Suchitoto
• 2 nights in premium accommodations near Lake Coatepeque
• 1 night in moderate accommodations near Ataco
• 2 nights in premium accommodations near La Libertad
• Private English-speaking guide for Days 1-7
• Indigo experience
• Entrance fee to Joya de Ceren Archeological Site
• Entrance fee for Volcanoes National Park
• Coffee experience
• Breakfast daily (excluding Day 1), 3 lunches

Featured Destinations

La Libertad La Libertad Situated some 25 mi/40 km southwest of San Salvador, the Pacific coast resort of La Libertad, El Salvador, offers some of the world's best surfing. Consequently, it is packed with city dwellers on weekends. A short distance west is Zunzal, where international surfing competitions are held. But the big waves are not for novices, and beware of strong undertows when swimming—the beaches are not protected from the huge Pacific swells. There's a pier on the black-sand beach, and good seafood is available in local restaurants. Note: Exercise caution when visiting La Libertad and the surrounding area: There has been a high incidence of assaults and robberies. Avoid walking around town after dark. Surfers have also experienced problems with crime on the beach.	Destination Guide
Lago de Coatepeque
Concepcion de Ataco Concepcion de Ataco This small town is located in the Ahuachapan Department of El Salvador. "Ataco" meaning "high place of springs" has pre-Columbian origins settled by the Yaqui natives. The town hosts an annual Lantern Festival called Ruta de las Flores. On this one day of the year, locals illuminate the town with colorful homemade lanterns and share traditional savory favorites like fried yucca, pupusas and other local dishes.
Suchitoto
San Salvador San Salvador The capital of El Salvador and its largest city, San Salvador is a bustling place with massive traffic jams during rush hour. The ongoing construction of expressways adds to the slowdowns. Though it was established in 1546, most of San Salvador's colonial buildings were destroyed by various earthquakes, floods and a volcanic eruption. As a result, it has a modern appearance.	Destination Guide

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