San Salvador - Post Report Question and Answers
What are some interesting/fun things to do in the area? Can you recommend any “hidden gems"?
Proximity of the beach (lots of people surf), salt rugs on Good Friday, Ruta de las Flores, hiking volcanoes. None of these are hidden gems, but they're great to have in your back pocket. The Community Liaison Office (CLO) is good at arranging trips, including to rum distilleries and coffee plantations. - Oct 2023
I’m definitely the wrong person to ask! - Feb 2022
I think you need to find some hobbies and embrace them...like surfing or golf. - Aug 2021
Some nice museums, a few quaint towns, some very good restaurants, and great beaches. - Jun 2018
Rent a house at lago de coatepeque, a crater lake surrounded by dramatic volcanoes. Stay on Isla Teopan in the middle of the crater lake. Visit remote beaches like la Barra de Santiago, where you can kayak, fish, enjoy beach bonfires. Climb Santa Ana volcano. Whitewater rafting near Metapan. Surfing near El Zonte/Tunco. - Mar 2018
Rent a beach house with friends or family. You can go all out and rent something fancy, or go more local and laidback and rent the bare minimum. Either way, it’s a good time. Visit some of the restaurants on the volcano, they have amazing views of the city. - Jan 2018
Surfing, hiking, weekends at the beach or lake, travel. - Nov 2017
I'm still looking for them! - Jul 2016
We hit the beach a LOT. World-class surfing, or just hang at the beach. Lots of biking here, both road/mountain. Climbing volcanos, exploring small towns. - Jun 2015
Playas Negras is a beautiful beach in the western part of the country where the surf is much more gentle and children are able to play in the water. There are very few houses on the beach, and it felt like we had the entire beach to ourselves. - Mar 2015
Copan, Honduras is a 4 hour drive away. There is a great German brewery and Copan is a spectacular little mountain town with really nice ruins. Also, the drive to Antigua, Guatemala is short and worth the trip. In El Salvador, Lake Coatepeque is great, and hiking the Santa Ana volcano, which has a sulfur volcanic bright green lake on top. It is like walking in another world. El Tunco surfer village is so much fun it can be too much fun. Great restaurants like Delikat, Ruth's Chris. Deep Sea fishing in Usulutan. Watching the famous heavy metal band at the local seafood shop. Just amazing! Too many to count. - Oct 2014
Going to Children's Theme Parks in Guatemala, visiting the Volcanoes. Too many fun things to list. - Jul 2014
Beaches are nice. Black volcanic sand and epic surfing waves. Much of the primary forest has been denuded, so you need to head to Costa Rica for rainforest. The Santa Ana volcano makes for a nice day trip but you are forced to take a guide (totally unneeded). - Apr 2012
The beach is close and is perfect for surfing. The volcano is right in town and is fun for a short hike. There are also some great day-trips (especially if you have an SUV) and travel opportunities. - Jul 2011
Hiking, surfing, hanging out at the beach or the lake, going to rural villages, horseback riding, bowling, clubbing, fishing, lost of activities sponsored by the CLO and the American Society. - May 2010
Food Festival in Juayua - every weekend!Canopy Tour in ApanecaBeaches are beautiful and it is very easy to rent out a private house or join a club. There are several very nice shopping malls. Movie theaters are just like the US with stadium seating, a/c, and movies are released here generally at the same time as the US.Kids movies are generally in English for the first few days and then they play the dubbed version, so you can take your kids to the Disney flicks. Mayan ruins at San Andres and Joyas de Ceren. Boat tours on Lake Suchitlan and hanging out in Suchitoto - an old colonial-ish type town. Touring the cathedral downtown and National Theater. Museum of Anthropology is beautiful. Museum of Art is very nice and modern. Tin-Marin Children's Museum. Pottery shopping in Ilobasco. The fish market on the pier in La Libertad. Pupusas in Planes de Renderos and the Puerta del Diablo where you can see from the city to the coast and for miles!Hike one of the several volcanoes. Drive to the top of the Boqueron volcano. Explore the markets and old theater in Santa Ana. Guatemala City is only 4.5 hours away! Copan, Honduras and the mayan ruins are only 4 hours away! - Feb 2009
