Murray Travel Plan

Lake Ilopango

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Ilopango Lake is located southeast of San Salvador. The Ilopango Lake was once the crater of a very large volcano, whose eruption is said to have caused Maya communities flee to northern areas such as Tikal in Guatemala and Copan in Honduras.

This beautiful volcanic lake is perfect for diving and practicing all sorts of water sports. Visit Club Salvadoreño (www.clubsalvadoreno.com) where you can play Golf at one of the 18 hole-golf courses in the country.

Distance from San Salvador: approximately 45 minutes.

National Parks

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•Walter Deininger Park (La Libertad) takes its name after the German who donated the land where now the park is located. The park is approximately 732 hectares long and ranges in altitude from 8 to 280 m.a.s.l. The park serves as home to many species of birds, deer, raccoons and butterflies.

Distance from San Salvador: approximately 38 kms.

El Trifinio is the highest point in the National Park Montecristo, where the borders of El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala meet. The Montecristo National Park is a natural reserve, which has areas for camping, barbecue and basic sanitary services. Its temperature ranges between 10 and 18 degrees Celsius. Most of the orchids in the country come from this park, which is believed to have the largest orchid garden in the country with around 75 different species.

Distance from San Salvador: approximately 140 kms.

Coatepeque Lake

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Coatepeque lake located at 740 m.a.s.l. is the result of a major eruption which took place 5000 years ago. The lake is located in the department of Santa Ana on the eastern slope of the volcano. The surroundings of the lake are ideal for ecotourism, bird watching, hiking and mountain biking.

Fishing, diving and short trips by boat, kayak and jet sky can be arranged.

Distance from San Salvador: approximately 57 kms.

Izalco, Cerro Verde and Santa Ana volcanoes

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Park Los Volcanes: Izalco, Santa Ana and Cerro Verde form the Apaneca-Ilamatepec volcano range at heights that go from 500 to 2,365 meters above sea level.

Cerro verde is an extinct volcano, which last erupted some 25,000 years ago. Santa Ana or Ilamatepec is the most active volcano in the country having last erupted in October 2005 and Izalco´s perfect cone shaped crater shows it is the country’s youngest volcano, until it suddenly stopped erupting in1957.

Hiking in Izalco and Santa Ana volcanoes is available but subject to weather conditions.

Distance from San Salvador: approximately 67 kms.

Alegria

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Alegría is a cobbled-stone town surrounded by coffee plantations and plant nurseries, located just a short distance from the lagoon of the same name. The Alegria lagoon is inside the crater of the Tecapa volcano. The lagoon is also known as the “Emerald of the Americas” due to the aqua-green color of its water.
Distance from San Salvador: approximately 108 kms.

San Salvador volcano

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San Salvador Volcano or Quezaltepec is located at 1890 meters above sea level. This volcano has one of the most impressive craters in the country. Its last eruption dates back to 1917 reason why it is still considered an Active volcano. Many restaurants located along the road offer amazing views and first class cuisine.

Distance from San Salvador: 30 minutes

The Beaches

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Puerto de La Libertad and Tamanique: La Paz or Punta Roca, El Sunzal, El Tunco, El Zonte: The closest beaches to the capital city of San Salvador. The pier right next to Playa La Paz or Punta Roca was built in 1579. Hundreds of excellent restaurants offering the most diverse seafood dishes, most of them beach front. Surf lessons available at El Sunzal and El Zonte. Distance from San Salvador: 40 to 60 minutes.

Costa del Sol / Tasajera Island: Costa del Sol has a grayish color sand beach much whiter than most of other Salvadoran beaches. A motorboat ride will take you through the Jaltepeque estuary to the river mouth of the longest river in the country “Lempa”. Enjoy fresh grilled fish and “conchas” at many of the local eateries on the Island. Distance from San Salvador: 67 kms.

San Miguel: El Cuco, Las Flores: Dark sand beaches. Another excellent spot for surfing but more famous among professionals. Distance from San Salvador 175 kms.

Costa Azul / Barra de Santiago estuary: Costa Azul is a vacation getaway for many people from the city due to the amount of private beach houses in the area. Barra de Santiago is a protected natural area and is the 3^rd biggest and best preserved mangrove forest in the country. This is an excellent place for bird watching and an opportunity to see crocodiles in their natural habitat. Barra de Santiago is a pioneer in turtle conservation and turtle farms. The isolation of this beach and the conservation awareness among the villagers has protected the turtles that come to deposit their eggs. Distance from San Salvador: 85 kms.

La Unión and Golfo de Fonseca. La Union is the farthest eastern department in the country. In La Union you will find the beaches of Icacal, Las Tunas and Torola. La Union is currently going though a period of modernization as the second most important seaport in the country is set to start operations in 2009. The Fonseca Gulf has many estuaries but few beaches. The gulf is made up of 8 islands, which can be reached to by boat: Meanguera del Golfo, Meanguerita, Perico, Martin Perez, Zacatillo, Conejo, Amapala and Conchaguita. Distance from San Salvador: approximately 180 kms.

Distance from San Salvador: 180 kms.

San Salvador - the capital city

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San Salvador city tour: Visiting Anthropology Museum David J. Guzmán, Museum of Art MARTE, Museum of the written word and Images MUPI.

Downtown San Salvador – Historical center: Cathedral, Archbishop Romero tomb, National Palace and Theater.

La Puerta del Diablo or “Devil´s gate” (1,170 m.a.s.l.) is an odd rock formation at the top of El Chulo hill, which offers great views of the city and beyond. Famous for the amount of pupuserias in the area, La Puerta del Diablo is much visited among locals especially during the weekends.

Panchimalco is an indigenous heritage township on the east side of Puerta del Diablo. Its colonial church impresses tourists with its impeccable beauty. The “Palmas” procession in May is a colorful parade held to ask for a good harvest during the rainy season and it is a tradition that has rapidly gaining more and more visitors each year.

Distance from the airport to San Salvador: 50 kms.

Ilobasco / San Sebastian

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Ilobasco and San Sebastian

Ilobasco is one of the country’s oldest clay ceramic handcraft centers. Their handcrafting began in the XVIII centuy and continuous in the present.

San Sebastian is a small colorful town dedicated to traditional textile production using looms. The recently dyed threads drying in the sun will catch you attention when entering the town.

Distance from San Salvador: approximately 50 kms.

Suchitoto / Cinquera

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Suchitoto and/or Cinquera

The beautiful, Colonial city of Suchitoto is a rich cultural town made of cobblestone streets and located up from Lake Suchitlan. Lake Suchitlan was formed in 1973 as a result to the construction of the Cerron Grande dam on the Lempa River. Suchitoto is now host to many art galleries, restaurants and bars, so diverse that you will not feel like leaving once in town.

Cinquera at 18 kms from Suchitoto, became a sort of ghost town during the civil war as many residents were forced to leave the town due to the amount of battling in the area. Many war vestiges are found in the town as well as the remains of the first military helicopter brought down by the guerillas.

Distance from San Salvador: approximately 47 kms.

Ruta de las Flores (Flower Trail)

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Ruta de las Flores or Flower trail is a road that runs through a series of villages with much cultural tradition, natural beauty and pleasant climate along the Apaneca-Ilamatepec sierra.

Nahuizalco is a town with a still strong indigenous influence and famous for their wicker handcrafts found all over town; Salcoatitan which means “city of the Quetzalcoatl” is the town where the first coffee plantations were established in the country, Juayua which name means “place of the purple orchids” is famous for the 500 year old - Black Christ church and its weekend food festival; Apaneca or “place of the river of winds”, is the town at the highest elevation in the country and place where some of the best coffee in the country is produced; and Ataco a charming - picturesque town famous for their handcrafts and looms where colorful fabrics are still handmade.

Santa Ana

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Santa Ana – Historical center

Santa Ana is the second most important city in El Salvador and it is located on a valley overlooked by the Ilamatepec or Santa Ana volcano. Santa Ana has a historical center, which has the architectural style of the late XIX century and early XX century. The Cathedral was built in 1905 with a gothic style. On the opposite corner you will find the National Theater one of the most beautifully decorated theaters in the country. The construction of this theater was financed by coffee prosperity at the end of the XIX century.

Their famous patron saint festivities or “Fiestas Julias” take place every year in July and honor our Lady of Santa Ana.

Distance from San Salvador: approximately 63 kms.

Archaeology

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Archaeology

Joya de Ceren also known as the “Pompeii” of the Americas is one of the most important archaeological sites in El Salvador and was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. Joya de Ceren was once a small Maya village covered by the ashes from volcano Loma Caldera more than 1,400 years ago.

San Andrés was an important commercial and ceremonial center whose pyramids date from 600-900 A.D. It holds an informative museum along with 7 structures including the central acropolis and other temples.

Tazumal, located in the town of Chalchuapa, was an important commerce center of Cacao, Obsidian and Pottery. Some 7 structures have been dug up at the site. There is an informative museum where one can understand why the entire area of Chalchuapa is an important and rich archaeological area.

Casa Blanca at only a few minutes away from Tazumal is a residential type archaeological site, which holds an Indigo workshop. “Indigo” was once in the 18^th century an important exporting material which was later replaced by the coffee production.

Distance from San Salvador: between 35 to 76 kms.

Cihuatan and La Palma

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Cihuatan / La Palma

“Cihuatan” means place of the “laying lady”, name given by the Mayas who built this city to the Guazapa mountain behind them. The main attraction at the archaeological site of Cihuatan is the 60-meter long ball court – which the Mayas used for their religious purposes.

La Palma was founded in 1815 and it is only 8 kms from the border with Honduras. In 1984 La Palma became center of world attention when the government and guerilla forces engaged in early peace talks.

La Palma is one of the main handcrafts centers in the country. Their local economy is based upon handcrafts made of wood. Their handcrafts are very distinctive and follow the style developed by Salvadoran artist Fernando Llort.

Distance from San Salvador: approximately 85 kms.

Peace Trail

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Peace Trail

After being the scene of cruel battles in the 1980s the Peace Trail is now a repository of culture and adventure, surrounded by rivers and hills.

Perquin was founded by Lenca tribes and is a town surrounded by pine trees and coffee plantations.

The Museum of Revolution holds an important collection of information, objects and photos related to the civil war (1980-1992).

El Mozote is a memorial to the men, women and children who were savagely assassinated over a 3-day period, by military forces in 1981.

Natural reserve El Sapo river (Toad river) runs through an area of 8,000 acres amidst pines and oak trees, passing through uninhabited mountains and spectacular cliffs.

Distance from San Salvador: approximately 205 kms.

Your Travel Plan

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