A spectacular holiday at El Salvador’s Cerro Verde National Park

The Cerro Verde National Park of El Salvador is a nature lover’s delight. A visit to the country is incomplete without a trip to this natural masterpiece. This beauty is comfortably placed between two volcanoes and there is greenery all around as well as there’s a forest, which is full of fauna, flora and flowers. Besides, the height allows you to have spectacular view parts of the country as well.

The volcanoes in question here are the Izalco Volcano and the Santa Ana Volcano. The Santa Ana Volcano holds the distinction of being the highest standing volcano of the nation till date at 7,759 feet and hence, exploring this volcano is more than just an adventure, imagine standing some 7700 feet high, what do you think you will be able to view, yes you’ve got it right, you can view the entire nation.

However, in order to spice up your experience, it is recommended you do not scale the heights alone, you should hire an experienced guide, who will make your hiking experience all the more knowledgeable as he is aware about all the history of the place.

The Santa Ana volcano can be easily accessed via the park’s main parking lot area in around 2 hours. During the process of the climb to the top, you can view the four craters and one of these craters has a boiling turquoise crater lake inside. Yes, you’ve guessed it right; I am referring to the picture perfect view of the Coatepeque Lake from the slopes of the Santa Ana volcano.

The next of the volcanoes is the Izalco, which is not far away from the Santa Ana volcano. The heights of the volcano can be scaled in approximately 3 hours from the city of Izalco. The city of Izalco is full of El Salvador tourism activities in present times, thanks to this volcanoes presence.

The last eruption of this volcano was in 1966 and you can view a black lava cone along with a crater and this site is known the world over as the lighthouse of the Pacific owing to its near continuous eruptions for a century and a half.

In short, Cerro Verde is full of fun and excitement. Climbing the heights of the volcanoes is definitely a spectacular experience and something everyone should experience. The best part here is the higher you climb, the more you get caught in the superb misty clouds. You can also view tons of abandoned coffee bushes, which only prove the fact that the country of El Salvador is very rich in coffee production.

Another popular activity when on the grounds of the park is bird watching and many have termed Cerro Verde as a “Paradise” as it attracts so many wonderful species of birds.  The place is full of migratory bird species and I can guarantee you will be lost and will be very busy trying to figure out which bird was that? The more common visitors are emerald toucanets, jays, woodpeckers besides 17 different types of hummingbirds.

The Park is home to a total of 127 different species of birds and the lush green vegetation is a sight to see whether you are in the park or viewing it from the top of the eruptions.

The park also houses an orchid nursery, so please don’t miss out on that I’m sure your guide will cover that.

The Park was opened to the general public in 2002 and over the years major changes have also taken place. The country’s Tourism ministry has concentrated its efforts to bring together the best guides and in the process the quality of services has improved immensely in the Park. The guides are from the local neighborhood and are well educated youth and are quite familiar with the surroundings as they grew up in the region. The guides also have a wonderful way of explaining the various facts of the region.

Besides the popular features like flora, fauna, pathways and the orchid nursery, the Park has all the basic necessary facilities like washrooms and restrooms besides a cafeteria as well.

Listed below are some of the questions which may be on your mind.

How do I reach the Cerro Verde National Park?

You first need to enter the nation of El Salvador via air. The country’s only international airport at Comalapa hosts numerous flights from the US and other prominent countries. There are a number of flights to the coastal US city of Florida.

Once you have set foot in El Salvador, you may travel to the capital San Salvador and subsequently to Cerro Verde National Park. The entire road travel time shouldn’t exceed two hours.

It is recommended you hire a cab for your traveling purposes. However, El Salvador also boasts of a very cheap public transportation bus network. However, you should confirm all the facts with the bus drivers before entering the bus.

Where do I stay during my Cerro Verde National Park adventure?

It is recommended you stay in the capital, which is just around an hour’s drive from Cerro Park. The city has many accommodation facilities to choose from. Some of the prominent landmarks are Hilton Princess, Sheraton Presidente San Salvador Hotel, Real InterContinental, Radisson Plaza Hotel, Holiday Inn San Salvador, Tazumal Guesthouse, Ximenas Guest House, Hostal Lonigo, Comfort Inn, Hotel Villa Serena Flor Blanca, Mariscal Hotel & Suites and Hotel San Mateo.

When is the best time to visit Cerro Verde National Park?

The region follows a tropical climate and is split into two main seasons, the rainy and dry seasons. The rains fall from May to October and this season sees very few people visiting the place and as a result hotel rates are at their lowest and some tourist facilities even shut shop during the period.

On the other hand, the dry season runs from November to April and is an ideal time for a visit. These months also constitute the peak tourist season and the hotel room rates touch the sky. With the possibility of rain showers almost devoid, the weather is also perfect for a visit.

In conclusion, the Cerro Verde National Park is a wonderful place for a holiday be it a single person visiting or a family or a couple’s visit. The place is a favorite amongst trekkers and adventure lovers and provides a spectacular experience of a volcanic eruption site and the surrounding beauty only adds to the adventure.

The Cerro Verde has it all, you can stroll in the park and in the process of enjoying the green surroundings you will be tempted by the views of the Santa Ana and Izalco volcanoes.  Once you give in to temptation and scale their heights, I’m sure the sights from the top will take your breath away. So, what are you waiting for, just go ahead and plan your trip to this natural wonder.