The best of Central America in San Salvador
El Salvador | admin | April 14, 2010The city of San Salvador is the capital of the Central American nation of El Salvador. The city is by far the largest among all cities in El Salvador and is also ranked as the third most populous among Central American cities after Guatemala City and Managua.
San Salvador is spread over a huge 220 sq miles and also houses some 1.6 million residents. In short, the city is home to half of the country’s wealth and has a vast history, which includes the Spanish rulers and some fatal natural destruction.
If you are expecting to see a rich Spanish culture in the city, you may be disappointed as there are limited traces of the Spaniards as most of the heritage structures have collapsed due to the numerous natural calamities the city has seen.
Nevertheless, the city can be termed as ultra modern with wonderful roads and other facilities to its residents. The city boasts of the widest streets in the entire Central American region. Besides, the city also houses some of the best educational institutions and universities.
As seen above the city has seen many disasters and has actually recovered quite well. The 1854 earthquake was the most disastrous of all and the San Salvador volcano also caused massive destructions in 1917. In the new millennium the nation has not been spared from disasters either, 2001 saw another huge earthquake and the resultant landslides claimed many lives.
Besides, the period from 1980 to 1992 saw a bitter civil war and many residents fled the city. The city is under constant threats from hurricanes; however, it has not been affected by hurricanes till date.
The san salvador el salvador tourism industry is the lifeline of the city’s economy and there are various places of interest. Let’s go through some of the places in brief.
Lake Coatepeque:
This Lake is one of the best in the world and the origin of the lake is as interesting as well, owing to the fact that it was created by a volcanic eruption some five to six thousand years ago.
Joya de Ceren archaeological site:
This world heritage site is all about ruins and is again associated with a volcanic eruption. Excavations at the site have revealed that a Mayan farming village of the pre Columbian era was buried under an eruption somewhere around 600 AD.
Devil’s Door or Puerta del Diablo:
This peak is situated on the south east side of the capital city. The place used to be of great importance to the Mayan people. It used to be used for sacrifice rituals until the Spanish Catholics opposed such practices and named it the ‘Devil’s Door.’
The Metropolitan Cathedral of the Holy Savior:
This cathedral is the headquarters of the Catholic Archdiocese of the city and houses the seat of the Archbishop of San Salvador. Pope John Paul II visited the cathedral twice during his tenure in 1983 and 1996. A major pilgrim site inside the cathedral is the tomb of Archbishop Oscar Romero, who was assassinated way back in 1980.
Military Museum El Zapote Barracks:
This museum was built way back in 1895. The museum houses exhibits used by the Salvadoran army from the 17th to
20th centuries. The place is full of army uniforms and weapons used during those times. Entry is free to the museum, besides the services of a guide are also provided at no extra cost.
Los Chorros:
This popular site is frequented in large numbers by both foreign and local tourists. The place is all about clean pools of spring water.
Balboa Park:
Balboa Park is all about rabbits and birds spread over 70 acres of green lands. Besides, the park is used for walks and pre-Colombian style sculptures are also present in the near vicinity.
National Zoo:
This zoo is ranked as the most modern amongst all zoos of the Central American region. An interesting fact about the zoo is the animals enjoy a habitat similar to their natural habitats and credit for such a thing being possible should definitely go to the authorities.
La Laguna Botanical Garden:
This garden is unique in many ways. The major feature of this garden is it is set in a crater of a volcano, which is of course extinct. The garden showcases the rarest of foreign and local plants.
Listed below are some of the questions which may be on your mind.
How do I reach San Salvador?
The country’s only international airport is the Comalapa International Airport, which is located some 50 kilometers off the capital. This airport hosts flights from the US and other major nations. Once inside El Salvador, you can travel to the capital city via a hired cab.
Where do I stay during my San Salvador trip?
The capital city of San Salvador is rich in accommodation facilities. Some of the popular landmarks include Hilton Princess, Radisson Plaza, Comfort Inn Real, Intercontinental Real, Holiday Inn, Courtyard Marriot, Plaza Hotel and Suites and Apart-Hotel Maria Jose.
When is the best time to visit San Salvador?
The regions weather is broken into two main seasons. The rainy season runs from May to October and the hotel rates are very low during this period and the place is not crowded at all. On the other hand, the dry season runs from November to April and this period also marks the peak tourist season and the room rates are at their peak.
It would be recommended that you visit the place during the dry months even though the rates may be high. As rain is almost devoid, the timing seems to be perfect for a visit.
In conclusion, San Salvador is a wonderful place to visit. A visit to this wonderful city is a fitting tribute to the people who rebuilt this city, considering the fact the city has seen so many destructions in the past few centuries. So, what are you waiting for, just go ahead and plan your trip to San Salvador.
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San Salvador is a wonderful place to visit; it is rich with culture! Just outside of the main city is the quaint village Barra de Santiago, where beautiful deserted beaches lie, secluded eco friendly resorts reside, and fauna and flora abound. El Salvador has so much to offer as a country, it is travel gem! Great article, thanks for posting.