Landscapes, Culture & Coffee: Discovering El Salvador

Depart for El Salvador, arriving at the International Airport in Comalapa. Transfer to our hotel in the upscale neighborhood of San Benito in the capital city of San Salvador. Gather this evening for a briefing and welcome cocktails. Hotel Sheraton Presidente

Explore San Salvador’s historical city center, including the beautifully restored Metropolitan Cathedral and its tomb of Monsignor Romero, the elegant National Theatre, plazas and avenues. Lunch at a rooftop restaurant in the city center. Return to your hotel for relaxation. Welcome dinner. Hotel Sheraton Presidente - Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Journey to Cerro Verde, a dormant volcano within Volcanoes National Park that rises to 6,670 feet and is home to one of the few cloud forests in the country. Walk through the woods that have flourished inside this extinct volcano’s crater, home to nearly 125 species of birds. From the top of Cerro Verde, gaze upon impressive and panoramic views of Izalco and Lamatepec volcanos. Continue to Coatepeque Lake, formed in a volcanic caldera that cyclically changes colors. Transfer to Concepción de Ataco. At over 4,000 feet above sea level, it is a charming town of cobbled streets, surrounded by vast coffee plantations. Hotel Casa 1800 - Breakfast and lunch included.

This morning, travel the mountain road dubbed Ruta de Las Flores (Route of the Flowers). It connects a series of charming towns and villages in the heart of the coffee-growing area. Stop in Juayua to see its colonial church before hiking to the waterfalls of Chorros de la Calera. Next, travel to the rural town of Apaneca, perched at 4,757 feet above sea level. Surrounded by fertile coffee plantations. Continue to the pre-Columbian village of Ataco, one of the nation’s main coffee producers. Here, we will ride dune buggy vehicles on back roads to a hidden lagoon in the forest. Visit a private coffee processing plant, or beneficio, to learn about the coffee-making process. Hotel Casa 1800 - Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

Depart for the Mayan archaeological site of Joya de Ceren, a UNESCO World Heritage site. It features a pre-Columbian Maya farming village preserved beneath layers of volcanic ash and remarkably intact. Journey to the top of San Salvador Volcano, where we admire its enormous crater, “El Boquerón”, and the incredible views of the capital city. Later, visit the MARTE, the Museum of Art of El Salvador, which is next to your hotel. Hotel Sheraton Presidente - Breakfast, lunch and dinner included.

This morning, depart for Suchitoto, a colonial village where time has stood still. View the impressive Lake Suchitlán, which was formed upon completion of the Cerron Grande hydroelectric dam on the Lempa River in 1973. Explore the town and learn about indigo, an herb prevalent in El Salvador. Walk along cobblestone streets and admire the colonial adobe houses and churches adorned with wrought-iron and wood carvings. Visit the Art Center for Peace and dye your own garment at the indigo workshop. On the return transfer to San Salvador, pause at scenic viewpoints overlooking Lake Ilopango, the country’s largest volcanic lake, for a relaxing coffee break with panoramic views. Hotel Sheraton Presidente - Breakfast and lunch included.

Visit La Puerta del Diablo (Devil’s Door) for exceptional views of the valleys and volcanoes. It is a site of legends and stories, located next to the village of Panchimalco. There are trails for those interested in taking a nature hike or who want to further explore this area. Stop at an artisan market to absorb the wonderful sights and sounds of a bustling Central American market. Late in the afternoon, depart for the nearby Pacific coast for drinks and a farewell dinner overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Hotel Sheraton Presidente - Breakfast and dinner included.

Transfer from our hotel to the International Airport, Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero, for flights home to the U.S.