San Salvador Things to Do

Spanish name is "Museo Sitio Arqueologico de San Andres". Central America is La Ruta Maya ....the ancient Mayan Route through the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico, El Salvador, Guatamala, Belize and Honduras. The route, and this incredibly fascinating region of wonderful tropical jungle, mysterious archeological sites, ancient ruins and rich Mayan Culture, is known worldwide as La Ruta Maya. El Salvador was an important comercial link among Mayas and a place where many cultures interacted. I took a 7 hr tour for $70USD which included, San Andres, Joya de Ceren, and Lago de Coatepeque. The guide spoke English very well. Eva Tours provides other guided tours as well.

The Maya inhabited western El Salvador well before the arrival of the Spanish, and although not as well known as Palenque, Mayapán, Copán, Tikal, or Chichén Itzá, many Mayan ruins have been uncovered in El Salvador, including huge limestone pyramids. The greatest period for the Maya was between 250 and 900 A.D. During this time, the Mayans developed a 52-year calendar so accurate, their leap years occur only every 400 years. They also developed a complex system of writing and built a trade route 1,500 miles long, called La Ruta Maya. I took a 7 hr tour for $70USD which included, San Andrés, Joya de Cerén, and Lago de Coatepeque. The guide spoke English very well. Salvador Tours provides other guided tours as well.

Very peaceful place with hammocks underneath little huts. The view is overlooking a black sand beach (volcanic Beach). I think this is a private club. They have a pool, picnic areas, they will serve/sell you food.
Approximately 15mins along the coast from La Libertad going toward Guatemala, is Club Atami set on a cliff-top overlooking two beaches. It has two swimming pools, a 60 metre water slide and a restaurant. Entry costs $7.00 per person and you can hire a cabaña (thatched shelter with hammocks and table) for $2.50. Waiters then bring food and drinks. A double room for the night (basic but clean with fan) costs $20.00. There is access to both beaches from the club and they have surfable waves. Take your passport to get in as a “visitor”. Or you can get a tour guide to take you there. Inter Tours http://www.viajero.com.sv will take you there for a full day trip, $50 per person.

Beautiful view. Our guide took us here and we ate at a little pupusa stand.

I took a 7 hr tour for $70USD which included, San Andrés, Joya de Cerén, and Lago de Coatepeque. The guide spoke English very well. Salvador Tours provides other guided tours as well.

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Zona Rosa was once the heart of San Salvador's entertainment district. Located in San Benito, a middle-class area of the city, it was close enough to the core to be a short car-ride away from home, but far enough away in order to guarantee safety and security. In the last few years, however, the area has had a bit of a rough spot, and while there are still plenty of restaurants and night clubs, these are often empty. The presence of the Sheraton and the Hilton don't really help, as many guests are still wary of going a hundred meters by foot to the establishments. Some still do good business, but these are few and far between. Nevertheless, it is a good taste of what San Salvador used to be like on a Friday night, even if it does resemble a faded beauty from time to time.

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One of the establishments that makes up San Salvador's cultural scene is the Teatro Presidente, so-called because of the large number of busts and monuments to the country's various leaders (as well as to other individuals connected with the arts). This is, evidently, a sensitive structure, as I was warned by a soldier that I was not to take pictures of it. Nevertheless, it appears that the various performances put on here are open to the public, as are the grounds, where you can wander freely. Together with the MARTE, which is right next door, this completes one of the capital's largest cultural complexes, allowing visitors to the Sheraton some form of entertainment wihtout having to wander too far from the hotel.

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The Monument to the Divine Saviour of the World, in a way the namesake of the city of San Salvador, is perhaps the single most identifiable monument of the city and indeed the country as a whole. It is, ironically, in a part of the city that tourists are unlikely to visit, but nonetheless attracts protestors and those looking for a significant start to their activities. The statue was first erected in 1942, although the image of the Christ on top of a globe was originally taken from the tomb of one of the country's presidents during the first half of the 20th Century. In 1986, it was damaged badly during a massive earthquake, requiring a complete reconstruction of the monument. Today, the entire area is once again under construction, as the current mayor has sponsored a remodeling of the plaza to include a lake. Until then, it's not much of a photo opportunity.

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While much of San Salvador’s historic centre has been overrun by street vendors and the shadier aspects of Salvadorean life, la Plaza Gerardo Barrios helps to preserve some of the sense of grandeur and stateliness of the capital. It is dominated by a statue of Gerardo Barrios, an ill-fated President of the Republic during the 1850s and 1860s. President Barrios introduced coffee as a mainstay of the country’s economy, but he lost support of conservatives during a dispute with the clergy and was eventually brought to trial after Guatemalan troops seized control of San Salvador in 1865. The square itself is one of the few open spaces free from peddlers, and it is kept fairly secure by a police patrol in the area. You can get some good shots of the Cathedral from here, although it is nonetheless advisable to keep close watch of your belongings.