Activities in El Salvador
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Centro Turístico Puerto San Juan
Boat tours of the lake and its various islands can be arranged at the new Centro Turístico Puerto San Juan, about 1km north (downhill) from the center of town. What used to be a grubby dirt lot is now an attractive modern structure, complete with eateries, artesanía vendors and a walkway overlooking the water. The tourism office have managed to convince the boat operators to establish fixed prices, which are charged per boat (up to 10 people).
Tours range from 45 minutes to six hours, and visit a combination of islands, sights and lakeside villages, including Isla del Burro, San Luis Carmen and Isla Los Pájaros. You may be able to combine a boat tour with a visit to…
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Centro de Intercambio y Solidaridad
The Mélida Anaya Montes Spanish Language School is one of the principal programs offered by CIS, a community advocacy organization founded in 1993 by foreign and Salvadoran solidarity workers following the signing of the peace accords. Courses incorporate progressive social and political themes into assignments and discussions. Students live with local families and classes, taught by Salvadorans, are held weekday mornings.
Afternoons are reserved for the school's 'Political Cultural Program,' which entails daytrips (and occasional weekend overnights) to coffee plantations, women's' cooperatives, health centers, social organizations, and other sites, to give students an…
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Prodetur
Perquín's tourism and environmental-protection organization, Prodetur, operates the eco-hostel, Eco Albergue de Río Sapo, in the Río Sapo protected area, and offers guided hikes there and around Perquín. Guides are local residents, many of them former guerrilla members, and have ample information on the area as well as fascinating accounts of the war years; most speak Spanish only.
The longer hikes are best begun early in the morning to avoid the heat and (more importantly) afternoon rains. Stop by the Prodetur office when you arrive to arrange a tour for the following day; or call ahead if you're only visiting for a day. If you stay at the eco-hostel, the guide will…
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Tour Guide, René Barbón
Tour Guide, René Barbón, the young English-speaking owner of Restaurante Vista Conga leads excellent eco-tours around the area. A waterfall tour is a 3½-hour trek along - and sometime in - a frigid river that tumbles over four different waterfalls. Two are massive - 42m and over 100m - while the others, at 7m and 12m, are jumpable if you have the nerve.
A highly recommended Cinquera tour visits both Cinquera town and the nearby national forest. The tour offers hiking; great views; a stop at a reconstructed guerrilla campsite, including tatús (trenches and underground rooms used by guerrillas as field hospitals and air-raid shelters), kitchen, barracks etc; and a…
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Cerro el Pericón-El Mozote
This three-hour hike is the most popular of Prodetur's tours. It starts in Perquín and climbs Cerro el Pericón, the summit of which affords fine views of the Río Sapo and the surrounding valley. Descending the other side, you reach the Río Sapo protected area and eco-hostal. After stopping for a snack and possibly a swim - it's cold! - continue to El Mozote to see the monument to the 1981 massacre.
From there it's possible to walk to the highway (about 10km along a dirt road, through the town of Arambala) or you can wait for bus, which passes at 12:45. At the highway, hop on one of the frequent pickup trucks for the last 3km back to Perquín.
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Walking Tour, Cerro Gigante
A 6km loop starts behind the Gigante Casa de Huepedes El Gigante and passes a number of historical and war-related sights. You pass the Pueblo Viejo (Old Town), where Perquín was originally located, and a Lenca cemetery where stones are used to mark graves instead of crosses. Doubling back you pass a container used by the UN to store weapons following the signing of the Peace Accords.
The trail climbs Cerro Perón, in the shadow of Cerro Gigante, then returns to the starting point, passing a guerrilla hospital on the way. Though this can all be done solo, but a guide helps bring the history to life.
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Akwaterra
Run by Julio and Gaby Vega, an English-speaking Salvadoran couple, this outfitter offers top-notch eco-adventure tours, both 'akwa' (like surfing and kayaking) and 'terra' (including hiking, horseback riding and mountain biking). Transport and accommodations can be arranged, either on the beach or at a beautiful artsy cabin on a coffee plantation north of Juayúa. The business has no office, but does have a terrific website with detailed information. All tours can be personalized.
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El Salvador Divers
A friendly, professional, five-star dive shop offering all levels of scuba instruction, and fun dives in Lago Ilopango, Lago Coatepeque and in the Pacific near Los Cóbanos. Mulitday lake trips may include free lodging. The shop also organizes occasional excursions to Roatán, Honduras, including air travel, room, board, drinks, and between four and 10 dives. English and Spanish are spoken; instructional material in additional languages is available.
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Reyna Tours
Specializing in 'war tourism,' with trips near and around Cerro Guazapa, a former FMLN stronghold and the scene of bitter fighting. Tours explore the day-to-day reality of guerrilla life and warfare by visiting trenches, field hospitals and tatús - tunnels and underground rooms dug by rebel soldiers - preserved from the war years. Custom tours are available; minimum four people. Call for details (they'll often answer at night and on weekends).
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City Tour
This walking tour of Perquín focusses on events that took place here during the war. Most of the sights are right around the parque central, including the Casa de la Cultura (formerly a military barracks) and the church. You'll also visit the Museo de la Revolución Salvadoreña and Cerro de Perquín (entrance fees not included). A nice option following lunch and a longer tour in the morning.
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Cerro de Perquín
This is the small hill that rises behind town, with a pretty view from the top. Prodetur is planning to install interpretive signs along the easy 1km trail to the summit, explaining some of the natural and historical significance of the area. There is also talk of charging an entry fee. Look for the trail opposite the entrance to the Museo de la Revolución Salvadoreña, near a public parking lot.
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Walking Tour, Quebrada de Perquín
Walking Tour, Quebrada de Perquín A small natural swimming hole with a modest waterfall. It's right at the intersection of two dirt roads that see very little traffic but still detract from the scene. It's a pleasant, if steep, descent and a long climb back up. Follow the road past Perquín's cemetery just south of town. May be dry February through April.
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Ríos Aventuras
El Salvador's only rafting outfit offers fun one- and two-day white-water rafting trips down various segments of the Río Lempa, Río Paz and Río Banderas. Rapids range from Class I to Class V, depending on the route you choose and the time of year. Day trips include two to three hours of rafting, breakfast, lunch, snacks and transportation.
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Escuela Sihuatehuacán
Spanish classes are offered by the week, month or semester here. Home and hotel stay is available, plus there's thrice-weekly excursions and activities, from visiting Tazumal to learning salsa dancing.
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Turismo
Corsatur-certified and professionally trained guides that offer customized tours to every region of El Salvador. English, German and French are spoken.
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Escuela Cuzcatlán
Offers Spanish classes for college credit, homestays and extracurriculars, like visiting Mayan ruins and taking salsa or surfing classes.
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Prodetur
Perquín's tourism and environmental-protection organization, Prodetur, operates the eco-hostel, Eco Albergue de Río Sapo, in the Río Sapo protected area, and offers guided hikes there and around Perquín. Guides are local residents, many of them former guerrilla members, and have ample information on the area as well as fascinating accounts of the war years; most speak Spanish only.
The longer hikes are best begun early in the morning to avoid the heat and (more importantly) afternoon rains. Stop by the Prodetur office when you arrive to arrange a tour for the following day; or call ahead if you're only visiting for a day. If you stay at the eco-hostel, the guide will…
reviewed