Things to do in Suchitoto
- Sort by:
- Popular
-
A
La Fonda del Mirador
This Suchitoto institution has spectacular views of Lago de Suchitlán far below. The open air-dining room has exposed beams and a low-slung clay tile roof, with ferns hanging here and there. The food is great - gallo en chicha (chicken marinated in homemade moonshine) is a weekend favorite, and the boca colorada filete (fillet of smapper) is prepared with a homemade salsa of arrayan, mamey and tamarindo - all local fruits. The ensalada marinera (seafood salad) is a meal in itself.
reviewed
-
B
Volcán Guazapa
Volcán Guazapa, towering to the southwest of Suchitoto, was an FMLN stronghold during the war. Today you can see bomb shells, craters and tatús, plus views of San Salvador and San Vicente volcanoes. You can visit by horse or on foot; the tours are operated by an independent cooperative, and the quality (vegetation cleared, tatús maintained, horses not depressed) depends greatly on who's in charge at the time. Check with the tourism office for details.
reviewed
-
Cascada Los Tercios
Cascada Los Tercios is a small waterfall that tumbles over a cliff of tightly packed hexagonal stone spires, a geological oddity related to volcanic activity. The falls are a bit underwhelming when the water is low (often), but the rock formation is interesting enough, as is getting there.
To visit, go south on the road in front of Iglesia Santa Lucia; it curves left, down and up again, before intersecting with a main road at a soccer field. Turn left and continue for about 1.5km. Right after a smoking garbage dump, look for a gate on your left. Enter here or continue to the next house, where one of the kids can guide you - either way, you pass through the family's proper…
reviewed
-
C
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 fasci…
reviewed
-
Salto El Cubo
Salto El Cubo is a somewhat larger waterfall (about 15m) than Cascada Los Tercios and has water year-round. A pair of pools has been formed at the base of the falls - climb from the lower one to the upper, hemmed in by rocks with the water crashing down from above.
To get there, take Calle Francisco Morazán west out of town; it turns to dirt before reaching the trailhead. A narrow path descends steeply to the falls. To return, continue on the same trail, which climbs through the trees and has some excellent lake views before reaching town, near the Hotel Villa Balanza. The first leg takes about a half-hour, the second about double that. You can also go the reverse directi…
reviewed
-
D
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 Cas…
reviewed
-
E
Centro Arte para La Paz
Occupying a full city block, this former school - that has stood closed for the last 25 years - is being renovated and reopened as an arts and performance space, emphasizing 'a culture of peace.' Not yet fully opened when we visited, it promises to be an important addition to Suchitoto's already vibrant arts and culture scene.
Plans include a 300-person theatre for live shows, film screenings and more; an outdoor garden and performance space; studios for art classes; and a media and digital resources center. The website is very professional, and includes an up-to-date events calendar.
reviewed
-
F
Restaurante Vista Conga
The owner, a young English-speaking San Salvador transplant, sure knows how to pick a spot: down a sometimes muddy road, a heavy wooden door opens onto a lush garden, giving way to fantastic views of the surrounding hillsides. Tables are set up in an open corridor; favorite dishes include a chorizo platter, lomo de aguja (filet mignon) and, of course, sopa de gallina india. Dinner service is by appointment. It's just off the road to the lake, near where Av 15 de Septiembre and 3a Av Norte merge.
reviewed
-
G
La Villa Balanza
War relics transformed into art pieces are the main draw to this pleasant open-eatery. The típico (regional specialities) is good, the service is excellent, but the biggest reason people come here is to be surrounded by the historical art and artifacts from the war, including the shell of a 340kg bomb found in Cinquera. At the entrance is a sculpture of a giant scale (la balanza) weighing a stack of tortillas against a bomb.
reviewed
-
H
El Gringo
The gringo here is Robert Perry Brozmorán, an amiable California native who has lived and worked in El Salvador for over a decade. The business started out as an Internet café, but he recently started offering food as well. The menu is mostly Mexican and Tex-Mex, including fajitas, tacos, burritos and chimichangas. Full bar service often keeps the place open well past 22:00.
reviewed
Advertisement
-
I
El Tejado
Travelers with kids may appreciate the large enclosed grounds here, with hammocks and a clean swimming pool within view of the main dining area. Service is excellent, and meals, mostly large meat and chicken plates, are perfectly fine. The dining area boasts yet another stunning view, this one over the valley to the south, with the end of the reservoir way off in the distance.
reviewed
-
J
ZukaFé y Bar
Located inside Dos Gardenias Hostal, the name is a contraction of 'café' and 'Zuka', the name of the little dog running around barking. Rotating art exhibits and cool music (including occasional live performances on Saturday) make this a good place for drinks and meeting other travelers. The food and service is only so-so. Free art-house type movies play every Thursday.
reviewed
-
K
La Bella Esquina
A 'beautiful corner' indeed, which you can enjoy from a window table at this friendly eatery. Fresh comida a la vista (meal-served buffet) includes beef soup, baked chicken and other Salvadoran fare. For breakfast, look for eggs, beans or tamales; the weekend speciality, as at most restaurants, is sopa de gallina india (wild hen soup).
reviewed
-
L
Iglesia Santa Lucia
Constructed in 1853, this church is one of Suchitoto's colonial gems. Its facade features exquisite arches with molded keystones and six huge columns. Two statuesque towers loom down from above (both chime - one with a bell and the other with metal bars) and an antique clock sits in between. The wood-paneled interior is well preserved and worth a prayer.
reviewed
-
Casa Museo de Alejandro Cotto
Considering this is one of the most expensive museums in the country, you'd think it might be a little more spectacular. It's a private collection of antiques, musical instruments, paintings and books crammed in a rambling colonial-era home. If you like poking around, Alejandro Cotto, a filmmaker born in Suchitoto, may even be there to show you around.
reviewed
-
M
Gallería de Arte Lucia Cañas
This beautiful colonial-era home houses an eclectic collection of paintings for sale and old photographs of Spanish émigres. Occasionally, music recitals also are hosted here. Open weekends only, it's a pleasant stop on your stroll through town. If you want to lounge awhile, you can enjoy a glass of wine in the shady courtyard.
reviewed
-
N
La Casa del Escultor
This is the gallery and workshop of the talented sculptor Miguel Martino. Most of the week you'll find him working on his next pieces while surrounded by some of his beautiful - and finished - creations. On Sunday the workshop is transformed into a popular Argentinean restaurant.
reviewed
-
O
Hotel y Restaurante El Obraje
A popular restaurant in the heart of town, El Obraje serves up classic Salvadoran dishes. Take a look at the floors - covered with gorgeous tiles that were imported from Europe in the 1840s. Apparently the tiles were shipped along with those in the Iglesia Santa Lucia.
reviewed
-
Harlequín
Suchitoto's go-to bar and nightspot features film nights, great music and frequent drink specials. It was about to change locations when we visited, but it's too good to leave out - ask at the tourism office for the latest.
reviewed
-
P
Galería de Arte Shanay
Owner and artist Víctor Manuel Sanabria exhibits his realism-style paintings and those of his students in this gallery behind the church. Curios and antiques also are sold.
reviewed
Advertisement
