Walking around in downtown Santa Tecla you are immersed in Salvadorian history and culture.
Architecture from the early 1900 makes a regular appearance in the Santa Tecla landscape. Beautiful
neoclassical buildings line the streets and remind us of a simpler time in El Salvador.
A must see example of this architecture is the Palacio Municipal de las Bellas Artes. Here modern
art meets classical Salvadorian arts and crafts. Built in 1911 by Jose Jerez, as a family home and later
donated to the municipality this building became the municipal building in the late 1920’s. In 2001
the building suffered some major damage from an earthquake and was left to gather dust. In 2008 a
remodel was completed and this local Read more
Want to escape stress from work or just life in general? So does everyone else, but only a few do it well. Decameron Salinitas is just that, an escape from reality. Lie on the beach all day, have a drink at the bar, swim in the pool, anything but stress.
Decameron Salinitas is located on the pacific coast only a short drive away from San Salvador. The rooms’ decoration is soothing and festive all at once. They are spacious and a wide array of amenities are available to make your stay even more comfortable. Every room has a great view of the gardens or the pool.
During the day you can eat all you want at the buffet. The Read more
Apaneca’s location is what makes it perfect for harvesting coffee. At 1455 meters above sea level, it is the city with the highest altitude in El Salvador, and the next stop after Juayua on the Ruta de las Flores. Due to its height, some of the best coffees in the world are produced here.
Apaneca means “the river of the winds” and the city holds up to its name, with constant breezes throughout the day. Many wind barriers are created using coffee bushes, making the whole region very picturesque.
There are lost of different sights to see in Apaneca, such as the Laguna Verde and the Laguna de las Ninfas, and touring a coffee plantation is a must.
So everyone knows the Food Festival in Juayua is where it’s at, but what if you arrive mid-week and are looking for somewhere to grub? Hit up the Pizzeria Al Forno… you won’t be disappointed.
In other countries I have traveled to, I often succumb, at least once, to eating at an American style pizza joint, like Pizza Hut, and I am always incredibly disappointed. Even in countries where there are local pizza chains, it is just never as good as Hungry Howies (GO MIDWEST PIZZA!).
Pizzeria Al Forno isn’t Midwest pizza, and it’s not a New York pie either, but it does what it does well. Pizzas are baked fresh, in about 15 minutes, and they use all fresh ingredients. Read more
Budget accomodations in Juayua can be found at Hotel Anahuac on 5a av norte at 1a calle pte near the town center. A night starts at $7 for a bed in either of the dorm style rooms. There are also four private rooms that open up onto a large courtyard that serves as kind of a community hang out spot.
The hotel is a colonial home that has been converted, and keeps a very low key, cool, cozy style. Hammocks are strung up between support beams, there is a common kitchen for guests to share, and a number of random rooms to chill in with free internet access.
The private rooms have hot water bathrooms, the dorm rooms have a shared Read more
With all the fun hiking to do in and around Juayua it is important that you choose a reliable tour company. Juayutur on the east side of the town’s central park is known for providing a variety of excellent tours, even custom fitting tours to tailor to the needs of your group.
Really, if you come to Juayua during the week, you are going to want to fill your days with different hikes, bike rides, and swims in anticipation of the weekend’s Gastronomic Fair.
That’s where Juayutur fits in. Although at the moment they don’t have a web-site, you can call Edgar Antonio Alfaro at 011 503 2469 2387, or just stop by the office!
Heading up the mountain of Apaneca you will pass through San Juan de Dios, a small coffee oriented community. Just beyond the city you will come to Finca El Portezuelo, which is a farm that runs a variety of tours in the mountainous region.
From Finca El Portezuelo you can take a hiking tour up through the mountains into the cloud forest, where there are amazing wild orchid gardens and other plant life. The hike takes you through coffee plantations and ravines, ending in a series of geishers. The mud from the geishers is said heal the skin, and that combined with a nice soak in the hotsprings melts away the outside world.
Juayua is one of the best places for eco-tourism in El Salvador – in all of Central America actuallly. The landscapes are incredible, yes, but what makes it so great is that it is still a virtual unknown in comparison to countries like Costa Rica and Panama.
Juayua in particular is popular among tourists that come to El Salvador, but honestly the amount of people who end up here are quite few. The country is still a little more rugged than other popular eco-tourism destinations, but for many, that makes it all the more fun.
In Juayua it is a good idea to ask at your hotel guest for a local guide. Sure, you can hike around yourself, but Read more
The most popular first stop on the Ruta de los Flores is Juayua. It is most famous for it’s food festival held every weekend, with tons of different dishes to choose from, most of them being carnivorous.
Make sure you plan a trip to Juayua on the weekend to make sure you get to take part in this fabulous event.
Another fun thing to do in Juayua is visit the Coffee Museum in the nearby town called San Jose La Majada. They have a little guided tour that takes you through the coffee mill and shows you the process of making coffee. The museum is across the street from the processing plant, where you might see a Starbucks truck Read more
If you are headed to Nahuizalco within the next 5–10 days you are just in time to celebrate the patron saint festival in honor of San Juan Bautista, as well as the annual arts and crafts festival. The 5 day fesitval is held annually from June 20–25.
San Juan Bautista is the namesake for the Nahuizalco Chapel which was built in 1859. It is an interesting archaeological site, which is home to several graves. (In colonial times, before cemetaries, they buried people in the church!) Several tombs have already been discovered, and many people hold to the belief that another temple or grave might exist underneath the floor.
During the festival the whole town lights up! Local furniture, arts and Read more
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