Things to do & places to visit in Santa Ana Department, El Salvador

Santa Ana Department #2 destination in El Salvador 2023. The average rating score is 4.46 based on 1.534 traveler reviews, of 31 attractions. Timezone: America/El_Salvador, current date and time: Sunday, May 12, 2024, 0:03.

Top things to do (31)

Top places to visit (30 attractions) view more »

5.0 Izalco Volcano (30 reviews)
- Steeeeeep!
Sunday: 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM Volcanos

Accessabile from the same park as Santa Ana, this is a cool volcano. I did both in the same day - this one was shorter, but harder to climb up and down. Very slippery. But once you get to the top - you can walk around the whole rim - and look down at the old lava floes below. Sulphur smoke streams out of crack at the top too - a cool/eerie feeling. I would highly recommend doing both volcanoes See more..
5.0 Shuttles In América Central (22 reviews)
- Great Experience, uncomplicated
Sunday: Taxis & Shuttles

Shuttles in Central America, which gives you support, and a guarantee, to move in Central America, in a safe and economic way. https://gotravelcentroamerica.com/ See more..
5.0 Go Travel El Salvador (21 reviews)
- Book with GoTravel El Salvador
Sunday: 12:00 AM - 11:59 PM City Tours • Private Tours • Nature & Wildlife Tours

Go Travel El Salvador is an amazing company. My friend and I travelled to El Salavador this past week and had an incredible time. Alex agreed to pick us up from the Airport for very reasonable fee in comparison to other companies I researched. Alex was waiting at the airport when we arrived and safely transported us to Juayua, stopping us by a beautiful mirador along the way. We also hiked Sanata Ana Volcano and visited Lake Crotepeque with GoTravel El Salvador. We had a fun hike with Dennis and then enjoyed a delicious lunch at the lake. On our last day Alex drove us back to the airport. We departed Santa Ana and arrived at the airport on time, which made me really happy. If you're looking for a company with affordable prices and great customer service then you should book with GoTravel El Salavdor. You will not regret it! See more..
5.0 Finca La Esperanza Coffee Tour (12 reviews)
- A genuine local experience
Sunday: 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM Spent More than 3 hours Farms

I feel very fortunate to have found this tour. If you like coffee or are interested in farming or want to meet an enthusiastic local this is the tour for you. Door to door service in a restored Toyota. Local pastries, cool breezes and beautiful views. A great way to spend the morning. See more..
5.0 Montecristo National Park (6 reviews)
- Amazing National Park in El Salvador
National Parks • Parks

One of the most amazing national parks we have visited. I highly recommend planning a day with family & cooking out here. Staff are super friendly & the park is well maintained. They even have a camping area or you can rent a cabin. We have plans to return & stay a couple of nights in the cabins. Roads have been updated making it an easy trip for the whole family. See more..
5.0 Finca San Antonio (2 reviews)
- Must See!!
Spent 2-3 hours Ancient Ruins • Points of Interest & Landmarks • Monuments & Statues

Carola and her family manage this private plantation/farm where they have happened to have found Mayan Ruins. The care and love they give to the preservation of those artifacts is inspiring. Since this is private land there are many place that have yet to be excavated so with a bit of luck you may be one of the people that finds a Maya artifact just beneath the surface of the dirt while exploring the site. No joke this place made me feel like Indiana Jones, like I was seconds away from making a discovery myself. If I could afford it I would move to El Salvador and work for Carola and her family as a tour guide. See more..
5.0 Tourism in El Salvador (1 review)
- Driver - Safe, reliable and affordable
Multi-day Tours • Surfing & Windsurfing • Sightseeing Tours • Private Tours

I hired Cesar Ramos to drive us around El Salvador for 5 days. He was referred by a relative who also used him to drive them around. He took us to the largest forest in El Salvador, El Bosque Imposible, went snorkeling at Los Cobanos Beach, El Salto de Malacatiupan, a hot spring water fall (my son's favorite) food festival at Juayua and bike zip line at Apaneca. Cesar has a great sense of humor is friendly and is very family and kid oriented. He is very knowledgeable about how to get you where you want to go. If he doesn't he will tell you let me look into that for you and he will get you the information you need or will ask you to bring a guide or he will connect you with one. He got us a guide to the hot springs waterfall for $15 and we were a family of 6. Also he will tell you some of the best spots to eat at and where to stay away from. Highly recommend him. He can be reached by whatsapp at +503 7647 1328. I recommend calling him in advance to ensure he is available during your vacation. Happy travels! See more..
5.0 Taxi Tour (1 review)
- Nice Service
Spent 2-3 hours Taxis & Shuttles

Always on time. Gerardo is a willing and able person, very polite. Comfortable car. Reasonable taxi fare. See more..
4.5 Lake Coatepeque (386 reviews)
- One of the most beautiful lakes in El Salvador
Bodies of Water

Coatepeque is a volcanic lake situated about an hour from San Salvador. It is much older than Ilopango, though created by a similar catastrophic eruption some five to six thousand years ago. Named Lago de Coatepeque, it is on the eastern slope of the Santa Ana volcano. It is a beautiful, clean, and sparkling blue crater-shaped lake, 6 kms wide and 120 meters deep and surrounded by steep green slopes rising up 250 to 500 meters. The scenic road between the Interamerican Highway and CA8, known as the "panoramic highway" for its marvelous views, curls along the steep ridge of the crater giving you glimpses of the broad fertile valleys on one side and the lake on the other. If you would like to practice scuba diving during the winter season this lake is your best option! into this crater with lots of water life you can see Catfish, Guapote, Zebra fish, etc. There are several restaurants and hostels as well. Also, you cannot miss the wonderful view of the king's castle.... See more..
4.5 Santa Ana Volcano (339 reviews)
- Great Hike, Spectacular view and experience
Sunday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Volcanos

The hike up Santa Ana is really worth your time, and probably our favorite thing we did in our 4 days in El Salvador. It's a good hike that take s a bit of stamina, but nothing outrageous. Your strenuous hike is rewarded with a spectacular view of the green caldera lake, complete with sound effects of steam. hissing from vents around it. There are options in between taking the very cheap, but very slow and early local bus and paying $80 pp for a standard group tour. Uber was available from Santa Ana, and it showed about $20 one-way. We opted for a driver arranged through our hostel, which was $20 pp. He got us there in less than half the time of the bus, and then stopped at a spot on Lake Coatepeque for lunch. Having a driver was nice in that we didn't have to worry so much about getting back for the 1:00 bus. It isn't a big deal, really, but we were a little more comfortable lingering at the summit longer since we didn't have to worry about the deadline. See more..
4.5 Lago de Coatepeque (174 reviews)
- Great lunch and swim post Santa Ana hike
Bodies of Water

Lago de Coatepeque is a 6km lake formed in the caldera of a extinct volcano. It will be your landscape as you drive to the Santa Ana Volcano Hike in Parque Nacional Los Volcanes. Although most people appreciate it through their car window and a stop at a mirador on the way to the hike for a picture another option is to drive down to one of the various restaurant offerings located on the shore and enjoy a lunch and drink post the hike. This is what our tour did after we completed the volcano hike. I cannot recall the restaurant we went to but it did provide a platform that allowed us to have a swim in the lakes waters, which were clean and not too cold. You can also access it via public bus 220 or 242 but I’m not sure on the specifics of that. There is also a ferry that provides 45 minute tourist boat rides in the afternoon at a cost of 5 USD. Overall it complemented the Santa Ana volcano hike well and we enjoyed our afternoon there. See more..
4.5 National Park Cerro Verde (124 reviews)
- Hike to the Top of Volcan Santa Ana
Sunday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM National Parks

Beautiful region. It was about a 90 min drive from San Salvador and I came up here on a personal guided tour with Centro America Tours. My guide Benjamin was excellent. The hike to the top of the Santa Ana Volcano was the highlight of my stay in El Salvador. My guide on the trail Herzon was great. 4 mile round trip hike that was moderately strenuous but beautiful views along the way including of the nearby Izalco Volcano. Sights and smells of the active volcano when we reached the top were awesome. Didn't see too much wildlife when visiting but it was midday. There is also an observation point with views of Lake Coatepque in the park. It was clouding up at this point in the afternoon but I could imagine this would be beautiful from photos that I've seen. See more..
4.5 Santa Ana Cathedral (118 reviews)
- Beautiful Cathedral in the heart of Santa Ana
Churches & Cathedrals

This is large cathedral located in the central square of Santa Ana, adjacent to the theatre. It’s quite striking and beautiful with a white neo gothic facade and more of a classic brick main section. It’s absolutely covered in pigeons, which they actually feed for their amusement. You can go in for free and there is a small souvenir stand inside. Overall it was a beautiful site in a the otherwise gritty city of Santa Ana. See more..
4.5 Teatro Nacional de Santa Ana (61 reviews)
- Highly recommended to visit!
Sunday: Theaters

Glad that I visited it on my last day in Santa Ana! Entrance fee for foreigners is $5 plus $2 for the use of camera. I had an English speaking guide named Stephanie. She explained the history of the theater and showed me its various areas. My favorite area is the salon where they do the dancing. On its sides are the separate areas for men and women. The paintings on the ceilings mouldings, chandeliers. etc are all very beautiful. There are 3 levels or sections for the audience to sit. The top level is for the poor customers where the seats had been modernised. The bathroom at this level is modern and free to use during my visit. There is a small museum on the right side of the theater (ground level). Highly recommende to visit! See more..
4.5 Museo Regional de Occidente (15 reviews)
- Very interesting history
Speciality Museums

Well, there are different events happening here. Depends on when you go. It changes. But it's very interesting to learn the history. Downstairs in the vault there are gold bars and the history of the money used. See more..
4.5 Apuzunga (13 reviews)
- Fun Family Spot
Sunday: Water Parks

Its great for families, there are plenty of pools to choose from, and the little ones tend to stay by the kiddie pool. There are also other activities for the older kids like zip lining and water rafting. The food and drinks are also good. We visit every time we are in town to visit family and we typically bring the whole gang along, about 10-12 of us and rent one of the palapas along the rivers and lounge in the hammocks when we need a break from swimming. See more..
4.5 Escuela de Artes (11 reviews)
- Gorgeous
Architectural Buildings

Very beuatiful quiet place in the middle of the market. Hard to believe something ruimed like this can look so pretty after all! See more..
4.5 Museo de Anatomia Humana de UNASA (7 reviews)
- Excelente
Speciality Museums
Museo de Anatamía de la Universidad a la que asisto y es excelente, se encuentra en lugar accesible y los encargados muy buenas personas. See more..
4.5 Parque Nacional El Imposible (6 reviews)
- Enjoyable hiking
Spent 2-3 hours State Parks • National Parks • Forests

We visited with an arranged tour. We did about a 7 mile hike (round trip) from the visitor's center down to the junction of two streams in the valley below. It's not virgin forest by any means, but it was a nice hike, and swimming the the stream pools at the bottom was very refreshing. Yes, the road to the visitor's center is very bad. Not the worst I've ever been on, but I was glad it wasn't me who was driving! See more..
4.0 Tazumal (137 reviews)
- I was the only visitor!
Sunday: 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM Ancient Ruins

I took public bus 218 to reach this attraction. Fare is 30 cents per person and the ride took about 30-40 minutes. It was a 5-minute walk from the bus stop to the entrance of this attraction. Entrance fee is $5 for foreigners, cheaper for the locals. There is only 1 pyramid-like building that is cordoned off and climbing it is not allowed. One can go around this building and take its pictures from various angles. The museum is being renovated and is closed during my visit. See more..
4.0 Parque Arqueologico Casa Blanca (18 reviews)
- Don't miss this extra Mayan site when visiting Tazumal
Sunday: 9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Ancient Ruins • Parks • History Museums

Despite this being only a short walk from Tazumal, this site was way quieter which I really don't understand - it's just as interesting. It has an excellent little museum explaining the history of the site, and the park itself includes six smaller pyramids set in a beautiful, tree-lined setting. See more..
4.0 Mercado De Artesanias Santa Ana (2 reviews)
- Bring cash and be ready to bargain here!
Flea & Street Markets
I came across this place while walking around the Cathedral. There was no one shopping there at 10:30 a.m on a Friday morning. Lots of different stuffs to buy here ranging from bags, wallets, shirts, hats, magnets, wall decorations, etc. All goods for sale represented to be made in El Salvador, not in China. At the entrance, they are also selling local sweets and other stuffs. Bring your cash as they don’t accept credit cards here. Happy shopping! See more..
3.5 Metrocentro Santa Ana (18 reviews)
- Normal shopping mall, electronic goods available
Shopping Malls

It‘s basically a normal shopping mall but surprisingly big for Santa Ana. This is the place if you need to replace some simple electronic items or memory cards or whatever. Food court is the normal mall standard (kind of hidden on the backside of the mall). Starbucks available but the experience in a local coffee shop somewhere is more genuine! If I got it right, the international Tica bus leaves somewhere around this area. If you have to get there in the dark from somewhere in the city center and with luggage I would recommend to take a taxi! See more..
3.5 Go Travel El Salvador (5 reviews)
- Private transport from El Salvador to Rio Dulce, Guatemala
Multi-day Tours • Adrenaline & Extreme Tours • Private Tours • Day Trips

We had agreed on pick-up at our hotel in Juayúa at 6 am, but with a short notice we were informed that the driver were two hours late. An unnecessary early start of the day, but the rest of the transfer went fine. The driver was nice, drove safe and responsible and stopped for restroom and lunch breaks when we requested it. The trip was 6,5 hours including breaks. See more..
3.5 Parque Libertad (5 reviews)
- Good Place to sit down and enjoy the ambience!
Parks

This attraction is located in front of the Cathedral. During my visit, I noted a number of military guys standing around the gazebo. There is a manger on display at the gazebo and a tall paper mache. There are benches for one to sit down and listen to the very loud music coming from the “Claro” store located near by. Also, nearby is the National Theater, restaurants, food stalls, etc. See more..
De10 THE HOUSE (0 review)
Sunday: 1:00 PM - 7:00 PM Bars & Clubs • Karaoke Bars
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Tienda Miraflores (0 review)
Spent < 1 hour Speciality & Gift Shops

Artesanal Goods Shop. Jade jewelry, Naturally dyed Clothes, Coffe from the surrounding slopes and local arts and crafts. See more..
RastaMaya Tours (0 review)
Sunday: 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM Taxis & Shuttles • Nature & Wildlife Tours

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Parroquia San Pedro Apóstol (0 review)
Churches & Cathedrals
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Elife Buenos Aires (0 review)
Taxis & Shuttles

Elife is a global private transportation company, covering thousands of cities and airports in 150 countries. We offer different vehicle alternatives for individual and group transportation: from sedan to coach bus, with professional drivers and 24/7 customer service. For more information, please visit our website www.elifelimo.com See more..