Volcanoes of El Salvador

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links. I will earn a commission if you make a purchase by clicking on the link at no extra cost to you.

El Salvador's topography will have its visitors straining their necks trying to take in its magnificent mountainous regions. El Salvador has a total of 23 volcanoes three of which are active. That's an astonishing amount for such a small country!

The last eruption was recorded in 2013 when the most active volcano, Chaparrastique (San Miguel), spewed out a massive cloud of black smoke and ash approximately 5 kilometers high. It's interesting to note that most, if not all, of the names of the volcanoes in El Salvador originate from Nahuatl, an ancient now endangered language which was spoken by indigenous tribes.

I've seen a few volcanoes throughout my travels, and each time I stand at the edge of the craters, I feel transfixed and incredibly vulnerable. I only visited one of the many volcanoes of El Salvador but I was impressed, nonetheless!

QUEZALTEPEQUE (SAN SALVADOR) VOLCANO

Parque El Boquerón is located at the top of the Quezaltepeque (San Salvador) Volcano rendering it one of the most fertile volcanoes brimming with native plants and lush vegetation. Well-marked and well-maintained trails indicate the way up to the volcano. I climbed up using the series of sturdy stairs which made it a little less strenuous.

Once at the summit, I caught my breath, wiped my sweaty brow and, as I stood on the rim of this massive beast, I contemplated its potential calamity. I was humbled and well aware of my smallness in the face of Quezaltepeque.

Apparently there used to be a lake inside the crater but the last eruption completely evaporated it creating el boquerón (big mouth) - a smaller crater within Quezaltepeque.

Elevation: 1867 meters / 6125 feet above sea level

Diameter: 1.5 kilometers / 1 mile

Last eruption: 1917

JOYAS NEGRAS

Along the highway, volcanic rock from the 1917 eruption remains untouched covering a large part of the surrounding area of the San Salvador Volcano. The Joyas Negras viewpoint allows visitors to witness up close the incredible strength and power of the volcano that caused irreparable damage and left a permanent scar on the landscape.

LAKE COATEPEQUE

Lake Coatepeque is a volcanic caldera located on the Eastern side of the Ilamatepec (Santa Ana) Volcano. The pristine sparkling blue water attracts vacationers from the nearby hectic capital city of San Salvador. Several private beach houses speckle the shores of the lake making this an ideal weekend getaway for city dwellers.

Nestled in one of the corners of the lake is Teopan Island where the Quiches lineage descending from Mayan ancestors chose to settle hundreds of years ago. Legend has it they chose this remote island to seek safety from their enemy, the Xibalbhans who had a fear of water.

Today Teopan Island has become an exclusive vacation spot for El Salvadoriens.

With so many volcanoes in El Salvador, it's common to see some while driving. Unfortunately, I don't remember the names of these two but it goes to show how much volcanoes dominate the landscape in El Salvador.

READ MORE ON EL SALVADOR

TRAVEL RESOURCES

Verify visa requirements for El Salvador on the official website
Book flights to El Salvador via Skyscanner
Compare hotel prices in El Salvador on Booking.com & Agoda
Check hostel prices on HostelWorld
Stay connected using an Airalo E-sim for El Salvador
Search for tours & excursions in El Salvador
Shop for affordable travel insurance with SafetWing
Save on conversion fees while traveling with Wise

PIN THIS POST!

Lydia

I’m the founder and creator of Life Untraveled. I quit my corporate job, sold everything I owned and have been traveling full-time since 2018. I hope to inspire you to travel differently on a budget.

More about me here.