El Salvador is a stunning Central American country full of great surfing beaches, ancient Mayan ruins, of course, picturesque volcanoes. El Salvador lies on the Pacific Ring of Fire and is subject to significant tectonic activity. There are around 20 potentially active volcanoes in this tiny country (six of them are actively monitored).
While many of the world's most spectacular volcanoes are in Iceland and Hawaii, there are plenty of stunning volcanoes to be seen elsewhere. El Salvador is sometimes thought of as the most dangerous country in the world, but there are plenty of ways to keep safe while traveling and enjoying this remarkable country.
El Salvador And Its Volcanoes
There are 170 volcanoes packed into El Salvador (and this is only a tiny country - around the size of New Jersey). It is a very volcanically active country with much to see. https://www.thetravel.com/safety-tips-for-dangerous-cities/
- Pacific Ring of Fire: El Salvador Lies On The Pacific Ring of Fire
- Earthquakes: The Capital, San Salvador, Was Destroyed By Earthquakes In 1756 and 1854
The country has over twenty volcanoes that are considered active and two of them - San Miguel and Izalco - have been active in recent years. El Salvador has a long history of volcanism. In the 5th century AD, the Ilopango volcano erupted and the ensuing pyroclastic flows destroyed Mayan cities in the region.
Izalco - The "Lighthouse of the Pacific"
Izalco is an active stratovolcano located on the side of the Santa Ana Volcano in western El Salvador. It was in a near contestant state of the eruption from 1770 (when it first formed) to 1958 and was nicknamed the "Lighthouse of the Pacific."
- Formed: 1770
- Erupted: From 1770 to 1956
- Nickname: Lighthouse of the Pacific
During one eruption in 1926, the village of Matazano was buried and some 56 people lost their lives. The volcano destroyed valuable land that had been used for growing coffee, cacao, and sugar cane.
Today Izalco is a popular destination for tourists and has become a national icon (featured on the old 10 colón banknote. The volcano is quiet for now but may erupt again.
Izalco is located within El Salvador’s Cerro Verde National Park (Parque Nacional Cerro Verde). It is one of the most challenging treks in the parks and takes around 3 hours (one way) to reach the summit (only 6,404 feet (1,952 meters).
- Summit: 6,404 Feet, 1,952 Meters
- Hiking: Around 3 Hours
- Crater: 820-foot 250-Meter Wide Crater
While by comparison to other volcanos in the region, it is a virtual baby, it is one of the youngest volcanoes in the world. Its near-perfect cone remains lunar-like and unvegetated.
Santa Ana Volcano
Perhaps the most popular volcano in El Salvador to explore is Santa Ana Volcano (or Ilamatepec). It is a large stratovolcano and the highest volcano in the country.
- Height: 7,812 feet or 2,381 Meters
The summit collapsed during the late Pleistocene in an event that produced a massive debris avalanche that would have reached the Pacific Ocean (it formed the Acafutla Peninsula. But that wasn't the end of the story for the volcano, later eruptions rebuilt the volcano. Today four nested calderas and volcanic craters are features at the summit of Santa Ana.
- 1722 Eruption: Santa Ana's San Marcelino Vents Erupted In 1722 Destroying The Village San Juan Tecpan.
Elsewhere in the country, San Miguel is another notable volcano. It is a stratovolcano in the central-eastern part of the country. The last time it erupted was on December 29, 2013, and spewed ash and smoke into the sky triggering an evacuation of thousands of people around the volcano.
Santa Ana Volcano Hiking Tour + Coatepeque Lake Sightseeing
This tour takes one to the summit of the Santa Ana volcano - the highest peak of El Salvador. The tour includes a moderate full-day hike in the Cerro Verde National Park. The hike up Santa Ana is around 4 hours of medium difficulty. At the top, one will be rewarded with views of Izalco (the "lighthouse of the Pacific listed above), Lake Coatepeque, Cerro Verde, the ocean, and Santa Ana's picturesque crate.
- Peak: 7,822-foot or 2,384-Meters
- Duration: Around 9 Hours
- Language: English
- Included: Pickup from Select Hotels, Lunch
- Price: From $75.00
Tip: Upgrade to Have A Private Guide
Combo Tour: Volcanoes, Lake, and Mayan Sites including Joya de Ceren
One can also mix the tours of the volcanoes with tours of the country's Mayan sites. This mixed tour offers a pick-up from one's hotel and a full day exploring El Salvador's volcanoes, lakes, and ancient Mayan sites.
One will see Izalco, Santa Ana, and Cerro Verde and their unique ecosystems. Check out the beautiful Lake Coatepeque before exploring the Mayan-era ‘Joya de Ceren’ archaeological site as well as the Pre-Columbian city of San Andrés.
- Duration: Around 9 Hours
- Joya de Cerén: UNESCO World Heritage Listed
- Price: From $99.00