Discover the Beauty of El Salvador

The first thing you notice about Rafael Hernandez is his smile. Bright, youthful, and beaming, it’s a toothy grin you’d think belonged to a child. But now in his late 40s, Hernandez is anything but a babe in the woods.

As the head park ranger at the Cinquera Forest, located in the Northeast corner of El Salvador, Hernandez takes his job seriously. And really, you can’t blame him. He spent the better part of a decade protecting the rugged landscape and the people hiding in it from total destruction during the country’s gruesome civil war.

In Cinquera, on a day with air so thick you could cut it with a knife, Hernandez walked our small group through the national park. Along the way, he named nearly every bug, plant, and animal, and even warmly greeted the stray puppy who apparently frequents the trail. He was so connected to each leaf you’d swear they were saying “hello” back.

At the top of the trail, Hernandez stopped to tell us his life story. In deliberate and frank terms he explained how he and a few dozen other guerilla fighters lived in this very forest during the war. Here, they shot down helicopters, fought off government-led insurgents, and ensured the safety of the people. He even lifted a pant leg to show off the shrapnel scars to prove it.

After a decade of fighting, the war ended. However, Hernandez knew the fight for his nation’s wellbeing had only just begun. So, it was then that he transitioned from fighter to lover in an attempt to care for the rich landscape we stood on as — of all things — an official government worker.

“Then, I’d die for the people,” Hernandez said of his time as a guerilla in the civil war. “Now, I’d die for the land.”

Hernandez is just one man, but he’s the perfect representation of why you should be visiting El Salvador right now too.

Why Visit El Salvador?

Nestled under Guatemala, sandwiched by Honduras and the Pacific Ocean, the tiny nation might just be Central America’s best-kept secret.

With just 8,124 square miles of space and a mere 6 million citizens, El Salvador is surely tiny, which is how it got its nickname of El Pulgarcito de Centroamérica or “The Thumbelina of Central America.” It’s a nation rich with history, experiences, and beauty. Of course, it’s also brimming with controversy and a whole lot of misunderstanding.

Currently, El Salvador has a level 3 travel warning by the U.S. government that states: “Reconsider travel to El Salvador due to crime. Violent crime, such as murder, assault, rape, and armed robbery, is common. Gang activity, such as extortion, violent street crime, and narcotics and arms trafficking, is widespread.”

However, the U.S. Department of State didn’t give El Salvador a 4, which means don’t go. Instead, it warns travelers to be aware of their surroundings, a significant piece of advice for traveling to just about anywhere. Consequently, it’s crucial to find the right people to guide you.

If you can muster the courage to see a new place, want to engage with a population eager to show you a side of a country that doesn’t often make headlines, and are willing to take safety precautions, El Salvador is the destination for you. Here’s where to go, what to see, and how you can take a hike with Hernandez too.

Invest in a Guide

This point cannot be stressed enough: Hire a guide. (Did I mention you should hire a guide?) Though beautiful, there are still several places visitors should avoid. That’s where a trusty local comes into play.

On our trip through the nation, we were lucky enough to have one of the best guides on the market: Benjamin Rivera, a tour guide with Salvadorean Tours. On the tour, Rivera arranged our every move from hotel to hotel, lunch place to dinner, and helped translate every word we couldn’t. Hire him, or someone like him, to do the same for you.

Get Ready to Buy a Lot of Art

Like the other Central American countries surrounding it, El Salvador has long been home to artistic talent.

For a prime example, pay a visit to Arbol de Dios, the gallery and art shop of the renowned Salvadoran artist Fernando Llort. Llort, who died in August of 2018, is perhaps one of the nation’s most important and prolific artists. In 1985, he founded his art house to showcase the culture of his beloved El Salvador. Inside, visitors can learn and pay homage to the man and even take part in a small tile painting workshop.

Try All the Delicious Food

If you’ve ever tasted Latin food, then you have a sense of what you’re in for. However, El Salvador is also home to one culinary treat so divine you could (and probably will) eat it for every meal: pupusas.

Pupusas, considered the national dish of El Salvador, are thick corn tortillas stuffed with smashed beans, cheese, or pork, or some combination thereof. They are then served alongside a tomato sauce and cabbage and vinegar garnish.

While you can find pupusas on just about every corner, perhaps no better place to indulge than Casa 1800, a boutique hotel and restaurant located in Suchitoto, the “Cradle of History and Culture,” in El Salvador.

Experience the Beauty of Suchitoto

Also known as the “Place of the Bird Flower,” Suchitoto offers visitors the ideal view of the country’s history thanks to its landscapes, architecture, and, of course, through its meals. Take a quick detour off the cobblestone streets, through the large wooden doors of Casa 1800, and you’ll be smacked with a view so vast you’ll think it never ends. There, you can cook alongside the hotel’s chef, who will attempt (with great patience) to teach you how to perfect the pupusa too.

Get Ready to Adore Tie-Dye Once More

El Salvador happens to be one of the biggest — and best — producers of indigo in the world. Moreover, because tie-dye is having such a major fashion moment, your trip to the country wouldn’t be complete without participating in an indigo workshop to make a piece for yourself. Head to Suchitoto, where you can create a piece alongside master indigo creator Irma Guadron at her shop for just $25 per person.

Be Prepared to Fall in Love with the Landscape

The best part about visiting such a small nation is the fact that you can literally see it all. On our trip, we spent time in the forest, hiked a volcano (located at the El Boquerón National Park, which comes with an entrance fee of just $2) and hit the beach, in a span of just a few days.

To hike with Hernandez, head to the Northeast section of San Salvador to the town of Cinquera. There, you may get lucky enough to see Hernandez, the head park ranger at the Cinquera Forest (otherwise known as Parque Ecológico Bosque de Cinquera) and have him hike beside you. Don’t worry, if Hernandez isn’t personally available, there are still plenty of staffers to help you.

While the forest is beautiful, there was perhaps nothing like looking out onto the Pacific Ocean in the coastal town of El Zonte and realizing it had one of the most perfect right waves on Earth. In El Zonte, we cozied up at the Palo Verde hotel ($129/night), an eco-friendly surf retreat where the owner will personally help guests sign up for surf lessons and ensure their every need is tended to.

Now, all you need to do is plan your flight (several non-stops are available from both New York City and Los Angeles). Soon, you will be singing the praises of travel to El Salvador to anyone who will listen, too.