If you had asked me five years ago if I’d ever plan a trip to El Salvador, I probably would’ve said no. The country long-carried a reputation for being one of the most dangerous in Central America, but recently, El Salvador has undergone a massive transformation. Crime rates have dropped dramatically, and travelers are starting to realize what locals have always known: this country is breathtaking, vibrant, and full of adventure.
I spent a week road-tripping through El Salvador with friends at the end of September, and it ended up being one of the most surprising and soul-filling trips I’ve taken in a while. We hiked an active volcano, swam under waterfalls (and even climbed up one!), wandered colorful towns, and even managed a few lazy beach days. Visiting this stunning country felt like discovering a secret that hasn’t yet made its way onto the mainstream travel circuit.
Here’s what our 7-day El Salvador itinerary looked like.
Day 1: Arrival & First Impressions
I was coming from Nicaragua and my friends were flying in from the states, so we landed at different times in San Salvador. My friends grabbed our rental car (you’ll want one here), and stopped for groceries to stock up on snacks for hikes. Dinner was a tough choice. While we would have loved to start the trip with craft beer at Cadejo Brewing, modern Salvadoran cuisine at Clavo & Canela, or tacos at El Xolo, we were anxious to get to our AirBnB.
Note: Use Waze to get around (not Google Maps) unless you want to be sent down some extremely questionable roads!
We settled for fast food – not the most glamorous choice – but most of our drive was going to be in the dark, and we wanted to settle in sooner rather than later.
After a long day of travel, walking into our AirBnB on Lake Coatepeque felt like the perfect welcome to El Salvador. Although we couldn’t see the water yet, we could tell by the massive hill that we drove up to get there, that it was going to be an incredible view.
Day 2: Santa Ana Volcano & Lake Coatepeque
If there’s one thing that sold me on El Salvador, it was this day. We woke up early and headed to Cerro Verde National Park to hike the Santa Ana Volcano: an absolute must-do, if you ask me!
This hike requires a guide for both safety and trail preservation, which you can hire on arrival, but we learned there are a few different ways you can go about this.
- You can opt to hire a private guide if you walk down the hill a short distance from the park entrance. However, we were told that if we did this and ended up getting hurt on the hike or needing assistance of any kind, the government wouldn’t help us…yikes!
- You can go to the park entrance right across from the food stalls and pay $3 per person to enter the park. From there, you’ll walk along a quiet road to an office area which has restrooms and a little snack stand. Here, you’ll be appointed a guide, which costs $1 per person. Your guide will explain the rules of the park, and then direct you to the office where you’ll pay the final entry fee of $7 per person. This is the option we went with.
This was a moderately tough hike, and took about 3.5 hours round trip, but standing at the top and looking down into a perfectly turquoise crater lake was worth every (steep) step.
By the time we got done we were famished, and opted to try the local food stalls across from where we parked. We had some INCREDIBLE pupusas, that only cost 50 cents each!
By the afternoon, we were back at our AirBnB on Lago de Coatepeque and relaxing with a view. The sun sets really early in El Salvador – around 5:45pm – so we grabbed dinner at watched the sunset at La Pampa Coatepeque. The food here was delicious, and the view was absolutely beautiful.
Day 3: Waterfalls & Coffee Towns on the Ruta de Las Flores
This was the next most adventurous day of the trip! We saw the 7 Waterfalls Tour on TikTok, and booked it a week or so before arriving in El Salvador. The tour meets in Juayúa, which is the cutest little town that has a huge food festival every weekend.
Our guide drove us to the starting point, where we began four hours of hiking, climbing, and swimming under cascading falls. Note: I’m not sure why this tour is called the seven waterfalls tour, because you actually see ten!
Everything about this adventure was thrilling, especially climbing one of the waterfalls using a rope! The tour with a local guide costs $10, which is incredibly cheap compared to what we saw online.
After returning to Juayúa, we strolled through the food festival and got typical plates at one of the stands. It was a ton of food for $10, and so delicious. Before hitting the road, I grabbed a latte at Bloom Coffee, which was equally as yummy.
From here, we continued to drive the Ruta de Las Flores, a string of charming mountain towns including Apaneca and Ataco, my personal favorite with its murals, artisan shops, and cobblestone streets
Later we checked into a cozy cabin in Ataco, falling asleep to a crazy thunderstorm!
Day 4: Coffee Farm & El Zonte Beach
We woke up and started the day with breakfast at our cabin before heading out for a coffee farm tour at El Carmen Estate. No reservation was required, but our guide Oscar made the experience extra fun, and $7 per person was a steal for learning about how Salvadoran coffee is made.
Afterwards, we grabbed lunch at El Café del Artista, a cute spot with colorful walls and lots of vegan/vegetarian options. This was perfect for recharging before more adventure!
We debated skipping this next activity just due to time, and I honestly wish we had. We drove about twenty minutes to the Alicante Hot Springs, which sounded magical but honestly didn’t live up to the hype. Despite being set in the jungle, it didn’t feel very natural—more like a tourist trap than a serene soak, so I wouldn’t prioritize it if you go.
From there, we set off on the 2.5-hour drive to El Zonte, where we checked into Palo Verde, and wow—this place was amazing. Oceanfront views, huge waves, and the kind of laid-back surf-town energy that makes you never want to leave. It was the perfect way to transition from mountains and coffee towns to the Pacific coast vibes. Tip: Get the poke bowl at Nal Tal, the restaurant at Palo Verde. It’s the best one I’ve ever had!
Day 5-7: Slow Down in El Zonte
By this point, we were ready to slow the pace. We checked into Mizata by Antiresort, an eco-luxury property on the beach. Days here started with breakfast overlooking the ocean, and were mostly spent in the pool-or in a lounge chair with a book/my laptop. While we enjoyed our time at Mizata (and definitely needed the relaxation) we all agreed that we wished we had more time in the mountains to hike or explore other towns like Suchitoto.
Why You Should Go to El Salvador Now
El Salvador completely took me by surprise. It’s a place where adventure meets ease. Thrilling hikes and waterfall swims are just a short drive from charming towns and stunning beaches. It’s affordable yet sprinkled with hidden touches of luxury if you want it, and it still feels authentic in a way that more touristy destinations often do not.
The roads are surprisingly easy to navigate, the locals are warm and welcoming, and the food, oh the food, is unforgettable.
If you’ve been dreaming of a trip that blends volcano treks, waterfall dips, surf towns, and vibrant culture, this 7-day itinerary is your perfect guide.
My advice? Don’t wait. Go now, before everyone else discovers this gem.
THE TO GO LIST 
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