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District in El Salvador
Photo: feinteriano, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Ahuachapán is a small city in the western highlands of El Salvador. With its scenic colonial center and range of services for the traveler, it is a popular stop on the country's Ruta de las Flores, a well-known tourism route through mountainous small towns.
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Zocalo
The town's main square is a peaceful and scenic urban space with towering shade trees, immaculate landscaping, walking paths, park benches and a central kiosk. Locals come to walk their dogs and enjoy Sunday walks with their kids. The town's main church is here along with several small shops, restaurants, cafes, and guest houses. Walk along the outer perimeter and see some of the town's famed mosaic murals.
Ahuachapan sits atop an active geological zone with several steam vents (fumaroles) on the eastern side of town. A large geothermal power plant harnesses some of this energy to produce environmentally clean energy. Los Ausoles is a publicly open park where you can see small geysers and several open fumaroles, with clouds of billowing steam coming out of the earth. Use caution around the vents.
Historical archway built as a memorial to a historic battle near Laguna Espino between Spaniard Pedro de Alvarado and his men, who faced off against the indigenous leader Atonal.
Our Lady of the Assumption Church
The town's oldest and most impressive colonial-era church sits next to the zocalo. It is an austere neo-classic style church with heavy wood and wrought iron doors and a nave covered in natural woods. A serene and beautiful place.
Hot spring waterfalls
Beautiful waterfalls and natural pools with steaming hot mineral waters, fresh from the region's many hot water springs and geysers. Hike the trails and bring a picnic lunch to enjoy by the beautiful waterfalls. Signs prohibit swimming and diving, which locals and tourists alike did frequently until a couple people died diving into waters they didn't check beforehand and others died swimming beneath the lower series of falls where a powerful hydraulic pulls swimmers under water. You sometimes find cattle swimming in the warm river currents (cows are notorious scofflaws, ignoring signs with impunity).
Hot water geysers and pools with an on-site restaurant and comprehensive spa services. There are 14 geothermically heated mineral water pools to choose from, the coolest with 30 degree Celsius water, the hottest with 38 degree water.
Large natural lake on the north side of town, once a popular swimming hole, the water is now considered too dirty for swimming. Several popular restaurants are located on the lakeshore providing scenic views while you enjoy regional cuisine.
Casual outdoor restaurant serving handmade pupusas and homemade curtido. Large portions, cold drinks, hot sauce available.
Lakeside restaurant offering views and activities along with food and drink. Swimming pool and boat rides available. Serves chicken, ribs, seafood, and ceviche.
Mixed menu with a lot of Mexican dishes (tortilla soup, Mexican style carne asada). $1 beer on Thursdays. Music and dancing in the evening.
Pleasant traditional downtown hotel. Modern furnishings with lots of sculptures and wall paintings. Rooms are comfortable and clean. Free breakfast included in room rate, also free passes to the termales (hot springs).
Traditional hotel next to main plaza. Rooms are spacious and clean but minimally furnished. Breakfast at on-site restaurant. Parking available next to hotel.
Chicken buses leave every 10 minutes throughout the day from San Salvador to Ahuachapan via Santa Ana. Route 202 is San Salvador - Ahuachapan. The trip takes 2-1/4 hours and costs about US$2.
Read in the guideThe central downtown area is compact and a joy to walk, with colonial buildings, cobblestone streets, and street vendors with a dizzying selection of things you don't really need.
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Articles and travel topics about Ahuachapan and El Salvador.
ItinerariesRuta de las Flores is an official tourist itinerary in El Salvador. The itinerary follows a route through the Apaneca-Ilamatepec mountain range visiting six towns that are emblematic of rural Salvadoran culture.
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