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District in Ahuachapán, El Salvador
Photo: Metztli, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Apaneca is a small village in El Salvador with some great big attractions for adventurous travelers. There's mountains, forests, and two nearby volcanoes for the hikers and outdoor enthusiasts. Close to town is an outdoor adventure park with a labyrinth of natural vegetation as well as zip lines and similar thrill attractions.
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Kind of like a waterfall grotto with an admission fee.
A very colonial agglomeration of churches, government buildings, plaza, etc. Also, in the nearby town of Concepción de Ataco is a town square area with numerous artisanal shops.
Duran Arch
An archway not quite to the scale of Arche de Triomphe but something to see anyway.
Another waterfall, this one more like a horse's tail.
Black Christ Church
Church with a black Christ statue.
Printing Press Museum
If you can get yourself interested in printing presses, this is a museum that is very deep on that subject. Also a lot of good eateries in the surrounding town plaza.
The town's main church. While the parish dates from 1798, the original colonial-era church was destroyed by an earthquake in 2001. The new church is a neoclassical style structure with a starkly austere interior of natural wood and white stucco. The impression is of being in a serene space reflective of the surrounding natural world.
Termales de Santa Teresa
Relaxing mineral water hot springs and face masks, etc. Kind of expensive though.
Labyrinth
Outdoor adventure park with ziplines, zip-bikes, zip-surfing and of course the labyrinth mazes made up of hedges where they have to send someone in if you get hopelessly lost.
Tranquil outdoor dining area with tables on the patio, under towering shade trees. Typical Central American cuisine including grilled meats, gallo pinto, fried plaintains and aguas frescas.
Small, cheery cafe serving typical Central American cuisine. The pupusas are delicious, top them off with lots of curtido.
Mountain retreat with 20 rustic cabins scattered across a natural landscape. Cabins are spacious, comfortable, and clean. Located close to the towns of Apaneca, Juayúa, Concepción de Ataco, Nahuizalco and Tacuba. Offers mountain environment, on-site restaurant, nearby archaeological site, swimming pool, and mountain biking.
This boutique hotel in Apaneca is situated 1500 m above sea level, offering a cool year round climate, restaurant and a good base for exploring the town.
More affordable than some and right in town. Has wifi. Some food available.
Cozy B&B type place located close to an ancient, deep, secondary crater with vertical walls, the "Cuajusto" extinct crater in Apaneca town. From here you can catch some impressive panoramic views and do hikes to the nearby Laguna Verde, Black Forest and other natural beauties On Calle a la Laguna Verde.
Cozy hostel run by a friendly young family. Rustic furnishings give the room a comfortable "homey" feel.
Transportes Maritza Esmeralde runs several route 205 buses between San Salvador and Sonsonate. Buses depart every 30 minutes throughout the day. The 90-minute ride costs about US$2.
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San Salvador · Regional · ILS
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Articles and travel topics about Apaneca 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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Nature & adventureAs of 2023 the UNESCO World Network of Biosphere Reserves is made up of 738 reserves in 134 countries of which 22 are transboundary.
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Nature & adventureEl Salvador has 5 national parks conserving a wide range of plant and animal species across several types of ecosystems including Pacific beaches, coastal wetlands, mountainous rainforests, and rugged volcanic peaks.
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Nature & adventureSurfing is a sport in which people stand on boards and ride waves.
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