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District in La Libertad, El Salvador
Photo: Mariordo (Mario Roberto Duran Ortiz), CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Santa Tecla is the second largest city in El Salvador. It is a suburb of San Salvador.
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The major tourist attraction in Santa Tecla. It is a street that is dedicated to bars, restaurants and cafés. Named after El Carmen church located on the same street, it is the night-life spotlight of the city. Family-friendly places are also available for those travelling with children, such as Casa de la MYPYME, a restaurant on a connecting street; and various street vendors that become available on the weekends. Fear not, for this food is hygienic and safe to eat, although street food is not recommended to those with a weak stomach.
One of the main parks at the centre of the city. Not much to see really but sometimes they have some attractions. At Christmas they decore it very nicely.
A museum built upon what used to be a jail. By the late 1970s and the early 80s, this place had become El Salvador's first political jail, which was shut down by 1983. It is now a museum, which also holds one of the best coffee shops in town. Home of Toño Salazar Music Academy.
Third shopping center in San Salvador, it is a 3-level mall with a central food court. The food court has various fast food options like burgers and such, as well as having places with home-made-type meals available, such as La Movida in the food court, and Maquilishuat, a diner/cafeteria type of place that serves typical food as well.
On the weekends, to the west from El Carmen church, there are many street vendors that set up their stands, especially in the evenings and late in the afternoon. It's a really fun atmosphere, with tables set up on one side of the street, and the vendors with their stands sitting on the opposite side.
For those wanting to try the authentic Salvadoran pupusas, there are a few pupuserias (pupusa shops) scattered around the place. A tasty and affordable (each pupusa is about 50 cents) one is located south from the Museum, on 7a Avenida Norte. Cheese and/or bean pupusas should be preferred over chicharron (pork) if you fear getting food poisoning. The aforementioned pupuseria has a very convenient hand sanitizer right next to the cash register.
Dietetic and tasty food. Also specialized in wine.
Chinese restaurant with a wide variety of dishes. Large portions at reasonable prices.
Corporate style restaurant with impersonal service and higher prices than you'd pay for real Salvadoran food from smaller, family run restaurants. Hugely popular with lots of parking.
Nice and simple hotel, well located in central Santa Tecla. Clean and carefully maintained. Kind and helpful people. Has private rooms and dorms. Features hot water, free wifi, rooftop terrace, laundry service ($4.5), daily smiles. No AC (but unnecessary).
Small traditional hotel. Basic rooms. Off-street parking.
By bus
Bus routes are available all over town, with connections to neighboring cities and towns.
Walking is the easiest way to get around once inside Santa Tecla. Places such as Paseo el Carmen, during the weekend nights, are closed off to cars for the pedestrians to take over.
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San Salvador · Regional · ILS
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Articles and travel topics about Santa Tecla and El Salvador.
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