Located in northern Usulután, Alegría is visited by local and foreign tourists looking for a quiet mountain town, with cool climate and friendly people.

Alegría is a haven of tranquility ideal for escaping the routine and the hectic pace of the cities. It is situated 142 km from San Salvador.

Here you can try local cuisine, like fresh seafood, poultry and meat cooked over firewood grills. Don’t forget to eat some pupusas, quesadillas, and taste local grown mountain coffee, among many tasty options available for visitors.

It should be noted that this town has won twice the tourist award named “Pueblos Vivos” thanks, among other things, to its classic representative houses made of adobe and red tile roofs, some of them decorated with colorful flowers.

In addition, you can complete your visit with walks along the coffee plantations or a 2 km hike up to “the Emerald of the Americas” as Alegría Lagoon is known.

Where to eat:

Sample some local cuisine cooked using clay pots and wood, we suggest the following:

• El Portal Restaurant

You’ll find choices of beef, pork, rabbit, agouti, deer and peligüey (seasonal) from US$ 4.50, US$ 5.00 and US$ 7.00. Poultry: Hen and Chicken for US$ 4.00 or US$ 5.00. Seafood and seafood soup from

US$ 5.00

Located at the central park. Open from 9:30 am to 9:00 pm. Monday to Sunday.

• The kitchen Machenta

Pupusas at US$ 0.50, hamburgers for US$ 1.75, Arab tortillas US$ 1.75, beef tacos US$ 1.75, hot dogs US$0.90 and drinks from US$ 0.50.

Address: Barrio El Centro, 3rd Avenue and 1st South West Street. This is located next to the museum. Open from 2:00 pm to 9:00 pm. (Monday to Friday) and from 11:00 am to 9:00 pm on weekends.

• Grandfather's Shed (Grandpa’s Shed)

Find Mexican and Arab sandwiches, hamburgers, meat rolls, Neapolitan tortillas and local food at very competitive prices from US$ 1.25.

Located on Manuel Enrique Araujo St. Open from noon until 9:00 pm Monday to Sunday.

Where to stay:

• The stay of Daniel

There are five cabins with 1 queen bed and 1 single bed, cable TV, wireless internet, terrace with hammocks and beautiful landscaped gardens.

Cabin rental US$ 25.00 for 24 hours period (rate subject to change according to season)

There is optional breakfast buffet from US$ 2.50 only for guests.

Opening hours: from 8:00 am to 6:00 pm. Monday to Sunday

Contact: fredypostecapa@yahoo.com

• La Palma (Guest House)

There are five rooms, 1 family size (five persons) and the rest are single or double. Fee is US$ 10.00 per person for a 24-hour period. They have wireless internet, cable TV, and laundry service. There is no restaurant.

Telephone: (503) 2628-1012 ask for Gladys Cabrera Violet Batlle.

Hours: Monday to Sunday from 6:00 am to 10:00 p.m.

More information: http://alegriaturismo.com / hostales.html

How to get there:

If you are driving from San Salvador take the Coastal Highway (CA-2) just as if you where going to the Comalapa Airport. Follow the signs that that lead to Usulután. After passing "Puente de Oro" (Golden Bridge) look for the Usulután By-Pass which will take you as well to Santiago de Maria and then to Alegría.

Bus route:

From San Salvador to Usulutan: Route 302. Ticket is US$ 1.50. You should then take Route 348 to travel to Alegría. Cost of ticket US$0.35 you may board this bus in Santiago de María or Berlin.

More

Alegría has a tourist office its located just across form the main Church.

Phone: (503) 2614-7171

Contact Email: alegría_promsoc2009@hotmail.com / pueblovivo2009@alegria.gob.sv

Satellite Location

Elevation 3817 feet

N 13 ° 30,481 ‘

In 88 ° 29,329 ‘

Located north of Usulutan, Joy is a town favored by domestic and foreign tourists for enjoying constant cool climate, a calm at all times of the day and very friendly people.

A 142 kilometers from San Salvador, Joy is a haven of tranquility ideal for routine and forget the hustle and bustle.

It can taste national cuisine, with exquisite fish dishes, fresh seafood, poultry and meat cooked with wood in excellent health. Also typical dishes such as the delicious pupusas, quesadillas, tall coffee, among other range of tasteful dishes are the order of all visitors.

Note that this is a tourist town representative because the houses retain the old structure of clay and adobe, beautiful ceilings decorated with exotic and colorful flowers, winner features that made, by twice, in the Peoples Living in El Salvador.

Also, you can complete your stay with walks through coffee plantations to the "Emerald of America", the beautiful Laguna de Alegría, situada a 2 kilometers from the village.

Where to eat

If you want to taste dishes prepared at affordable prices and in black clay and firewood, we suggest the following options:

• Restaurante El Portal

For beef options, pork, rabbit, tepezcuintle, deer and peligüey (Seasonal) from $4.50 USD a $7.00 USD. Birds also like Hen and Chicken $4.00 Ó USD $5.00 Seafood from USD $5.00 USD and Traditional soups $4.00 USD a $9.00 USD.

Located in front of the central park. Open from 9:30 a.m. a 9:00 p.m. moons has domingo.

• The kitchen Machenta

They offer a rich pupusas $0.50 USD, burgers, Arab tortillas, tacos de res, hot dogs and drinks at affordable prices.

Address: Barrio El Centro, 3Fifth Avenue South and 1st street west. This is located next to the museum. Open from 2:00 p.m. a 9:00 p.m. (moons viernes) and from 11:00 a.m. a 9:00 p.m. weekends.

• La Casita from my Grandfather

For Mexican tortas, Arab, burgers, meat rolls, Neapolitan omelette typical meal at very competitive prices from $1.25 USD.

It is located on Calle Manuel Enrique Araujo. Open from 12:00 noon to 9:00 p.m. moons has domingo.

Where to stay

• La Estancia de Daniel

It has five cabins that includes 1 semi-cama matrimonial y 1 individual, Cable TV service, Wireless Internet, roundabouts with hammocks to rest surrounded by a garden that gives a fresh touch.

Cabin rental $25.00 USD the 24 hours (rate subject to change by season)

As an optional service, find buffet style breakfast from $2.50 USD exclusively for guests.

Hours: from 8:00 a.m. a 6:00 p.m. moons has domingo

Contact: fredypostecapa@yahoo.com

• Hostal La Palma (Guesthouse)

They have five rooms, 1 five-person family and the rest are independent. The stay is $10.00 USD per person during 24 hours. They have wireless internet service, Cable TV in the corridor area and guest laundry service. They do not have restaurant service.

Contact telephone: (503) 2628-1012 with Violet Gladys Cabrera Batlle.

Hours: from Monday to Sunday 6:00 a.m. a 10:00 p.m.

More information: http://alegriaturismo.com/hostales.html

Get Directions

If you drive by car from San Salvador should take the Coastal Highway (CA-2) towards the airport of Comalapa. Should be guided by the signs that indicate the diversions to Usulutan. Then you pass the Golden Bridge, should seek Usulutan By-Pass which will lead the people of Santiago de Maria and then to Joy.

Route buses:

From San Salvador to Usulutan: Route 302. Ticket cost $1.50 USD. Then you must take Route 348 with path to Joy. Cost of passage $0.35 USD. You can address it in the town of Santiago de María or Berlin.

More information

Joy has a tourist office offering service and public consultations, in front of St. Peter the Apostle Parish Church.

Phone: (503) 2614-7171

Contacts Post: alegría_promsoc2009@hotmail.com / pueblovivo2009@alegria.gob.sv

Satellite Location

Elevation 3817 feet

N 13°30.481´

W 88°29.329´

Photogallery

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