TOURIST ROUTE EL BOQUERON
The volcanic chain running thru El Salvador is 5 to 2 million years old, and it belongs to the Plio Pleistocene era, this volcanic chain has many stratovolcanoes or tall conical volcanoes composed of multiple layers of hardened lava.
In El Salvador, there are six major volcanoes with recorded eruptive history, among them the complex of volcanoes that includes Santa Ana Volcano or Ilamatepeq, located 15 km from the city of Santa Ana, and Izalco Volcano. The latter emerged in 1770 and constantly erupted until 1956 when it reached its current height of 1950 meters. This volcano was internationally known as The Lighthouse of the Pacific.
San Miguel or Chaparrastique is another major volcano that has had at least 26 eruptions over the last 304 years, it still emits gases, San Vicente volcano is or Chinchontepec 50 kilometers from San Salvador. Ilopango Caldera and the beautiful San Salvador volcano or Quetzaltepec are located just 7 km from downtown San Salvador.
TOURIST ATTRACTIONS.
Joya de Ceren Archaeological Site.
In the year 0590 A.D. an explosion of Laguna Caldera, northwest of San Salvador Volcano covered with pyro plastic material the village that is now known as the World Heritage Site of Joya de Ceren, (Hart, 1983). This archeological site is one of the most important in Central America, and is often compared to the city of Pompeii, since it shows the daily activity of Native Americans.
Joya de Ceren heritage site shows interesting traces of Mayan indigenous customs you may see at the museum adjacent museum perfectly preserved corn, cooking utensils, furniture and other items not seen any where else.
Joyas Negras Outlook
In 1659, another eruption occurs, this time El Playon Volcano, north of San Salvador volcano. This eruption was of great magnitude, reaching an area of 10 km2; it also interrupted the flow of El Rio Sucio causing a natural dam.
This lava flow now belongs to the protected area Complejo El Playon, it is extremely important because this area feeds the natural spring that carry water to the metropolitan area. There is now a lookout in the area that is called Joyas Negras. From here you may also observe the habitat of black foxes, coyotes, hawks, and a variety of bats that live in deep crevices.
Guided walk Los Chintos
Protected Natural Area Los Abriles 14th and March 15th at El Playon Complex.
Simulates a large sea made of black rocks, this is the legacy of the lava flow of El Playon which occurred in the year 1806 and is attributed to the eruption of Chintos or El Pinar volcano. Visiting this area is a extreme adventure and it takes place at the protected natural areas of Los Abriles 14th and 15th of March, which is accessed from the road coming from Quetzaltepeque towards el Boquerón going thru the community March 14th you will find the 7 stations, that will which teach more about the local volcanoes. Here you will also find finding footprints of foxes, coyotes and hopefully you may see one. There is a petrified forest and volcanic rocks containing different minerals.
The walk ends in the area of Los Chintos, where there is a huge and deep cracks where lava and pyro plastics have flow in the pasts. Here you may see two very different ecosystems, volcanic lava and evergreen vegetation, Los Chintos has a great depth.
Level of difficulty: 5
Minimum Age: 17 years
Recommendations: Wear comfortable clothes, shoes for walking on rough terrain, has, binoculars and raincoat during rainy season.
Duration: 2 hours.
To do this hike is necessary to use local guides who will accompany you and help you interpret each of the stations along the route.
HERITAGE CENTER OF INTERPRETATION.
Thematic Interpretive Center.
The most recent eruption of San Salvador Volcano, was in 1917, at that time there used to be a lagoon at the bottom of the crater, which was a popular place for recreation. This lagoon disappeared during the eruption.
This story, along with other related information is presented in a pleasant and convenient center of interpretation that presents themed information about the volcanic eruption, which affected many municipalities in 1917.
El Boqueron Park
The park is located at El Boquerón crater on San Salvador Volcano, at a height of 1893 meters above seal level providing a unique high altitude tropical climate and an impressive scenic beauty. The crater measures 1.5 km. in diameter and it has 560 meters in depth. From here you may see Izalco Volcano, Santa Ana Volcano, Lake Ilopango and the city of San Salvador. In addition there is wildlife including hawks that you may see fighting for their territorial spaces.
GASTRONOMY
This tourist route offers an ample array of local and gourmet cuisine, high quality coffee, accommodation options that include wood cabins, and activities like hiking and bird watching in addition to the magnificent scenery typical of the high altitude tropical mountains.
There are many restaurants located along this route; most of them have magnificent views of the capital city. Wait for sunset and you will see the city light up preparing for an active nightlife.
Some of the restaurants located in route show old infrastructure dating back to the last century. These old buildings are embellished with antique farm machinery used to process coffee. Some restaurants offer canopy tours where you will experience this extreme adventure and later relax with a delicious cup of coffee.
Photogallery
NOTICE
The information presented in this Promotion Listing Services and destinations of El Salvador is a reference guide. Prices, rates, promotions or details such as the number of people, opening hours, input or output times, meal times, Cymbal ingredients, duration of tours, Sites on tour etc.. and phone numbers, websites or email addresses and physical, and other data can change without prior notice of the hotels, restaurants, Tour operators, inns and other businesses in the tourism industry in this digital catalog. The Ministry of Tourism and the Salvadoran Tourism Coorporación, and its advertising agency and any other company or individual subcontracted for lifting and collection of this information has no responsibility for any variation in the data. It is always suggested to respective queries to verify.
