El Salvador

El Salvador is home to sweeping mountain landscapes, amazing surfing, and some of the most beautiful beaches on the continent. With a vibrant culture, breathtaking natural beauty (including steaming volcanoes and magical cloud forests) and picturesque colonial architecture, this small Central American nation is a bucket-list destination with much to offer any visitor.

Take the beautiful Ruta de Las Flores for a trip which twists around lush green rainforest, plummeting waterfalls, coffee farms, vibrant towns including the colourful, mural-filled Ataco, and foodie hotspot Juayúa. Head to the diverse ecosystem of Parque Nacional Los Volcanes, home to hundreds of bird species including various types of hummingbird, woodpeckers and emerald toucanets.

Mayan ruins at Tazumal date back to 5,000 BC and covers a 10 square kilometre area, much of which is still buried under lush greenery. La Costa del Bálsamo is home to black-sand beaches and incredible surfing. Capital city San Salvador is nestled under dramatic volcanic peaks, in the gentle swell of a valley. It’s home to the beautiful Iglesia El Rosario church, leafy, walkable suburbs, and a vibrant cultural scene which includes Museo Nacional de Antropología David J Guzmán, a fascinating collection which shines a light on Mayan and pre-Mayan society through well-curated exhibits, and the Museo de Arte de El Salvador.