natural wonder
El Boquerón Crater
The 1.5-km-wide crater of San Salvador Volcano, reached by a scenic road climbing from the capital to 1,800 m: peer into the perfect cinder cone left by the 1917 eruption.
12 km · about 20 min drive
San Salvador Department, El Salvador · North America
San Salvador is worth a stop: 5 minutes from Mejicanos, 12km from El Boquerón Crater.
San Salvador is a city located in San Salvador Department, El Salvador. With a population of 525,990, it is an important destination in North America.
On a road trip, San Salvador sits in El Salvador. It's in the America/El Salvador time zone. Below you'll find where to stay, things to do nearby, and everything you need to add San Salvador to your route.
San Salvador (Spanish pronunciation: [san salβaˈðoɾ]) is the capital and largest city of El Salvador and of its eponymous department. It is the country's largest agglomeration, serving as the country's political, cultural, educational and financial center. The municipality of San Salvador has 525,990 inhabitantsRead more
(2024). The Metropolitan Area of San Salvador, which comprises the capital itself and 13 of its municipalities, has a population of 2,404,097. The urban area of San Salvador has a population of 1,600,000 inhabitants.
The city is home to the Consejo de Ministros de El Salvador (Council of Ministries of El Salvador), the Legislative Assembly of El Salvador, the Supreme Court of El Salvador, and other governmental institutions, as well as the official residence of the president of El Salvador. San Salvador is located in the Salvadoran highlands, surrounded by volcanoes and prone to earthquakes. The city is also home to the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of San Salvador, as well as many Protestant branches of Christianity, including Evangelicals, Baptists, and Pentecostals, and the restorationist Christian sect the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
San Salvador has been the host city for regional and international sporting, political, and social events. It hosted the Central American and Caribbean Games in 1935, 2002, and in 2023 and the Central American Games in 1977 and 1994, as well as the Miss Universe pageant in 1975 and in 2023. San Salvador was also the host city of the 18th Ibero-American Summit in 2008, the most important sociopolitical event in the Spanish and Portuguese sphere. The Central American Integration System has its headquarters in San Salvador.
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San Salvador offers many attractions including tourist sites, museums, parks, and local restaurants. Explore famous landmarks, scenic roads, and natural wonders on our interactive map and plan your visit.
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San Salvador is located in San Salvador Department, El Salvador, North America. The coordinates are 13.6893 latitude, -89.1872 longitude.
San Salvador has a population of approximately 525,990 people, making it a city in El Salvador.
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6 notable places within an hour's drive.
natural wonder
The 1.5-km-wide crater of San Salvador Volcano, reached by a scenic road climbing from the capital to 1,800 m: peer into the perfect cinder cone left by the 1917 eruption.
12 km · about 20 min drive
ancient ruins
A UNESCO site known as the Pompeii of the Americas, a Maya farming village preserved under volcanic ash from the 6th century.
24 km · about 25 min drive
beach
El Salvador's top surf beach with a distinctive pig-shaped rock formation, vibrant nightlife, and consistent Pacific waves.
30 km · about 35 min drive
landmark
El Salvador's best-preserved colonial town: cobbled streets and a white timber-columned church above Lake Suchitlán, a reservoir that draws huge flocks of migratory birds each winter.
32 km · about 35 min drive
natural wonder
A stunning volcanic crater lake in western El Salvador with turquoise water, surrounded by forested hills and lakeside restaurants.
43 km · about 50 min drive
scenic viewpoint
El Salvador's highest volcano, whose nested craters hold a sulphurous turquoise lake. A two-hour guided hike from Cerro Verde car park ends on a rim looking down at the acid lake and across to Izalco and Lake Coatepeque.
51 km · about 60 min drive
Year-round
Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.
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