volcan ilamatepec tour

Santa Ana Volcano Hike In El Salvador (Ilamatepec)

The Santa Ana volcano hike is one of El Salvador’s most amazing experiences, with a super colored crater lake that can change blue or green depending on the day. It’s really stunning, especially if you’ve never seen an active volcano before.

Also known by the name Volcán Ilamatepec, this is the highest volcano in El Salvador, but the hike to the top is not too hard at all. You don’t need to be super fit, making it a great volcano hike for beginners.

Best of all, the Santa Ana volcano is located in a national park that’s accessible and easy to reach from either Santa Ana town or San Salvador, the capital city of El Salvador. All of these things combine to make it one of Central America’s best bucket list activities.

This travel blog will explain how to get to the Santa Ana volcano in El Salvador, how to do the hike with or without a guide, and everything else you need to know before you go!

Table of Contents show 1) Santa Ana Quick Facts* 2) How To Get To Santa Ana Volcano In El Salvador 3) How To Get There From San Salvador 4) Best Santa Ana El Salvador Tours 5) Santa Ana Volcano Hike: What To Expect 6) • How Hard Is The Santa Ana Volcano Hike? 7) • Can You Hike Without A Guide? 8) • Guide & Entrance Fees 9) • What To Bring 10) Is Santa Ana Volcano Safe? 11) Other Tips For Santa Ana Hike 12) Best Time To Hike Santa Ana Volcano 13) Is The Santa Ana Hike Worth It? 14) More Central America Travel Tips  

Santa Ana Quick Facts*

• Distance: 7 kilometers (4.3 miles) return
• Elevation Gain: 465 meters (1,525 feet)
• Top Elevation: 2,381 meters (7,812 feet)
• Duration: 2 – 4 hours return
• Difficulty: Easy / Moderate

Santa Ana Volcano Hike

How To Get To Santa Ana Volcano In El Salvador

The Santa Ana volcano is located in western El Salvador, in the Cerro Verde National Park. You can get there by bus, car, or tour, depending on where you’re staying in El Salvador.

If you’re staying in Santa Ana town and plan to go by bus, you will need to take the bus #248 from La Vencedora bus station (map here ), which leaves at 7:30 AM and takes about 2 hours to get to the volcano.

The bus cost is $1 USD per person and you have to arrive early to buy tickets. For the ride back to town, you can take the bus at 1:30 PM, or the last one is at 4:30 PM.

The other option is to book a driver or tour from Santa Ana town. I stayed at Hostal Las Puertas and the staff there was able to arrange a driver to take me to the volcano the following day. I shared the van with one other traveler, and my cost was a very reasonable $21 USD.

This didn’t include the guide or entrance fees for the hike, but it covered all of the transportation for the day, including a visit to Lake Coatepeque after our hike.  

How To Get There From San Salvador

If you’re staying in the city of San Salvador, there’s no bus option directly to the volcano. You’ll need to take a bus to Santa Ana town, stay overnight, and then do the hike the next day, or else book a day tour to the volcano that includes transport from San Salvador.

If you’re staying at El Tunco beach, once again, there’s no bus directly to the Santa Ana volcano, but Viator has day tours to Santa Ana volcano with transport to and from El Tunco or anywhere in the La Libertad area.

Doing it like this is a bit more pricey, but it’s the easiest and most convenient way to do it if you’re staying outside of Santa Ana town and you just want to go straight to the volcano from San Salvador or El Tunco.

Otherwise, if you have a little extra time, you can take the bus from either of these areas to Santa Ana town, and then climb the volcano the next day.

The spectacular crater lake of Santa Ana

Best Santa Ana El Salvador Tours

If you just arrived in El Salvador and want to get to the volcano as quickly as possible, GetYourGuide has a full day Santa Ana volcano tour with pickup from any hotel or residence in San Salvador.

This tour includes a bilingual English and Spanish hiking guide, and all of the entrance fees for the national park. If you want to skip the time and hassle involved in getting the bus to Santa Ana, then this tour is probably your best bet.

We’ve used GetYourGuide for lots of tours and activities around the world, and they’re great. Highly recommended!

Book Now: Santa Ana Volcano Tour From San Salvador

Santa Ana Volcano Hike: What To Expect

When you arrive at the Santa Ana volcano, everyone will be herded into a group and assigned a local guide. The guide is an official requirement for this hike, even though it’s arguably not needed (more on that later).

There’s one guide assigned to every 10 people or so, and he’ll accompany your group and lead you to the top of the volcano and back. The guides are slow and easy to follow. They’ll give you plenty of breaks to rest along the way.

The hike starts with a quick briefing in Spanish where they explain the fees and remind everyone not to litter, bring noisy speakers, or carry weapons. If you don’t understand Spanish, you won’t miss too much from the briefing.

Rocky but tame incline near the top of Ilamatepec

There are basically two parts to the Santa Ana volcano hike. For the first part, you’ll be hiking through a shaded forest to the national park boundary, where where’s an official booth and you’ll pay for your tickets to enter the park.

For the second part of the hike, the path is more uphill and the forest will gradually turn into a rocky volcanic landscape with no trees or plants. This part is a bit harder and you’re in the sun all the time.

Along the way, there are several nice viewpoints to enjoy, including a lookout tower you can climb, although I think it’s better to save your energy and perhaps do the tower on the way back down.

All along the hike, there are almost constant views of another volcano not too far away. That’s the Volcan de Izalco, which is another of El Salvador’s iconic volcanoes!

Smoking green lake of the Santa Ana crater. Bizarre and beautiful!

Santa Ana is a very popular hike, so you’ll always be around people. The top is especially crowded, but if you keep walking along the crater rim then you can still find a good spot to take pictures without people blocking the view.

The bubbling green sulfur lake is really stunning and it reminded me of Mount Ijen in Indonesia. We had perfect clear weather, and I wished I had brought my drone!

Be careful at the edge of the crater, because it feels deceptively less steep than it actually is, and a fall into the crater would be a bad way to go. The police will blow their whistles at you if they see you getting too close to the cliff.

Meanwhile, there are some friendly local guys selling popsicles at the top, which can be a fun reward after the hike. Bring small cash in US Dollar bills if you plan to buy some!

The trekking guides only allow you to stay at the top for about 30 to 45 minutes before heading down, so it felt a bit rushed. That’s one of my only complaints. I would’ve liked to spend at least an hour or two up there!

Remember to be careful and watch your step near the crater rim

• How Hard Is The Santa Ana Volcano Hike?

The Santa Ana volcano hike is not very hard, even if you aren’t a regular hiker or in great shape.

I’d say if you can hike uphill on dirt and rocks for about 1.5 hours, with plenty of breaks mixed in there, then this hike won’t be any problem for you at all. Most people can reach the top of the volcano in 1 to 2 hours, depending on their pace. Fast hikers can reach the top in 1 hour or less.

The top of Santa Ana is not high enough to cause altitude sickness, so you don’t need to worry about that. The one way distance to the crater is about 3.5 kilometers (2.2 miles), with an elevation gain of 465 meters (1,525 feet).

Overall, it’s extremely easy compared to something like the Acatenango hike in Guatemala. This volcano is not even in the same category as that one.

Going back down from the Santa Ana volcano is even quicker and easier because it’s all downhill, although you’ll want to watch your step so you don’t slip on loose rocks.

The Santa Ana volcano hike is not very hard and most people won’t have any problem with it.

• Can You Hike Without A Guide?

Officially, a guide is required for the Santa Ana hike, and they won’t let you go up without one.

Sometimes you might be able to avoid this requirement by showing up early at the trailhead and starting the hike without the guides seeing you, but people have reported limited success with this.

The trail is pretty easy to follow, so a guide is honestly not needed. Most of them barely speak English anyway, and you’ll be following a steady stream of hikers the whole time, so it’s almost impossible to get lost.

I understand why it annoys some people to be forced to hire a guide, but the prices are really not too bad ($3/person) and you can think of it as a nice way to give back to the country and the people of El Salvador.  

• Guide & Entrance Fees

• Parking Fee (Self Drive): $2 USD
• Entrance Fee (Foreigners): $6 / person
• Entrance Fee (Locals): $3 / person
• Guide Fee (Shared): $3 / person
• Guide Fee (Private): ~$35 (negotiable)

All of the fees at Santa Ana volcano are cash only (US Dollars). They don’t have any way to accept credit cards or online payment.

When you see this sign, you’re near the top of the volcano. Congratulations!

• What To Bring

• Layers: A light jacket is good to bring because it can be cool and windy at the top of the volcano, especially if it’s cloudy. If the sun comes out, you can shed the jacket.
• Footwear: Any shoes will work for the Santa Ana volcano hike. You don’t need top of the line hiking boots. I’d avoid wearing flip flops, because you’ll be walking on slippery gravel some of the time.
• Sun Protection: With the high elevation at Ilamatepec, you can get quite a burn here on a sunny day, so you’ll want to wear a hat and sunscreen.
• Water: Bring plenty of water to drink. On hot days you’ll need more. There’s no stream water to pick up on the hike, but there are drink stands run by locals near the entrance where you can buy bottled water, Gatorade, and snacks if you need them.

Is Santa Ana Volcano Safe?

Even though the country of El Salvador has some safety issues, the Santa Ana volcano is generally pretty safe in terms of crime.

They check everyone’s bags for weapons at the start of the hike, and there are armed guards (police) at the top and bottom of the volcano to keep away robbers. This may not give you the greatest vibe, but it’s still necessary at the moment because of El Salvador’s crime situation, and they want to keep hikers safe here.

With that said, many people hike the volcano every day and I haven’t heard of any recent robberies or other safety incidents here. I will update this travel guide if that changes. I visited as a solo traveler and used my Fuji camera to take pictures at the top of the volcano, but I kept it inside my bag otherwise.

If you want some extra peace of mind, you could also bring a hidden travel belt (like this one on Amazon ) and put some of your valuables in it. That’s what I did with my phone, cash, and credit cards since I wasn’t using them during the hike.

The Santa Ana volcano hike is pretty safe in most ways

Of course, the other question about safety is the volcano itself, since it is an active volcano.

Santa Ana erupted in October 2005, for example, shooting out giant rocks the size of cars, and forcing thousands of locals to flee the area. Before that, the last eruption was in 1904, so it’s somewhat rare for that to happen.

The volcano is monitored by the El Salvadoran government for any unusual activity, and the crater will be closed to hikers if it’s not safe. You can check recent updates on the volcanic activity here .

We still can’t perfectly predict when the next eruption will happen at Santa Ana, but that’s just one of the risks you have to accept when you climb an active volcano. Overall, I think this one is fairly safe as long as you follow the status updates.  

Other Tips For Santa Ana Hike

• Bathrooms: The last bathrooms are near the national park boundary, shortly after you pay and get your little paper tickets. You’ll want to take care of any toilet business here, because there’s no bathroom and almost no privacy later in the hike.
• Snacks & Drinks: You can buy snacks and drinks at the national park boundary as well. There are plenty of choices, but everything costs a bit more than what you’d pay in Santa Ana town.
• Cell Service: I had a little bit of phone reception at the top of the volcano, so you may be able to send and receive texts here if needed. It’s not too remote.
• Wildlife: If you’re lucky, some of the animals you may see in Cerro Verde include coatimundis, deer, eagles, foxes, or tigrillos (little tiger cats).

Views of Cerro Verde National Park and the Izalco volcano in the distance

A busy day at the crater

Best Time To Hike Santa Ana Volcano

The best time to hike Santa Ana volcano is during the dry season in El Salvador, which runs from November to April. During this time, you have the best chance of sunny weather, that way you can see the lake and summit uncovered by clouds and rain.

The wet season in El Salvador runs from May to October, but it’s especially likely to rain in June, July, August, and September. You can still hike Santa Ana during these months, but it’s not ideal since you may not be able to see anything if it’s too cloudy. And if there’s a storm or heavy rain, then all hiking may be canceled for the day.

However, since you’re dealing with a mountain, the weather isn’t completely predictable at any time of year, and you could have bad weather in the dry season or good weather in the rainy season.  

Is The Santa Ana Hike Worth It?

Yes, the Santa Ana hike is so worth it. If you’ve never climbed an active volcano before, this is a great place to start because it’s relatively easy and the view of the sulfur lake is amazing.

Santa Ana is easily the best day hike in El Salvador, and as a bonus, you can also say you climbed the highest volcano in El Salvador too! It’s more than worth the effort!

The Santa Ana volcano hike is such a great experience. Don’t miss it!

More Central America Travel Tips

Thanks for looking! I hope you enjoyed this guide for the Santa Ana volcano hike (also known as Ilamatepec) in El Salvador.

Don’t forget to check out my other travel blog posts for Central America and South America before you go!

Happy travels!

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▷ SANTA ANA VOLCANO – ILAMATEPEC » What to see and do.

The santa ana ilamatepec volcano is 2,400 meters above sea level, making it the country's largest mountain. its vegetation and impressive crater will give you the energy and desire to climb it..

El Salvador’s Ilamatepec volcano is the highest stratovolcano in the country. This colossal volcano is located in the western part of the Salvadoran territory, and it rises more than 2,400 meters above sea level , making it the highest in the country.

Climbing the Santa Ana Volcano is one of the most beautiful things to do in El Salvador. The panoramic views are simply breathtaking. Hiking the Santa Ana volcano will put you in touch with nature.

VOLCÁN DE SANTA ANA - ILAMATEPEC - Volcanes de El Salvador. Foto por ElSalvadorViajar.

Venture to the summit of one of the most impressive peaks in El Salvador .

Santa Ana – Ilamatepec volcano facts

Location of the Santa Ana volcano – Ilamatepec

On the ascent to the Santa Ana volcano , you will pass through three different types of forests. The hike will start in a cloud forest, where you can relax in the shade of the dense flora. The walk will continue through terrain with modest vegetation, such as bushes and agaves until the second half of the hike. Finally, it is possible to contemplate a spectacular view of the Salvadoran territory in an eroded terrain with little vegetation.

The last time the majestic Santa Ana volcano erupted was in 2005 .

Location, Origin and History

The spectacular Santa Ana Volcano is located in the department of the same name, approximately 1 hour and 30 minutes from the city of Santa Ana and 65 kilometers from the capital, San Salvador .

With an extension of 2.273 hectares , it is part of the Apaneca mountain range, where the Izalco and Cerro Verde volcanoes are also found, which, together with this Salvadoran colossus, make up the Volcanoes Complex or Route .

Its crater has a circumference of about 15 km in diameter , at the bottom of which you can see a fantastic sulfur lagoon, with an approximate temperature of 25ºC, which increases in the active fumaroles of the volcano .

The Ilamatepec or Cerro Padre , in nahuatl language, received the names of Volcán de los Izalcos , Volcán de Fuego and Volcán de Sonsonate , during the colonial period.

Its geological antecedents date back 2 million years, when there has been a series of varied and irregular eruptions, the last being those of 1904, 1920, and 2005, considered the most destructive.

During this unfortunate event, volcanic activity devastated crops and vegetation in the area, including the villages. In addition to expelling large amounts of ash and large rocks, it caused an avalanche of hot water that forced the evacuation of the area.

Although the number of fatalities was minimal, the authorities suspended all activities, including tourism, for more than a year, as it was still active.

Climate, flora, and fauna

The weather around Santa Ana Volcan o, on an average day, is usually fresh and delightful, with temperatures between 16°C and 24°C (61°F and 75°F) .

However, weather change can be noticed at its summit due to the altitude and winds, even more if it is a cloudy day. In the same way, at dawn or dusk, when the sun’s rays diminish, the temperature drops noticeably between 6°C and 8°C.

The extensive area of Ilamatepec contains more than 125 species of trees in its three ecosystems, getting in the areas with lava flow, lichens, grasses, agaves, and lycopods, as well as trees such as wax wood, pinabete, and sapuyulo, all in contrast to orchids and bromeliads.

Meanwhile, in the paramo zone , there are some unique plant species in this territory, with broad, soft, and flattened leaves since they have hairs due to their adaptation to the strong winds and sulfurous gases that come out of the volcano.

Monitoring its fauna , which is smaller than its flora, allows the sighting of reptiles and amphibians. Also, you could find mammals such as deer, coyotes, ocelots, and the spiny fox, as well as birds of prey such as the short-tailed hawk, mountain hawk, and black eagle.

Recommendations for your visit

• Visits to the Santa Ana Volcano should be made in the company of a tour guide and a local POLITUR police officer, following their suggestions and regulations to avoid complications.
• Using sunscreen or sunblock , caps or hats, and sunglasses is advisable.
• It is essential to wear loose and fresh clothing, although it is not exaggerated to wear a sweater or sweater, anticipating low temperatures.
• If the ascent occurs during the rainy season, it is necessary to carry a poncho or raincoat.
• Footwear should be comfortable and suitable for hiking or mountaineering.
• A container with plenty of water and some light snacks should not be missing.
• Another essential item for the trip is a camera, cash for the entrance fee, and a tip for the guide in charge while climbing the volcano.

The best time to visit Ilamatepec is during May, June, October, November, and December, avoiding the rainy season if possible.

Activities we can perform

For lovers of trekking and hiking , the Santa Ana Volcano is the ideal tourist destination to drain the stress of the city and venture on a journey as enjoyable as fascinating.

During the ascent, some viewpoints offer amazing views of Coatepeque Lake until you reach the top of the volcano, where the panoramic views of the city of Santa Ana and its surroundings are postcards.

Not to mention those obtained from the Izalco Volcano and Cerro Verde , already at the heights of the majestic Ilamatepec , to appreciate the beautiful lagoon resting at the bottom of its crater, with its emerald and sulfurous waters between bubbling fumaroles, a spectacle.

And without a doubt, birdwatchers and naturalist photographers will also find the right environment for their hobby during the hike to Santa A na, which takes between 1 hour and 1h 30 min , depending mainly on the pace and physical conditions in which we find ourselves for this feat.

Prices and visiting hours

• The entrance fee to the Santa Ana Volcano is $ 1.50 for Salvadoreans, and foreign tourists must pay $3 .
• Children under 6 and seniors over 60 years old can enter for free.
• Admission hours are from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Nearby places to visit

If you want to continue enjoying other tours around the Santa Ana Volcano, you can visit the Izalco Volcano , 1.7 kilometers away.

Also, the Cerro Verde National Park is about 2.6 kilometers away; without a doubt, we recommend visiting the city of Santa Ana , 19 kilometers away by road.

In short, planning an excursion to the Santa Ana Volcano and reaching the height of this fantastic titan, which is still active, is a pleasant experience that everyone who visits El Salvador must live and certainly repeat.

Reviews of the place

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Other nearby tourist attractions

Cerro verde.

Izalco Volcano

Coatepeque Lake

Atecozol Aquatic Park

Route of Flowers

Salcoatitán

Caluco, Shutecath Tourist Center

Redacciones |

Explore El Salvador on the Safest Way With a Local Expert!

CONQUEST THE SUMMIT OF THE MIGHTY SANTA ANA VOLCANO

Tour overview.

At a glance Distance walked : ~22 Km / 14.3 Mi Actual walking time : ~6h30m Ascent : 770 m / 2,526  ft Elevation at start : 1611 m / 5285 ft Top elevation: 2382 m / 7815 ft above sea level

Prepare for the adventure of a lifetime as we embark on a thrilling journey to the summit of Santa Ana Volcano,  the tallest in El Salvador. This isn’t the typical touristy hike; we’re taking the less traveled path through the Northern entrance for an epic experience. Forget the usual route to the rim – we’re pushing the limits by trekking nearly three times the distance and gaining twice the elevation . It requires serious stamina, but you have my word, it’s absolutely worth it . You’ll be bragging about this achievement for years to come!

Our hike kicks off with a walk along a dirt road, passing through charming rural communities and picturesque coffee plantations. Keep your eyes peeled for recent pyroclastic flows and traditional corn fields known as “milpas.” The views from the bends are breathtaking, with the stunning Coatepeque caldera lake and the lush Zapotitán valley in sight.

After approximately 7 kilometers (4.35 miles), we’ll reach the Park Ranger’s station at the Northern entrance . There are just a few formalities before we continue our journey. Get ready to immerse yourself in the enchanting cloud forest , where the air is crispy and the forest teems with life. Towering trees, inmense ferns, delicate orchids, and a symphony of wildlife will surround you.

Take a deep breath and embrace the serenity of nature, but stay cautious of your steps. The trail becomes steeper as we ascend the final 4.5 kilometers (2.8 miles) to the summit. Behold the enormous crater , with its awe-inspiring geological features such as The Amphitheater—a massive plateau halfway between the rim and the bottom. You might even spot steaming fumaroles and the mesmerizing turquoise sulphuric-acid lake.

Congratulations! You’ve conquered the mighty Santa Ana Volcano, El Salvador’s tallest. Take a moment to revel in your accomplishment and soak in the surrounding beauty.

So, lace up your hiking boots, embrace your adventurous spirit, and get ready to conquer Santa Ana Volcano. It’s time to create memories that will last a lifetime.

Highlights:

• Embark on an off the beaten track route, away from the tourist crowds.
• Experience a perfect blend of captivating countryside landscapes, breathtaking views, and an immersive journey through the tropical cloud forest.
• Escape the hustle and bustle of the crowded routes and enjoy a more intimate and personal hiking experience.
• By choosing this route, you directly contribute to supporting the local economies of the small communities that surround the volcano. It’s a win-win situation, where you get an unforgettable experience while making a positive impact on the livelihoods of the locals.

NOTE: – THIS ROUTE IS MORE STRENUOUS THAN THE ONE USING THE SAN BLAS (“EL TIBET”) ENTRANCE. FOR DETAILS CHECK HERE – IF YOU’RE INTERESTED IN AN ALTERNATIVE, EVEN MORE CHALLENGING HIKE, TAKE A LOOK TO MY TRILOGY AT LOS VOLCANES NAT. PARK .

Please consider to bring:

• Enough hydration,
• Sun and rain protection,
• Adequate footwear with good grip (no new shoes),
• Some snack for the walk,
• Trekking poles and gloves are convenient.,
• A light jacket or wind breaker,
• An extra set of dry clothes.

Check a short video of the view from the top here . Notice: JavaScript is required for this content.

• Private transport in comfortable vehicle with A/C
• Licensed Tour Guide. Bilingual and First Aid trained
• Admissions to Los Volcanes Nat. Park
• Guided hike
• Local taxes

Not Included

• Extra meals, drinks or snacks
• Personal expenses

6:00 AM - departure from meeting point 8:00 AM - start hiking 11:30 AM - reach the top of Santa Ana volcano 1:30 PM - lunch served at Park Rangers Station 5:00 PM. - return to meeting point

This are ideal times. The schedule will depend on road, traffic, weather and participant's physical conditions, as well on pacing during the hike.

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• Santa Ana Volcano

Santa Ana Volcano | The highest volcano in El Salvador!

With an altitude of 2,381 meters above sea level, the Santa Ana Volcano is the highest Volcano in El Salvador with the last eruptions in 1904, 1920 and 2005.

It is part of “Los Volcanes Complex” in the Apaneca mountain range, within a tropical mountainous cloud forest, in a coffee region about 65 kilometers west of the capital.

Santa Ana Volcano facts

• Altitude – 2381 meters above sea level
• Last eruption – 2005
• Location: El Salvador, Santa Ana
• Type: Stratovolcanoes
• Geological Era: Historical Geology
• Cordillera: Cordillera de Apaneca-Ilamatepec

How to get to the Santa Ana Volcano?

By bus to cerro verde national park.

If you are thinking on traveling by bus, then you should do it from Santa Ana City. From here, early in the morninh you should look to get the 248 from La Vencedora bus station bus at 7:30am. You can join the bus at a meeting point at Calle 25. The journey will take you more or less 1h30mins.

You will arrive to Cerro Verde National Park where all the volcano hikes of this area starts at 11:00am with the local authorities, guides and red cross.

Private transportation

If you do not want to lose too much time if you are in San Salvador city, it is always a good idea to hire a private transportation company to take you to Cerro Verde National Park. Usually, a responsible tour company as us are able to offer you a non guided spanish speaking transfer service from San Salvador city or any other part of the country. Always look for hiring a responsible certified tourism company.

How is the hike to the Santa Ana Volcano crater?

First of all, the hiking tour to Santa Ana Volcano actually starts from Cerro Verde National park. From here, you will depart with a local guide and local authorities for a short nature trip of 30 mins along the natural area.

Afterwards, you will arrive to San Blas private property before arriving to the official Santa Ana National Park entrance where you need to pay to local authorities. From here, the hike is a non stop 1h30mins journey to the top of the Santa Ana Crater. This is a moderate to strenous hike depending on your phisical condition.

Finally, you will have a 30 to 45 minutes relaxing time to take amazing photos, get a view to Coatepeque lake and taste a local artesanal ice loly pop and admire the green active lagoon of 90 centigrade with sulfer vapor. You will also have a spectacular view of Zapotitán valley and San Salvador Volcano before getting back to your stating point.

Entrances to consider: Cerro Verne National Park, San Blas private property, Santa Ana Volcano National Park. Total from usd 6 for nationals and usd9 for international travelers.

Santa Ana Volcano biodiversity

There are more than 125 species of trees that are present in the ecosystems . Some of these are Evergreen Latifoliate Altimontano Tropical Forest. Altimontano wasteland and lava flow with sparse vegetation. Predominating the species of wax, pinabete, sapuyulo or lava species such as lichens, lycopodia, grasses and agaves; Orchids of different species and bromeliads known as roosters. In the moor there is a group of unique species in the country. Theese species are characterized by presenting wide and flat or soft leaves due to the presence of hairs, these species adapt to the sulphurous gases and strong winds that occur in the volcano. There are approximately 134 hectares of cypress plantations that were introduced by the former owners.

Among the mammals are: coyotes, fox, deer, tigrillo. Birds: short-tailed hawk, mountain hawk and black eagle among others. It is one of the few natural areas where birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles have been monitored.

Internal rules for tourism in the Volcano

• There is a mandatory registration at the entrance booths of the Park.
• The entry of alcholoic beverages is prohibited as well as smoking inside the Park.
• Deposit the garbage in plastic bags and remove it from the area.
• The use of loudspeakers and car horns is prohibited as it affects the behavior of wildlife.
• If you carry weapons you must leave them at the entrance booth.
• Follow the suggestions of the Guides and park rangers, they are authorized to apply the Law on Natural Protected Areas.
• It is mandatory to ascend to the crater guarded by agents of POLITUR or Tourist Guides.
• Campfire or cooking is only allowed in the indicated places within the natural area.
• Staining, creeping or grating rocks, trees, burners, tables, signs and cabins is not allowed.
• Visitors and people from the Park’s internal communities should refrain from riding bicycles and motorcycles as well as riding horses or driving cattle through the streets and trails.
• Rangers will seize sound devices, firearms, deer, hondillas, intoxicating drinks and pets.
• Not allowed: scandals, burning gunpowder, shouting, musical instruments, sound devices.
• You must be careful when driving your vehicle, the maximum speed is 10 kilometers per hour in the case of Sector Los Andes.

Volcano hiking tour ideas

Santa Ana Volcano Tour

Santa Ana Volcano tour from:  El Tunco, El Zonte or San Salvador Starting time:  08:30 am Experience duration:  9 hrs Difficulty:  Moderate Are you ready for an awesome experience hiking and active volcano? This is an incredible adventure tour to the crater of the Santa Ana Volcano (or Ilamatepec Volcano) a hidden scenic gem. With a height of 2,384 meters above sea level.

The Transport

4 reasons to choose this activity, accesibilities of the activity.

The walk begins on the slopes of the volcano, on the side of the road to Cerro Verde. This area is known as El Tibet and there is a path that you must walk for approximately 15 minutes to reach the official entrance of the National Park. At the entrance there is a bathroom and snacks available. Then you walk in the forest for about an hour. There are quite steep parts so you should try not to get tired before time. Then you begin to walk on volcanic rock, this part is more complicated since the steps are more irregular. After 2 hours at a slow pace you will reach the top where you can appreciate the best views of the country on a clear day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sun Block, Sunglasses, Good hiking shoes, 1.5 lts of water, jacket or sweater.

Rainy season is from May through November. Winds can reach 60kms/h on random times of the year. Hikes can be totally or partially cancelled in case of extreme weather or alerts. Temperature on a windy day can feel as low as 18 degrees celsius on the summit.

The hike is not extreme, aprox 8kms roundtrip, we start at 1800mts above sea level and finish at 2360mts above sea level. It takes aprox 1 hour and a half to reach the summit, for an intermediate hiker at fast pace.

• Seleccione su tour: Tour Volcán Santa Ana Domingos $25 Volcán de Santa Ana Grupo Privado MAX 6 personas $185 Cerro verde y lago coatepeque Grupo Privado MAX 6 personas $185
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Belching Volcano and Flowing Lava Dent Tourism in Icelandic Region

In a country that relies heavily on visitors, hotels faced repeated evacuations, and one resort was temporarily shut.

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By Emma Bubola

Reporting from London

The Blue Lagoon resort in the south of Iceland is a scenic network of steaming azure pools surrounded by dark rocks, where tourists dip in the geothermal water, have spa treatments and enjoy what the resort advertises as “a universe of radiant well-being.”

But last week, a stream of radiant lava burst from a crater a few miles from the resort, forcing it to evacuate hundreds of guests, in yet another eruption of a volcano system in the Reykjanes Peninsula that had been dormant for 800 years.

The outbursts began in 2021, and the eruptions and earthquakes in the peninsula have destroyed some houses and forced villagers from their homes. One construction worker went missing in the town of Grindavik after falling down a crack caused by an earthquake.

The effects of the volcanic eruptions have rippled out beyond the peninsula, disrupting the tourism operations of a country that relies heavily on visitors.

Arnar Már Ólafsson, director general of the Icelandic Tourist Board, said that when a looming volcanic eruption led to the evacuation of Grindavik in November, it resulted in global anxiety that brought a drop in tourists.

“A spouting volcano doesn’t sound very inviting,” he said.

Icelandair, the country’s national airline, said it also saw a “significant negative impact on bookings” in the last months of 2023. And the low-cost Icelandic airline Play said that news of the eruption “cooled demand for Iceland as a destination.”

The tourism board did not release an estimate for the financial losses, and the airlines, while saying they experienced significantly slowed sales, did not quantify them.

Airline officials and the tourism board director stated emphatically in interviews and in the national news media that the reaction was unwarranted because the eruptions did not represent a direct threat to visitors or flights. They accused the news media of “alarmism.”

“In the international press, it just looks as if Iceland is ruined,” Birgir Jónsson, then Play’s chief executive, said in an interview published in December by a financial magazine.

Tourists used to flock to the Reykjanes Peninsula to watch the northern lights or bathe in the waters of the Blue Lagoon resort. But since the November earthquakes, the Blue Lagoon has had to close for some days . It said in a statement on Wednesday that it had also shut down from March 16 until at least Thursday and would continue to follow the authorities’ safety guidelines.

The Northern Light Inn, a family-run hotel, has also had to evacuate its guests four times since January and close for weeks, said Fridrik Einarsson, the inn’s owner. Now, they are compensating for the drop in tourists by serving lunches to the construction workers building protection walls in the area.

“If this continues for a long period of time, it will eventually be very, very challenging for us ,” Mr. Einarsson said.

Mr. Ólafsson said that any threat to the Blue Lagoon geothermal resort undermined a key component of Iceland’s tourism sector.

“Without the Blue Lagoon, it would be a different destination,” he said, “like Egypt without the pyramids or Paris without the Eiffel Tower.”

The resort is particularly popular with visitors from the United States, and every year, hundreds of thousands of people visit the spa, according to the Blue Lagoon’s website. The spa is now protected by barriers.

The resort owes its existence to the geothermal energy generated by the volcanic system, which heats up its waters. But that same system is also now its main threat.

That paradox, many say, is at the heart of Iceland’s identity as an adventure travel destination where tourists seek out untamed nature in the form of waterfalls, glaciers and hot springs. And 130 volcanoes.

During the volcanic eruptions last year, as tourists flocked to sites where they could see the glowing river of lava, the government had to warn people to steer clear of the area since the situation could turn dangerous.

Now, Icelandic tourism operators say, the anxiety has eased somewhat, and tourism demand has gone up again since January. But for those remaining in the peninsula, there seems to be no immediate end in sight to the disruption of their businesses.

Last week, as Mr. Einarsson, the inn owner, evacuated his guests to another hotel because of the volcanic eruption, he said they could see lava from the parking lot.

“It’s quite a magnificent experience, to see a volcano,” he said.

Mr. Einarsson called his relationship to volcanoes a “tricky love and hate situation.”

On one hand, he said, “people are understandably concerned to stay in a hotel next to an eruption site.” On the other, he said, people come to Iceland for its nature, and the nature would not be the same without the country’s volcanoes.

“And I would not be in the business,” he said.

Egill Bjarnason contributed reporting from Gran Canaria, Spain.

Emma Bubola is a Times reporter based in London, covering news across Europe and around the world. More about Emma Bubola

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The epicenter of modern Russia, Moscow booms with shiny new skyscrapers, the bulbous onion domes of the tsars and politically-rich Red Square. Explore the metropolis with a tourHQ guide.

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The sprawling, mind-boggling metropolis of Russian Moscow has long been one of the theatrical stages on which the great dramas of Europe and Asia have been played out in grand style. Burned by Napoleon in 1812, immortalised by Tolstoy, utilised by the Bolsheviks and championed as a bastion of heroic defiance by the post-war communists, it’s almost hard to believe just how defining the historical events that found their home on Moscow’s streets have been. Moscow tour guides will easily be able to mark the major must-see landmarks on the map, from the onion-domed orthodox Saint Basil's Cathedral, to the political powerhouse of Red Square just next door, while others will be quick to recommend a ride on Moscow’s famous subterranean metro system, or a visit to the UNESCO-attested Novodevichy Convent on the city’s southern side. But Moscow is a city also in the throes of a cultural wrangling between the old and the new. Creative energies abound here: Boho bars and pumping super clubs now occupy the iconic mega structures of the old USSR; high-fashion outlets, trendy shopping malls and luxurious residential districts stand as testimony to a city that’s now the undisputed playground of the world’s super-rich, while sprawling modern art museums dominate the cultural offering of the downtown districts north of the Moskva River.  

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Moscow’s best free city tour

I love Moscow – this charming metropolis, its people, its history and its unique cityscape. I would like to share my passion for this city with you. It is my job to show you the most exciting corners of this fascinating metropolis. That’s why, as a travel specialist and your private tour guide Moscow in Russia, I organize a guided free city tour Moscow – so that everyone, regardless of their budget, would be able to enjoy the insider’s view of Moscow.

You get to see what only Moscow residents know and what other tourist guides keep from you. I am a licensed travel specialist in Russia and would like you to enjoy all facets of the capital of the largest country in the world, without demanding any money from you. I’ll show you the city on my free Moscow walking tour for 1.5-hours on foot.

Everything you need to know:

• My tours take place daily by arrangement, I am the only English-speaking licensed tourist guide Moscow, who offers a free city tour.
• My 1.5-hour free tours Moscow do not cost you a cent, I also offer other great paid tours as well.
• I am an experienced local, I make the tours informative, but at the same time relaxed and not off the plane.

Free Tours Moscow – Daily

My free tours Moscow city starts on Slavonic Square (Kitay-Gorod Metro Station), passes the world-famous St. Basil’s Cathedral, which was built by Ivan the Terrible on the south side of Red Square in the 16th century and where the tsars were once crowned. Then it goes across the Red Square at the Lenin Mausoleum, the luxury department store GUM and with a view of the Kremlin towards the historical museum. Of course, you will also learn more about the stories that once happened behind the thick walls of the Kremlin – from the Tsars and Napoleon to Stalin. Then we continue through the idyllic Alexander Garden.

An advance booking is required!

Practical information:

Time: by arrangement, daily Duration: 1.5 hours Price: Free Language: English

«First acquaintance with Moscow» – a 2.5-hour city tour in the center of Moscow

This Moscow city tour starts on the Theater Square, past Lubyanka Square and the KGB-building, then through Kitay Gorod district and Varvarka Street, past the world-famous St. Basil’s Cathedral. Then it goes across Zarjadje Park, over Red Square at the Lenin Mausoleum, the GUM-department store and towards the Historical Museum. We walk through the Alexander Garden.

Time: by arrangement, daily Duration: 2.5 hours Price: 17 $ Students and children: 6 $ Language: English

A 3.5-hour car/bus tour of Moscow.

This is the best tour of Moscow city as all the important sights are visited. I am your Moscow city guide who will walk you through the city explaining the charming history of the city. This tour begins with picking you up from the hotel. 3 breaks are offered for photographing.

First, we will visit the most famous riverside streets and bridges in the center of the city with the most beautiful views of the Kremlin and the Moskva River (e.g. the Kremlin embankment and the Great Stone Bridge).

The first photo break is made at the Cathedral of Christ the Savior. We then pass by the district with numerous museums, Prechistinka Street and the district with numerous medical areas.

We again stop at the Novodevichy Convent, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site on the other bank of the Moskva River to click pictures.

Then we visit “Sparrow Hills” where you can enjoy a bird’s eye view of the city of Moscow from the observation deck. Then there are the skyscrapers of Moscow-City, the Kutuzov avenue, the New Arbat, Tverskaya Street, the world-famous Bolshoi Theater, the KGB building and Varvarka Street. Here there are ample spots to click pictures.

We then drive past the Kremlin again and finally reach Red Square. We take a short tour of Red Square and say goodbye in the Alexander Garden.

Time: by arrangement, daily Duration: 3.5 hours Price for a group: 170-200 $ (depending on the number of travelers) Language: English

Metro tour – daily

Palaces for ordinary people – that was what Stalin promised to the people when the construction of the Moscow Metro began between the World Wars. The communist dictator hadn’t promised too much. No other underground system in the world can boast such spectacular architecture – chandeliers, decorations, stucco, paintings on the walls – each station is individually designed. No wonder that Moscow residents love their metro. I will guide you through the bustle of one of the busiest subways in the world and show you the most beautiful stations Moscow city has.

Time: by arrangement, daily Duration: 2 hours Price: 21 $ Students and children: 17 $ Language: English Included in the price: Metro tickets / the guided tour

Tour of Communist Moscow – every day

After the Communist October Revolution in 1918, Moscow became the capital of the Soviet Empire and was the center of socialist orbit for more than 70 years. This left its mark on Moscow, even if the USSR disintegrated more than a quarter of a century ago. The city streets are full of remnants of the communist regime and the Cold War. This is a walking tour where I will show you the most exciting places in Soviet Moscow: from the notorious KGB headquarters, also known as Lubyanka to the Karl Marx Monument to small hidden remains from the time of hammer and sickle. You will also learn about Stalin’s Great Terror political campaign and the system of the GULAG and how the USSR, the communist Russian republic, became modern Russia.

Time: by arrangement, daily Duration: 2 hours Price: 21 $ Students and children: 17 $ Language: English Included in the price: the guided tour

Alternative Moscow Tour – daily

Explore the unseen Moscow with your Moscow private guide and discover a range of sights during this alternative walking tour.  Away from the main tourist spots (in the central district of Kitay-Gorod), just a short walk from Red Square and St. Basil’s Cathedral, you suddenly find yourself in one of the trendiest districts of Moscow. This place not only has trendy cafes and green squares, but here you can see the most beautiful spray works (according to Albrecht Dürer), hangout-places of the youth and hipsters, as well as learn what Moscow looked like in the 19th century. Here you will also learn exciting and even bloody stories about famous gangsters, eccentric business people and legends like the wandering preacher Rasputin, who is known in Russia either as the “holy devil” or the mad monk. To learn a little more about Moscow’s culture, this is the tour for you. On my alternative tour, you will get to know Moscow away from the tourist hotspots. This tour is of 2 hours duration and you will experience the following on the tour:

• St. John’s Hill, a quiet oasis right in the center, where time has stopped as it did in pre-Communist times
• Khokhlovka Art Center, where Russian hipsters and street artists hang out
• Samoskvorechye District where you can see beautiful streets and hear stories from old Moscow

Time: by arrangement, daily Duration: 2 hours Price: 21 $ Students and children: 17 $ Language: English Included in the price: the guided tour / tram ticket

Kremlin tour – daily (closed on Thursday)

With its 20 towers and high walls, the Kremlin rises imposingly over Red Square. This world-famous fortress with its area of ​​28 hectares is home to over 800 years of Russian history. Described as the eighth wonder of the world, this historic fortress complex is the principal symbol of Russia that sits on the banks of the Moscow River. Today the Kremlin still harbors numerous secrets and has palaces and cathedrals, surrounded by Kremlin Wall. The current wall was constructed between the 15 th  and 16 th  centuries, but the original wall was made of wood around the year 1147. The Kremlin Wall became an important symbol of Moscow’s importance in the Russian Empire. This top tourist destination attracts millions of people every year and there are various sights to see. With my Kremlin tour, you will see the oldest square in the city in the heart of the Kremlin, the once largest cannon in the world and the scene of numerous dramas – from Ivan the Terrible and Napoleon to Stalin. You cannot miss this unique experience.

An advance booking and prepayment for tickets are required.

Time: by arrangement, daily (closed on Thursday) Duration: 2 hours Price on request Students and children: on request Language: English Included in the price: Kremlin tickets / the guided tour

Moscow pub crawl – Friday / Saturday

Experience the real nightlife of Moscow with my Moscow Pub Crawl and enjoy 4 pubs/bars plus 4 welcome shot drinks. Move from one bar to another and get to know travelers from around the world as well as the locals. Play fun adventure games and contests in addition to getting perks in the bars. Between the bars, move from one place to another on foot. The routes are organized as such that you will walk no more than 10 minutes between the bars. Visit the most exciting events, parties, concerts, and dance in the bars. Moscow Pub Crawl is a tour that you will never forget.

This tour runs every Friday and Saturday evening at 8 PM and you need to bring along your passport or an ID card, comfortable shoes, and wear smart casual clothes.

An advance booking and a small prepayment are required!

Time: by arrangement, daily Duration: 4 hours Price on request Language: English Included in the price: the guided tour, 4 shot drinks

1.5-hour boat trip on the Moskva River.

Taking a boat tour in Moscow on the Moskva River is a very pleasant experience. It allows you to know the city from a totally different perspective and admire the beautiful bridges. In this 1.5-hour river trip, you will sail past many beautiful sites in Moscow, so you can take the best photos to commemorate this day. The ship makes several stops on the way. The trip starts from the Ustinskiy Bridge near Sarjadje Park and ends at the Kiev train station.

On this Boat Trip, you can see sights such as: the former Imperial Education House, Sarjadje Park, the “flowing”, “floating” bridge, the most beautiful view of the Kremlin, the Great Stone Bridge, the legendary House on the Quay, the Christ the Savior Cathedral , the monument to Peter the Great on the ship, the central sports arena Luzhniki, the Sparrow Hills, 240 meters high Lomonosov University, the numerous architecturally spectacular skyscrapers of Moscow-City, the Novodevichy Convent, the building of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs etc.

Time: by arrangement, daily Duration: 1.5 hours Price on request Language: English

A military tour – riding on tanks in Stupino (Moscow region)

Russian Military is one of the largest military forces in the world formed in 1992. With my Military Tour experience what it likes to be in the Russian military, shooting guns, ride the Tank T-34 and various models of German tanks from the Second World War, as well as armored personnel carriers and vehicles. You will also shoot from the AK-47 and another combat weapon.

The tour will begin with your private tour guide Moscow in a Soviet army van accompanied with some tasty snacks and tea for a tasty start. Upon arriving, you will have to put on the army safety clothing and climb the Russian armored vehicles. The tour will take you on the noisy, smoky tank, driving through mud roads. All participants will get the chance to drive the tank which is coordinated by the Russian military.

Time: by arrangement, daily Price on request Language: English

Alexander Popov

Welcome to Russia! My name is Alexander, I was born in Moscow and I'm a passionate tour guide. I want to share my passion for Russia and my hometown with you. On my website you will find useful information to make your individual trip to Russia as interesting as possible.

Gorky Park and Sparrow Hills: Green Lungs, place to relax and meet

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