Santa Ana Itinerary (4 Days): Full Breakdown
Santa Ana is El Salvador’s second-largest (and probably safest) city. It is conveniently positioned between the capital, San Salvador, and the Guatemalan border in the west. This makes it a popular stop for backpackers following the Gringo Trail through Central America.
Compared to some of the other towns and cities on the Gringo Trail, Santa Ana is perhaps a little less explored and a little rougher around the edges. Many travellers skip over El Salvador completely due to preconceived conceptions based on its chequered past, but this is a huge mistake. El Salvador (and particularly Santa Ana) holds a special place in my heart from my time spent here.
While the city doesn’t have the beauty or infrastructure of the likes of Antigua and Granada, it is charming in its own way and is well worth exploring! This 4-day Santa Ana itinerary will cover everything you need to know to make the most of your visit!
Santa Ana Itinerary in Short
- Day 1: Santa Ana Volcano and Lake Coatepeque
- Day 2: Explore the Ruta de Flores
- Day 3: 7 Waterfalls Hike
- Day 4: Joya de Ceren (UNESCO World Heritage Site)
How to use this Santa Ana Itinerary: This itinerary compiles what I think are an exciting and varied 4 days in Santa Ana for first-timers. The days and activities can easily be shuffled around to suit your needs.
Santa Ana Itinerary in Full
How many days do you need in Santa Ana?
Though there is not a huge amount to do in the city of Santa Ana itself, it is a fantastic springboard into the surrounding area. You should spend at least 3 days in Santa Ana, but preferably more if you want to enjoy the nearby Ruta de Flores in more depth.
4-Day Santa Ana Itinerary
Day 1: Santa Ana Volcano and Lake Coatepeque
Santa Ana Volcano Hike
The main attraction for those visiting Santa Ana is probably the Santa Ana Volcano a short distance outside of town. Standing at 2381m (7812ft) above sea level, the volcano towers above the surrounding landscape, offering breathtaking views over the valleys. You can also look into the crater itself to see the sulphurous blue pool!
It’s a short hike to the summit, making it popular with both international and national tourists. Therefore, the hike is best done during the week when it’s less busy.
From Santa Ana town, you can get the chicken bus or an Uber to the base of the volcano. From there you will ‘need’ a guide to take you up to the top. The last guides leave at 11:00 AM so you need to arrive before then otherwise you won’t be allowed in. If you are catching the bus, this means that you will need to catch the early bus (07:30 AM) from Santa Ana to arrive in time. I met several people who were turned away because they arrived at 11:30 because they caught a later bus…
NOTE: You don’t actually need a guide (it’s an easy trail), but they won’t let you in without one…
Times: Pre-11am
Duration: 2-3 hours
Price: $6 entrance fee + $3 guide fee
Lake Coatepeque (Coatepeque Caldera)
Located not far from Santa Ana volcano, a visit to the idyllic Lake Coatepeque is a great way to spend the rest of your day.
Coatepeque Lake was formed from the crater of an ancient volcano and is a tranquil oasis surrounded by lush hills and vibrant flora. Visitors can enjoy a boat ride across its serene waters, rent kayaks, go for a swim, hike around the perimeter, or simply relax at the lakeside absorbing the stunning scenery.
There is an array of restaurants, bars and accommodations surrounding the lake where you can take in the panoramic views. As a backpacker, I spent the day relaxing at Captain Morgan Hostel which is easily accessed by bus.
Times: Every day
Duration: 2+ hours
Price: Free
Day 2: Ruta De Flores
No worthwhile Santa Ana itinerary would be complete without a visit to the Ruta de Flores!
The Ruta de las Flores is a beautiful, well-trodden route winding through the picturesque highlands of El Salvador. This scenic region is one of the most beautiful parts of the country and is renowned for its colourful markets, artisanal crafts, and blooming wildflowers that line the streets (hence the name).
The route includes the towns of Ahuachapan, Sonsonate, Nahuizalco, Salcoatitlan, Ataco, Apaneca and Juayua. Each town has its own charm, so go for a wander and explore. You may find local galleries, coffee plantations, food markets, activities in nature and more.
I recommend picking your top few choices and enjoying those, rather than trying to visit every town in one day. You can always come back again if there’s more you want to explore! Below are some of my Ruta de Flores highlights.
Juayua Food Market
If you happen to be in the area on a Sunday, I highly recommend altering your Santa Ana itinerary to include a visit to the Juayua Food Festival!
The Juayua Food Festival, also known as La Feria Gastronomica, is a weekly event where local vendors prepare a huge array of food, celebrating El Salvador’s rich flavours. Taking place every Sunday, the town square transforms into a lively market where local vendors showcase a myriad of traditional dishes, including the famous pupusas, grilled meats, and delectable desserts.
There’s a really good energy as people gather from the nearby towns to socialise, dance and enjoy the variety of food on offer.
Times: Sundays, 10:00-17:00 (approximate times)
Duration: 2 hours
Price: Free
Apaneca Maze and Activities
Tucked away in the small town of Apaneca lies an unexpected sight – Cafe Albania. This activity park (which you wouldn’t guess from the name), draws adventure seekers from across El Salvador.
The main attraction is the Apaneca Maze (Laberinto de Apaneca). Set amidst beautiful gardens, the maze provides a fun and challenging experience for visitors of all ages. Navigate through the winding paths, discover hidden corners, and enjoy views of the lush surrounding area.
Let me know if you can beat my time of around 25 minutes to reach the bell in the middle!
Besides the labyrinth, Cafe Albania also offers other unique activities such as bike ziplining and surf ziplining. Plus a giant slide, a regular zipline, big swings and a cafe restaurant.
Times: Every day, 08:00-18:00
Duration: 2+ hours
Price: $3 entry (which includes the maze) + ziplines/swings/slide cost extra
Hot Springs
On the way back to Santa Ana, stop in Ahuachapan to relax at one of the hot baths.
Your first choice (if you have time) is Salto de Malacatiupan. The Malacatiupán Waterfalls present a unique opportunity to experience a ‘hot’ waterfall. Accessible through hiking trails, these falls offer a secluded and peaceful environment away from urban distractions. The cascading waters flow into inviting pools and provide a peaceful setting for visitors to unwind and enjoy the warm waters.
Times: Every day
Duration: 1+ hours
Price: Free
If, like myself, you don’t have time, you can unwind at the slightly less impressive, but similarly relaxing Santa Teresa Hot Baths. We stayed for dinner before heading back to Santa Ana.
Times: Every day, 08:00-22:00
Duration: 1.5+ hours
Price: $10 entry (or package deals available)
Day 3: Seven Waterfalls Hike
AM: Seven Waterfalls Hike
The Seven Waterfalls hike is an adventurous walk that follows jungle trails in El Salvador’s seemingly untouched nature. This hike surprised me and ended up being the highlight of my Santa Ana itinerary!
From Santa Ana, you will once again need to head back in the direction of the Ruta de Flores as the hike begins near Juayua. If you organise your hike via a tour, they will arrange transport.
The trail leads you through lush forests and across crystal-clear streams, unveiling a series of stunning waterfalls along the way. As you trek through the jungle, each waterfall offers hikers a refreshing oasis to cool off in and savour the beauty of these rarely-visited places. It even includes a treacherous and exhilarating rappel down El Bebedero (the tallest waterfall)!
Most tours for the seven waterfalls route set off in the morning and finish with a lunch. If you find a guide elsewhere, they may just lead you around the route without providing lunch.
NOTE: Get an official guide from the tourist center as parts of the hike can be dangerous.
NOTE: Wear shoes that you’re happy to get wet (preferably wet shoes).
Times: All day
Duration: 4-6 hours (approx)
Price: $20
If you don’t fancy the hike but still want your fix of waterfalls, check out Chorros de la Calera. It’s a 20-minute walk outside of Juayua.
PM: Explore Santa Ana Town
After a morning of exertion, you should have some spare time in the afternoon. You can use this to walk around and explore the city centre of Santa Ana (if you haven’t already) or check out Salto de Malacatiupan (mentioned earlier).
Head over to the main square to check out the Cathedral of Our Lady Saint Anne, the National Theatre and the Municipal Palace of Santa Ana. The beautiful cathedral acts as a focal point for the city, though it was unfortunately undergoing work when I visited (February 2023).
Around the main plaza, there are plenty of market stalls and extremely cheap street food. Grab a snack, sit down and watch El Salvadorian life go by! Pupusas are the main El Salvadorian delicacy, though the longest street stall queue was always for the stall selling chips and sausage.
Day 4: Joya de Ceren
Also referred to as the ‘Pompeii of the Americas’, Joya de Ceren is El Salvador’s one and only UNESCO World Heritage Site. When the Laguna Caldera volcano erupted around 600AD, it covered the surrounding area in ash and volcanic rock. Left behind are some of the most intact remains of prehispanic civilization. A farming village with homes, saunas, agricultural tools, and much more was initially discovered in fantastic condition in 1976. Since then, the site has been excavated and preserved as one of the best insights into the daily lives of past Central American populations.
There is no food or drink on-site, however there are shops and stalls just outside.
Times: 9am-4pm Tuesday-Sunday
Duration: 2-3 hours
Price: 10 USD
Santa Ana Itinerary Map
What to do if you have more time in Santa Ana?
Explore the Ruta de Flores in-depth
The city of Santa Ana itself is relatively easy to explore since there’s not a crazy number of activities to do. However, with the Ruta de Flores on the doorstep, I highly recommend exploring further if you have more time in the area. The towns I would recommend exploring in more depth are:
- Juayua
- Apaneca
- Ahuachapan
Lake Coatepeque (Whole day)
Completing the Santa Ana volcano hike and visiting Lake Coatepeque all in one day is possible. However, it is a jam-packed day, particularly if you take chicken buses. If you have more time in Santa Ana, why not split these activities up and spend a whole day at the lake relaxing?
El Tazumal
El Tazumal is one of El Salvador’s key archaeological sites. Located in Chalchuapa, it serves as a historical relic from the Maya civilization preserving remnants of ancient structures, such as pyramids and intricately carved stelae, the site offers valuable insights into the architectural and cultural practices of the Maya people.
Whilst it doesn’t reach the same grandeur of Tikal in Guatemala or Xunantunich in Belize, it’s still well worth a visit for those interested in Mesoamerican history.
Casa Blanca Ruins
If El Tazumal isn’t enough, the Casa Blanca ruins are another option for even more Mayan history.
Where to go after Santa Ana?
If you are heading east through El Salvador, the next stop after Santa Ana would be either San Salvador or more commonly, El Tunco.
If you are heading west into Guatemala, the next stop would be Antigua.
If you are not afraid of going where others may not, you may consider venturing north towards Suchitoto.
Before you go
Thank you for reading my 4-day Santa Ana itinerary in El Salvador. If guides, itineraries and travel content like this interest you, head over to my blog page to find out more.
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Happy travelling!
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