El Salvador and its Archeology
8 Days Daily Departures to September 2010
DAY 1 USA /SAN SALVADOR
Departure from the U.S. to El Salvador International Airport, where you will be met by our representative. Transfer to your selected category hotel in San Salvador
DAY 2 Joya de Ceren - Archeological site declared human heritage by UNESCO
The tour starts at 8:30 a.m. We will depart to Joya de Ceren, considered to be the most important archeological site ever discovered in El Salvador. To leave the city we will take the Quezaltepeque highway, driving through this highway we will be able to appreciate one of the petrified lava rivers of the last eruption of the Quezaltepeque volcano, in 1917, now known as San Salvador’s volcano. We will stop to admire this beautiful landscape. After this we shall continue to our main destination: Joya de Ceren which was declared world heritage by UNESCO in 1993 for being the only location in the whole Mayan culture where you can appreciate the day to day living styles of the popular pre-Columbian inhabitants. all well was preserved thanks to the ashes of the volcano’s eruption .We will return to the city through the Pan-American Highway going up and through the mountains that belong El Balsamo´s range of mountains and to finish our tour we will stop at a restaurant to enjoy a good local lunch. Afternooon off. Night in hotel in San Salvador. (B/L)
DAY 3 Colonial City of Santa Ana and Coatepeque Lake
The tour starts at 9:00 a.m. The beautiful city of Santa Ana is considered to be part of our national cultural heritage, the second most important city in the country; founded in 1824 it is also known as the Heroic City. It is one of our jewels; in the guided tour you will be able to visit Santa Ana’s historical center, then we will take a short stroll in the gothic cathedral, the only one in the Central American region; we will also have the opportunity to see the local city’s theatre which is considered to be a magnificent piece of architecture. After the visiting Santa Ana we shall continue to one of the most beautiful lakes of the world: Coatepeque Lake. This is an old caldera volcano lake that had a big eruption approximately 40,000 years ago. Driving down the road towards the lake we will stop so you can admire and take pictures of the amazing landscape, after we will continue to a restaurant located on the lake where we will take a delicious lunch with the touch of the local cuisine. After lunch you will ride a typical boat called Panga on this wonderful lake where you will be able to see gorgeous private homes with their piers and boats. Night at selected hotel in San Salvador. (B/L)
DAY 4 Pyramids of Tazumal, Casa Blanca and the colonial City of Chalchuapa
The tour will start at 9:00 a.m. On this tour you will have the unique opportunity to visit two archeological sites that are part of the same complex; the first location that we will visit is casa Blanca, a set of pyramids recently discovered. In this place we will visit the pyramids and we shall have the opportunity to go to an indigo workshop where you will take part of the dying of a typical clothing, a piece which you will be able to take home as a souvenir of the experience. The colonial city of Chalchuapa was built partly in the premises of this pyramid complex during the colonial period. We will take you to visit its historical centre and one of the most ancient churches in El Salvador; then we will visit El Tazumal, which is the biggest pyramid that has been discovered in the country and its for certain that its architecture will impress you. To finish our tour we will go to a craftsman’s shop where you can appreciate the fabulous crafting of the jade stone, a stone that is now considered a jewel; in the past jade was considered more valuable than gold by the Mayas. Transfer to Apaneca region. Night at Santa Leticia mountain hotel or similar. (B/L)
DAY 5 Day off in Apaneca region
Day off. This day you can rest at the hotel or take a local tour. Night at Santa Leticia mountain hotel or similar. (B)
DAY 6 Santa Leticia Archaeological Site
The tour will start at 9:00 a.m. This day you will visit the archaeological site of Santa Leticia, located close to the hotel. Here you will appreciate two big sculptures of the Olmeca culture that have a weight between 14.000 lbs and 21.000 lbs. Night at Santa Leticia mountain hotel or similar. (B)
DAY 7 Cerro Verde Volcano National Park and Pyramids of San Andrés
The tour will start at 8:30 a.m. This is one of the most important tours that you should not miss during your stay in El Salvador. During this trip you will have the opportunity to visit the Cerro Verde Volcano, which is a dormant volcano now covered by a thick misty forest of an impressive beauty which is now a national park. We will have the opportunity to stroll down a path that surrounds the park; this path is called a Window to Nature where you will be able to discover the wonders of this impressive place. During the stroll you will have the opportunity to access different view points so you can enjoy the beautiful landscapes of the Izalco volcano, the Volcano Ilamatepec, and the dormant volcano caldera type named Coatepeque Lake. Inside the park you will see a gorgeous garden of orchids from this region; after the visit to Cerro Verde we will take you to lunch to a restaurant which flatters itself with the most magnificent view of Lake Coatepeque. And to finish this tour in the best way we now how, we will continue our journey to the archeological site of the pyramids San Andres , which was one of the most important worshiping and trading centers during the pre-Columbian period, placed in the central valley of El Salvador. Return to San Salvador in the afternoon. Overnight stay at selected hotel in San Salvador. ( B/L)
DAY 8 EL SALVADOR / U.S.
Transfer to the International Airport for your return flight to the U.S. Meals (B)
 
|
