A Guide to Hiking El Salvador’s Santa Ana Volcano
Crater Lake at the Santa Ana Volcano
Surrounded by the cloud forests of Cerro Verde National Park, Santa Ana Volcano (Volcán Ilamatepec) is the biggest volcano in El Salvador—towering at 2,381 meters (7,812 feet) above sea level— and one of the country’s most popular destinations. Its mesmerizing turquoise crater lake at the summit and jungle landscapes enchant adventure lovers, and are also a photographer’s dream. This can easily be a day trip for travelers and there are several different ways you can plan your visit to Cerro Verde. If you are traveling through Central America and exploring its many volcanoes, be sure to add Volcán Santa Ana to your list!
In this article, I will cover some frequently asked questions regarding the Santa Ana hike, outline how I organized my trip and share recommendations to keep in mind as you plan your excursion. I hope this is helpful and welcome questions or comments below regarding your experience.
Where is the Santa Ana Volcano Located?
Cerro Verde National Park
The Santa Ana Volcano is in Cerro Verde National Park just 90 minutes from the capital city of San Salvador. Cerro Verde (meaning “green hill”) is lavishly lush and green, completely covered in trees, flowers, and other plantlife from top to bottom. You will hike through this forest that has grown onto the volcano.
Besides Santa Ana, there are two additional volcanoes worthy of your time: Izalco and Cerro Verde. The national park covers over 11,000 acres of land and shares a border with the nearby El Imposible Park. Together these two parks provide greater access for wildlife of the region. Since Cerro Verde Park encompasses these three iconic volcanoes of El Salvador, it has become an incredibly popular tourist destination.
Santa Ana is an active volcano as are many of El Salvador’s 23 volcanoes across the country. It is important to note that eruptions can happen at any time. Santa Ana last erupted back in 2005, which killed several people and sent lava and rocks the size of cars flying through the sky.
How and When to Get to Cerro Verde National Park
Cerro Verde opens at 8:00AM and most tours begin between 10:00-11:00AM. Many visitors spend the night in the nearby town of Santa Ana before coming out to the park in the morning. You can easily take a bus from here to the gates of Cerro Verde if you are coming independently.
From Santa Ana by Bus (Cost: $0.90)
The local bus is by far the most affordable method of transportation, but also the longest; mostly due to the lack of buses. Catch bus #248 from La Vencedora Bus Station on the corner of 11a Calle Poniente and Avendida Fray Felipe Jesus.
You need to be on the 7:30AM bus in order to do the Santa Ana Volcano Hike, so arrive ten minutes early to buy your ticket at the station’s ticket booth. There are later buses that go to the park, but taking these won’t get you there in time for the guided hike. The ride will take about 2 hours and offer some stunning views of Lake Coatepeque and its surrounding verdant mountains.
From El Tunco by Private Vehicle (Cost Varies)
I decided to make my way to Santa Ana from El Tunco as a day trip. Since my goal in El Salvador was primarily focused on surfing, I wanted to stay on the coast, especially as I only had a few days to travel. There are plenty of tour providers such as Tunco Life that will drive you to the volcano in the morning and have you back in the afternoon.
I easily arranged a tour through my hotel, Balance Yoga and Surf Retreat. My tour guide picked me up at the hotel at 7:30AM and it was a smooth 2 hour ride to the park. Only one other person joined us on the tour so we had the van to ourselves. With transportation, taxes, a guide and all park entrance fees included, the cost came out to $140,08. This is certainly more expensive than other options out there, but was worth it to accommodate my particular travel schedule/situation.
Arriving at Cerro Verde
Our Guide parked our van by this sign
The hike begins near the main office structure at the park, where you can find restrooms and a stall with drinks, snacks and souvenirs. I visited Santa Ana on a Monday which I am sure was a lot less busy than the weekends. I have heard there are usually more stalls and even pupusas being sold to hungry hikers.
Cost of Visiting Santa Ana
Hiking Santa Ana can cost you as little as $12 excluding transportation. There is a $3 national park and another $6 entry fee for the volcano. Although you can hike the Santa Ana Volcano without a guided tour, you must do the hike with a guide and police escort. This only costs $3 and is available once you arrive at the park visitor area. In my case, our guide handled everything and we were not required to pay anything else on-site.
How Long Did the Hike Take? Is it Difficult?
Where the trail started to get a little rockier
The hike starts off fairly easy with only slight inclines and declines through a forest. Then, you will get a small section of the road followed by another forest section. Once you enter the volcano part of the hike is where it starts to get more difficult. It is about 3km of walking uphill and, in some parts, over rocks.
From start to finish, the hike took us just under three hours. We started our hike at 10:00AM and reached the summit by 11:20AM. This included a few brief stops at the viewing points along the trail. After taking plenty of photos and videos at the top, we headed back to the base and were back by 12:45PM.
Note: If you are taking the bus, be sure to return to the bottom before 1:00PM to catch the bus, otherwise you need to wait until 4:00PM.
The hike takes some stamina and some of the rockier areas can feel a bit strenuous but is nothing outrageous in my opinion. Take your time and let others pass if you need to rest or adjust your pace.
At the Peak
After a long, sweaty hike you you will come across a sign congratulating you. If you see this, you have made it to the top of the volcano! Only a few more steps ahead will lead you to the crater lake with its turquoise, sulphuric waters. I can guarantee you will smell the lake before you see it, and it definitely gave me that extra push to reach the top.
You will have fantastic panoramic views of the rest of the park and of Lake Coatepeque. My new friends and I took turns taking photos of each other and just took our time taking in the view. Please be aware that there are some wooden posts that indicate where you should NOT walk past. I saw one too many tourists going right past these posts to get their perfect Instagram photos and being asked to step away from the edge by the officers standing guard at the top. Not only is this very unsafe, but it also puts the jobs and safety of employees at risk if they have to help you in case of emergency.
At this point, we noticed some guides are antsy to get back to the bottom of the mountain. Perfect timing too, as clouds were starting to roll in and it looked like a bit of rain might hit us. We promptly made our way back and it took about an hour to reach the main entrance again.
Don’t forget to grab some chips or a refreshing Gatorade after hiking up the Santa Ana Volcano. You deserve it!
What to Prepare for the Hike
Breakfast to Boost my Energy for the Hike!
When it comes to hiking unfamiliar terrain, doing your research is always important. Make sure to have something to eat and to hydrate well before the Santa Ana Hike. Although the temperature cooled down compared to the intense heat I’d experienced in El Zonte and El Tunco the previous few days, there is a chance the sun will be coming down hard on you.
This hike is relatively straightforward and doesn’t require any specialized gear. That being said, there are a few items I strongly recommend bringing with you:
Good Shoes- Leave your Tevas at home. This is not a hike for sandals or shoes without ankle support (particularly if you twist your ankle frequently like me). You will be dealing with plenty of rocks both big and small on your hike, so make sure your hiking shoes have decent traction
Water- Not bringing water is a rookie mistake. I suggest packing 2 litres with you to hydrate along the way and especially at the top. If you can carry more, great!
Windbreaker/Shell- I brought my GORE-TEX Burton Shell which not only is great for snowboarding trips but also serves as a rain jacket and windbreaker while keeping you cool
Hat- A simple cap will do! This will protect you from the sun. Remember that once you pass the forest part of the hike, you will be exposed to the elements
Sunscreen- This seems like a no-brainer but its often forgotten. Sunburn is never fun, so make sure to watch out for your skin
Camera/GoPro- You’ll want to take photos at the top to remember your epic hike! If you’re traveling solo, the GoPro is a great option for selfies with the crater lake. When in doubt, ask someone to snap a pic for you
Daypack- Bring a small bag with you to carry the items above and any snacks you might want to purchase at the stalls by the entrance. I went for the Oreos and thoroughly enjoyed them at the summit
Before You Book
With my new friends Amilcar (our guide) and Thomas!
Before hitting that “book” button on a tour, check the weather forecast for Santa Ana through the Mountain Forecast via this link. This will give you an idea of whether you can expect clear skies or storms. The forecast can change pretty frequently, so keep a close eye on it in the days leading up and be sure to book with a tour company that will refund you if inclement weather causes a cancellation. For a greater chance of having ideal conditions, it may be best to visit during El Salvador’s dry season between October and April.
Like most national parks, Cerro Verde tends to be at its most crowded on the weekends with tourists and local residents alike. To avoid these crowds, I recommend visiting during the week. I went on a Monday and even then felt there was some traffic at parts of the trail. I can’t imagine how it would have been on a Saturday.
The affordability, ease of access, and incredible misty views you will find on the Santa Ana hike are absolutely worth going on this excursion. This is a necessary part of any Central America itinerary, and certainly a highlight of El Salvador’s natural beauty. If you have any questions or want to share your thoughts, feel free to comment below! To watch my video guide on Santa Ana, check out @thesolotravelersnetwork on Instagram or TikTok.
