El Salvador & Honduras: Secrets of Central America
El Salvador & Honduras: Secrets of Central America
14 Days Starting in SAN SALVADOR and ending in SAN PEDRO SULA
Visiting: San Salvador, Bahía de Jiquilisco, Perquin, Suchitoto, Cerro Verde National Park, Ataco, Copan Ruinas, Gracias, Lake Yojoa, Pulhapanzak Waterfalls, Tela, Punta Sal, San Pedro Sula
Tour operator:
Tour code:
ELS2
Guide Type:
Fully Guided
Group size:
4 - 12
Physical rating:
Low, Low / Moderate
Age range:
1-99
Special diets catered:
Vegetarians, Please contact Wild Frontiers with any specific dietary requirements
Tour operated in:
EnglishTrip Styles:
Interests:
Activities:
Private Available:
Request A Private Tour
Tour Overview
A chance to discover two of Latin America’s most underrated gems, this spectacular adventure takes us deep into the heart of lands blessed with a rich natural beauty, and a cultural inheritance that can boast some of the most captivating colonial cities and most complete Mayan ruins anywhere on the continent.Beginning in El Salvador, we’ll make our way through a landscape scattered with reminders of the country’s turbulent heritage. Against the backdrop of breathtakingly pristine wilderness, we’ll visit artisan markets, revolutionary museums, picturesque towns in the country and rural communities, view abundant bird life and Central America’s largest estuary. We will explore Joya de Ceren, an intriguing UNESCO site often referred to as ‘The Pompeii of America’. Neighbouring Honduras offers the chance to experience the hospitality and atmosphere of small town Gracias. Then it is the turn of the magnificent ruins of Copan, without doubt one of the archaeological treasures of the Americas and a highlight of this incredible journey.A fitting climax to this odyssey of discovery, it is home to some of the most remarkable Mayan remains left in Central America and is not without reason blessed with the title ‘Paris of the Ancient Maya World’.
Highlights
Itinerary
Day 1 : Tour Starts In San Salvador (El Salvador)
Location: San Salvador
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Mirador Plaza 4* or similar
Meals Included: No Meals
The tour starts this evening in El Salvador’s capital although rooms will be available from 15:00 for anyone arriving early.
Day 2 : San Salvador - Bahia De Jiquilisco
Location: San Salvador, Bahía de Jiquilisco
Accommodation: Hotel, or similar
Accommodation Name: Puerto Barillas or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner,
This morning we start exploring the Salvadorean capital. San Salvador is the most populated city in El Salvador and it is the country’s political, cultural, educational and financial centre. We will wander the streets of the Historic Centre taking in the amazing architecture of the Metropolitan Cathedral, National Palace, the beautiful French Renaissance style National Theatre, and El Rosario church. After Lunch we head straight for the Bahía de Jiquilisco, on the Pacific Coast, exploring Central America’s largest estuary, an area of untouched natural beauty.
Day 3 : Bahia De Jiquilisco
Location: Bahía de Jiquilisco
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Puerto Barillas or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner,
Today's exact schedule will depend on the timings of the tides but at some stage we plan to head out into the bay and join some local marine biologists to assist with monitoring the health and development of the local sea turtle population. This amazing experience will allow us to observe these majestic sea creatures in their natural environment. The rest of the day will be free for you to swim and relax.
Day 4 : Bahía De Jiquilisco - Perquin
Location: Bahía de Jiquilisco, Perquin
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Perquín Lenca or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner,
Today we head to Perquín, an area which was used for guerrilla incursions during the 1980s’ civil war. We will visit El Mozote, the village where the largest massacre took place which is part of the dark history of El Salvador. Here we will visit a poignant memorial which lists the names of the hundreds of people who lost their lives. After lunch we will make a stop at the Museo de la Revolución Salvadoreña. This provides us with a greater insight of the 12-year bloody civil war that will allow us to have a greater understanding of the lives of the local people, past and present, of this region. Perquín is situated amongst lush coffee plantations, green pine groves and some beautiful mountain scenery, so we will finish the day with a leisurely walk.
Day 5 : Perquin - Suchitoto
Location: Perquin, Suchitoto
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: La Posada de Suchitán or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner,
This morning we head straight for Nuevo Gualcho, a self-developed community comprised of refugee families, who decided they wanted to return home from Honduras in the early ‘90s. In recent years the inspiring youth have taken the initiative to develop an ecotourism project, in the hope this will provide employment and income for them, whilst still being able to remain at home with their families. This land is also home to ‘La Hacienda’, a site famously used by Francisco Morazán during the fight for a unified Central America in 1828. After lunch with the friendly locals and a tour of their homes we continue on to the picturesque pre-Colombian town of Suchitoto, founded over 1,000 years ago by the Pipil people. The town became the country’s temporary capital when an earthquake destroyed San Salvador in 1853. It is now famous for its cobbled streets and colourful colonial style houses, as well as the beautiful array of birds and flowers that ‘Suchitoto’ is named after.
Day 6 : Suchitoto
Location: Suchitoto
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: La Posada de Suchitán or Similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner,
Early in the morning we visit the main square in Suchitoto to appreciate the Santa Lucía Church. After a short stop we transfer to Hacienda Los Nacimientos, located a short distance away. The hacienda uses organic ingredients to produce high quality indigo with a percentage of between 50-55% indigotine. He we will learn what the hacienda’s artisan produce using indigo dye and organic farming practices. There will also be an opportunity to sample traditional Salvadorean cornmeal pupusas (small tortillas stuffed with cheese, beans or meat). We will enjoy lunch prepared by the local inhabitants.
Day 7 : Suchitoto – Cerro Verde
Location: Suchitoto, Cerro Verde National Park
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Casa Degraciela or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner,
After breakfast we drive towards Cerro Verde National Park and take a refreshing sightseeing tour through the eco trails of the park. Cerro Verde is an inactive volcano located at an altitude of 2035 meters and length of 500 hectares of nature. It has a cloud forest in and around the crater with a temperature of between 12 and 18 degrees centigrade. Today we will be hiking up to the crater of Llamatepec, one of the surrounding volcanoes, which will take around 4 - 5 hours to reach. Upon reaching the crater on a clear day you should have impressive views of Lake Coatepeque, Cerro Verde volcano and the Pacific Ocean. If you would prefer not to hike you will be able to explore the National Park and visit the bird sanctuary full of colourful creatures including the emerald Toucanet, motmots and 17 different species of hummingbirds.
Day 8 : Cerro Verde - Ataco
Location: Cerro Verde National Park, Ataco
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Casa Degraciela or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner,
After breakfast we drive further east to visit Joya de Cerén, declared World Heritage by UNESCO in 1993, also called the Pompeii of America. Here we admire a pre-Columbian Maya farming village preserved remarkably intact under layers of volcanic ash because the village was buried by a volcano eruption around A.C. 600. This afternoon we will visit the flower route famous for its dramatic abundance of wild flowers before ending the day at Nahuizalco, one of the most traditional towns in the area. The people here are known for their handicrafts and furniture made from tulle and willow.
Day 9 : Ataco - Copán (Honduras)
Location: Ataco, Copan Ruinas
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Marina Copán or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch,
Today we will transfer to the colonial city of Copan. The drive should take approximately 5 hours and on arrival we will have lunch before visiting Macaw Mountain Bird Park and Nature Reserve. This sanctuary serves as shelter to abundant species of birds which were previously kept as pets. We will walk through the different aviaries and along nature trails that wind through a lovely primary forest of cedar, mahogany, fig and zapote trees.
Day 10 : Copán Ruinas - Gracias
Location: Copan Ruinas, Gracias
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Posada de Don Juan or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner,
Set to be one of the trip’s real highlights, we begin our day with a guided tour of these incredible Mayan Ruins. Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980, Copán has remarkable sculptures and hieroglyphics and is often referred to as the ‘Paris of the Ancient Mayan World’. In the afternoon we continue our journey to Honduras to reach the small, peaceful town of Gracias, originally named Gracias a Dios (Thanks to God) by the Spanish trekkers that reached this flat land. Full of colour and atmosphere we will enjoy this picturesque town, including the castle fort, museum and plaza.
Day 11 : Gracias - Lago De Yojoa
Location: Gracias, Lake Yojoa
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Casa Lenca or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner,
This morning we will travel to La Campa a characterful town set in a rugged mountainous area. Here we will learn skills from the indigenous community of La Campa. We will have time to witness how they work and perfect their ceramic art, followed by a pottery workshop at Doña Licha's where you can try and create your own ceramic specialty. Transferring to our accommodation for the night which is located at the heart of Lago de Yojoa the largest lake in Honduras.
Day 12 : Lago De Yojoa - Pulhapanzak - Tela
Location: Lake Yojoa, Pulhapanzak Waterfalls, Tela
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Cesar Mariscos or similar
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner,
The Cerro Azul Meambar National Park is one of the best run national parks in the country. With clearly marked loop trails through the tropical rainforest which take from 30 - 90 minutes to complete, we will have the chance to see a variety of butterflies, birds and tropical trees. Continuing to the Pulhapanzak waterfalls, we will get a chance to delve into these tumbling waters before heading to our final city of the tour. Tela is a little slice of heaven on the north shores of the Caribbean coast. Originally the headquarters for the United Fruit Company, it has the largest concentration of Garifuna villages in the world! This is the perfect place for us to relax at the end of what has hopefully been a memorable journey through El Salvador and Honduras.
Day 13 : Punta Sal Excursion
Location: Punta Sal
Accommodation: Hotel
Accommodation Name: Cesar Mariscos
Meals Included: Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner,
Our final day takes us to Jeannette Kawas National Park otherwise known as Punta Sal. Offering the best of both coastal marine and tropical forest ecosystems, Punta Sal is an excursion of diversity. Accessible only by water we will start by traversing the peninsula on foot through mangrove and tropical forests, where hopefully we will get to glimpse some monkeys, spiders and butterflies. We will then head to the unspoiled beach where we can snorkel in the turquoise waters and enjoy the coral reef. Kicking back we relax in true Caribbean style on the beach of Cocalito, enjoying a typical Garifuna lunch. Arriving back in Tela late afternoon, you will have some time at leisure before our farewell dinner this evening.
Day 14 : Tour Finishes In San Pedro Sula
Location: San Pedro Sula
Meals Included: Breakfast
The tour finishes this morning and those on the suggested group flights will be transferred to San Pedro Sula for the flight home.
What's Included
-
MEALS
13 x Breakfasts, 12 x Lunches, 11 x Dinners
-
TRANSPORT
On this tour we will use minibuses and boats.
-
GROUP SIZE
Maximum: 12
-
CARBON CONTRIBUTIONS
Contributions to carbon offset & tree planting projects for all bookings
-
EXPERT TEAM
The full services of a Wild Frontiers Tour Leader with local guides where appropriate
-
ACCOMMODATION
All accommodation as outlined in the itinerary
-
ENTRANCE FEES
All entrance fees for sights mentioned in the itinerary
-
FITNESS RATING
Low / Moderate
What's Not Included
We believe in a completely transparent approach to pricing with no hidden extras. As such, please note that the following are not included in the cost of the tour.Visas & Travel Insurance: Visas will always be tour/nationality dependent but travel insurance is mandatoryTips: Always optional but some guidance will be given in the pre-departure information documentsInternational .Flights: Please ask us for an obligation-free quote for flights which originate in the UKAirport .Transfers: We include complimentary transfers if arriving/departing on the suggested group flights.Beverages & any costs of a personal nature: This will include items such as laundry and souvenirs
Visas
Visas are necessary for many of the destinations we travel to and while we aim to provide you with the most up-to-date information, requirements frequently change and as such for the latest advice we advise that you check with the relevant embassies or contact our recommended visa agency, Travcour www.travcour.com For this tour UK passport holders currently do not require a visa for El Salvador or Honduras. However there is an entry tax of USD10 (subject to change) which is valid for 90 days and covers travel in El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala and Nicaragua. This will need to be paid for on arrival. If you choose to fly via any US airport you will need to obtain an ESTA. Non-UK passport holders or non-UK residents should contact the relevant embassies for individual requirements. NB. Please note that as of January 2016 US policy (subject to change) has stated that anyone wishing to travel to or via the USA must have a biometric passport. In addition, anyone who has travelled to several countries including Iran, Iraq, Syria, Sudan, Libya, Yemen or Somalia since March 2011, is required to apply for a US visa (rather than just an ESTA). If you are affected by this, the process is fairly straightforward and you can read more about it here - www.wildfrontierstravel.com/us-visa Further details will be sent out to you on booking, however ensuring that correct and valid visas are obtained remains the sole responsibility of the client.
Key Aspects to Consider
Anyone in a reasonable state of health, with an open mind and a sense of adventure should be perfectly able to cope with this tour, as many of the activities are optional. However, please note that you will need to be able to climb in and out of small boats. There is an optional volcano hike on Day 7 which takes 4 - 5 hours roundtrip. Although not a challenging walk, the initial part is through covered forest and then becomes quite rocky and uneven in the exposed areas, and can be quite narrow at times.
Check out our Q&As
-
Are airport transfers included in this tour?
-
What policies are in place for Covid-19?
We have a complete Covid-19 hub here: https://www.wildfrontierstravel.com/en_GB/covid-hub
-
Do you operate a “single share” option and how does it work?
Over 70% of passengers on our group tours are solo adventurers. Unlike many tour operators, we don’t believe in charging solo travellers a premium, so if you are happy to share a room with a fellow traveller of the same sex, you will pay exactly the same as a couple..Occasionally you may even end up with your own room. You can travel as a single traveller on any of our holidays, from our escorte
-
Will the accommodation included meet local health and safety regulations?
Yes
-
How long has the tour company been trading?
Since 2002
-
Do I need to be double-vaccinated against Covid-19 to travel with you?
In most cases, yes. Not only are many destinations making double-vaccination a requirement of entry to the country and/or access to restaurants, museums etc., but additionally on all our group tours for the foreseeable future, for everyone’s peace of mind, we are asking that all clients be double vaccinated.
Reviews from Travellers on this Tour
Want a private tour?
Book with Confidence
-
Free Date Changes
Wild Frontiers allows you to make 2 free date changes, as long as the change is made at least 90 days before the start of the tour.
-
Low Deposit
Wild Frontiers requires a minimum deposit of 200 GBP per person or the full booking value, whichever is less, with the final balance not due until 70 days before departure.
-
Cancellation Policy
We don't charge a cancellation fee, here is a summary of wild frontiers charges.
Up to 71 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of deposit.
At 51 days before tour starts: Forfeit 50% of booking price.
At 30 days before tour starts: Forfeit 100% of booking price.
-
Wild Frontiers' COVID Promise
You will have the right to transfer without any transfer fee, from any of our trips at ANY time if your trip is not Covid Viable (see below).*
We will not ask you to pay your final balance if your trip is not yet Covid Viable.
If your trip is not Covid Viable, by 30 days prior to departure at the latest, we will cancel your holiday and you can either transfer your funds to another departure or have a refund.**
We will only consider a trip Covid Viable*** if pre-departure it meets all of the following criteria:
There is no national lockdown or ban on foreign travel for the period when your trip is due to depart.
Destinations on the tour must not be on the UK’s Red List. ****
No destinations visited on the tour have in place any significant COVID-19 restrictions for travellers.
Tourist visas (if required) are available.
There is reliable airline access to/from the start/end of the trip.
Following an assessment by both Wild Frontiers and our local partners we are confident that your trip is able to run in both a safe and enjoyable manner.*****
** If you were originally booked to travel before 30 April 2020 and transferred to a later date, or if you have a tailor-made booking, there may be some irrecoverable costs which we cannot refund. Please speak to us and we will be able to advise you if this is the case for your booking.
***Since our HQ is in London, Covid Viable status for our Group Tours will be assessed on UK-based travellers. However we are fully aware that many of our clients live in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and beyond. As such, when we deem a trip to now be Covid Viable, everyone booked will have a chance to review their own personal situation before deciding whether or not to remain booked on the trip. Anyone wishing to, will have the option to transfer without fees to another trip at this time. For tailor made bookings, we may also able to consider additional countries’ travel advice when deciding if a trip is Viable. Please discuss this with us at the time of booking.
**** This relates to bookings from UK clients only. We may operate trips to destinations which the British FCDO advise against travel for Covid reasons. If this is the case, anyone wishing to will have the option to cancel with a refund or transfer to another trip. In some cases we may choose to offer a tour to a Red destination but these will be at both clients’ and Wild Frontiers’ discretion and will be subject to alternative conditions to be discussed on an ad hoc basis.
*****If a destination, that we have deemed to be Covid Viable, subsequently fails any aspect of the criteria for two consecutive weeks, you will have the right under our Covid Promise to transfer without any fees.
Why book with tourhub?
Safe & Secure
Your money is protected in an external trust until you travel.
100% Guaranteed Refunds if your trip is cancelled.
The safest way to make overseas, multi-currency payments.
Guaranteed Best Value
Industry leading discounts, we won't be beaten on price.
No cancellation or amendment fees from tourhub.
(Operator terms may apply)
Expert Knowledge
Reliable & unbiased advice from travel experts.
Direct contact with the tour operator via our messaging service.
Inspiration & advice from a community of 6000+ real travellers, influencers & content creators.
Trusted Service
Official partners & licensed agents of 1000+ tour operators worldwide.
Don't just take our word for it...
"Tourhub: Friendliness, Professionalism & Integrity I would happily give tourhub a 6* review if I could..."