Archive for the ‘Travel Guides’ Category

Nature Tours & National Parks in El Salvador

Monday, August 16th, 2010

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Barra de Santiago, El Salvador

El Salvador is a nature-lover’s paradise. With a large variety of unique plants and wildlife, its geographic location is ideal for those seeking an eco vacation. With so many sights to see, from the breathtaking volcanic lake, Lake Coatepeque, to El Imposible National Park, El Salvador is the perfect place to experience the beauty of nature first hand. Many nature tours in El Salvador are available through La Cocotera Resort as well as various tour groups in the area.

La Cocotera offers exciting eco and nature tours including an exploration of the Ruins of Joya de Ceren and San Andres, a Santa Ana Volcano Tour and a day hike in El Imposible National Park.

Ruins of Joya de Ceren

Visit the Mayan ruins of Joya de Ceren and San Andres on this unique, full day nature tour. Named a UN World Heritage Site, this archaeological region offers unforgettable panoramic volcanic views from beautiful Cerro Verde. Tour includes transportation, a pack lunch, park entrance fees and a guide. Cost: $175 for up to 2 people.

Volcano Tour

This tour is for the athletic and adventurous. Climb the Santa Ana Volcano, the highest in the country, with magnificent views of other volcanoes and lakes. The effort will be well worth it! This full day trip is  relatively strenuous and sturdy shoes are necessary.  Transportation, lunch, entrance fees and a guide are all included. Cost: $165 for up to two people.

El Imposible National Park

The San Salvador area is well known for El Imposible, a tropical rain forest and El Salvador’s largest national park. Explore its diverse collection of animals and plants on this educational hike.  During the nature tour, you will also learn about the Scarlet Macaw reintroduction program. The trip is a 1/2 day hike and includes transportation, drinks, entrance fees and guide. Cost: $150 for up to 2 people.

Other types of nature tours and activities that are readily available at or near La Cocotera Resort include ocean and estuary kayaking, deep sea fishing, birdwatching, and a behind the scenes eco tour of our resort.

If you have other nature tours in El Salvador that you would like to book while staying with us, we would be glad to help point you in the right direction.

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Surfing in El Salvador

Monday, July 19th, 2010

Surfing in El Salvador

From popular beaches such as El Sunzal and El Tamarindo to lesser known spots like La Barra de Santiago, such ideal locations have made surfing in El Salvador a must for the surfing enthusiast.  If you are looking for warm, tropical weather, unspoiled beaches and challenging waves, then El Salvador has everything you need.

The beautiful beaches and favorable geographical location of El Salvador’s long stretch of Pacific coastline provide some of the world’s best areas for surfing. With mostly vacant waters, El Salvador’s beaches are not only the perfect place to catch a wave, but to soak up the sun and explore the natural surroundings in serenity. Places like Punta Roca in Costa del Balsamo are well known for their beach breaks, river mouths, reefs and cobblestone points.

For the longest wave in El Salvador that’s perfect for both long and short boards, try El Sunzal. The waves are big and surfers are often found spending their time here. In fact, many wave seekers refer to El Salvador’s coast as a “surfer’s heaven”. The coast to the west of El Sunzal has many beach breaks and a few river mouths, and it enjoys some of the most consistent surf in the country of El Salvador.

El Salvador has a dry season (November - April) and a wet season (May-October). While the wet season is characteristic of rain, there is also plenty of sunshine and the biggest surf. Waves up to 8-12 ft are not uncommon! The dry season offers beautiful sunny weather and calmer waves, with more consistent surf. Depending on what kind of vacation you prefer, either season may have just the perks you’re looking for.

Experienced surfers may want to check out Barra de Santiago. It is a small coastal village with deserted beaches and consistent year round surf. Beginners can go down the beach towards village where the waves are much softer. When you’re not surfing, you can explore the estuary, observe the local wildlife or just enjoy the gentle breeze.

At just a short five hour flight from Los Angeles, surfing in El Salvador is well within reach for west coasters and a worthy vacation destination for those coming from farther away. At La Cocotera eco resort, you are only a few steps from the beach. Just roll out of bed, grab your surf board and go!  Other water activities are also readily available, including kayaking through the Barra de Santiago estuary. La Cocotera is an all-inclusive resort, so leave the accommodations and meals up to us, and we’ll leave the surfing to you.

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Eco Vacations: Barra de Santiago Estuary and Mangrove Forest

Friday, August 28th, 2009

La Cocotera Eco Resort is located on the sandy shores of the Barra de Santiago coast, with the Barra de  Santiago Estuary and Mangrove forest as its neighbor. If you are looking for an eco vacation that offers relaxing luxury and intruiging wildlife exploration, then La Cocotera is for you.

Barra de Santiago is home to seven different species of mangrove, and measures approximately 2,000 hectares (4,942 acres). Along with lush vegetation, the inner mangrove coastline is a haven for thousands of native and migratory birds and a various wildlife. Guests at our resort can view several types of wildlife while floating along the peaceful estuary waters including iguanas, lizards, marine mammals, shellfish, sea turtles, crocodiles, blue crabs and more!

If you are a nature and wildlife enthusiast who is looking for the perfect eco vacation activity, you must try kayaking through the Barra de Santiago estuary. To learn more about kayaking, see our other post on Eco Resort Nature Activites: Kayaking. For those staying out our eco lodge, Kayak rentals are included.

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El Salvador Hotels and Night Life

Thursday, August 13th, 2009

Don’t forget to splash your travels with the colorful nightlife of San Salvador’s best bars and nightclubs. When you leave your El Salvador hotel for the evening, check out the Zona Rosa district, just west of the city center.  Many cafes and restaurants can be found in Paseo General Escalon, in the Zona Rosa region, while nightclubs and cinemas  (many of which show English-language films with Spanish subtitles) can often be found in shopping malls, like Metrocenter or Gran Vía. One of the area’s theaters is the beautifully restored Teatro Nacional.

Along with theaters and clubs, venues like the Feria Internacional for concerts, and Estadio Cuscatlán and Estadio Mágico Gonzalez for football (soccer) matches and concerts are great for a day out.

When you go into the restaurants remember to order the national culinary specialities:

  • Pupusa (a fried sandwich of tortillas, filled with pork, cheese, refried beans and/ or vegetables).
  • Típico salvadoreño (standard Salvadoran breakfast comprising eggs, local cheese, refried beans, fried plantains and tortillas).
  • Corn tortillas.
  • Tamal de elote (cornflour batter with meat filling, wrapped in banana leaves and steamed).

To read more about traditional and specialty cuisine, see our other post on El Salvador Food!

When you go out to the shops or clubs don’t pass up on drinking some of the local specialties:

  • Café (coffee).
  • Refrescos (natural fruit drinks).
  • Tic tac and torito (strong alcoholic beverages made from distilled sugar cane).

In El Salvador, the legal drinking age is 18. For night clubs and bars, remember that entry charges are common. For tipping in the area, give about 10% in El Salvador hotels and restaurants, and 15% is appropriate for smaller bills. Check before tipping because service charge is often included on bill.

FYI: Certain areas are best to avoid. The actual San Salvador downtown offers little to no in the way of entertainment and should be avoided for the most part at night. Outside the capital most places of entertainment (even hotels) close early.

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Eco Tourism: Hiking in El Imposible National Park

Monday, June 29th, 2009

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Photo:  Daylife.com

Did you know? El Imposible National Park is so named for the once-treacherous El Imposible Pass, where a steep and narrow gorge between two mountains blocked the route of coffee farmers transporting their coffee by mule-train. In 1968, the government constructed a bridge at El Imposible Pass, opening up transportation from Tacuba to Cara Sucia.

El Imposible National Park is part of the Apaneca–Ilamatepec range of mountains and is located 70 miles west of capital city San Salvador.  The park is a protected natural area offering the largest biological diversity in El Salvador.

The park covers 12,850 acres of tropical mountain forest. More than 1,000 species of plants are found in the park,  as are such endangered animals as the puma, crested black eagle, emerald toucan, aardvark and white-tailed deer. El Imposible is considered one of the most important natural reserves in Central America not only because of its wildlife, but because it is one of the few existing examples of the typical Mesoamerican Pacific coastal rainforests. Access is by hiking and four-wheel-drive vehicle only.

There are 3 major trails in the park: a 1km nature hike, a 6-7km loop into the valley to see a delta of two rivers, and a 8-9km hike to Cerro Leon the highest point in the park.

La Cocotera’s proximity to  El Imposible National Park, make hiking a popular eco tourism activity for our visitors. Reservations and permits for each visitor are required in advance. Call or ask us at the front desk about El Imposible Tours and we’ll be happy to help you!

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Planning Your Eco Resort Trip: A Map of Barra de Santiago and Surrounding Areas

Thursday, June 25th, 2009

La Cocotera Eco Resort is located in the secluded and peaceful little town of Barra de Santiago. It is about an hour and a half drive from San Salvador and is situated right on the beach near the Guatemalan border. In order for prospective guests to get a better idea of where exactly they’ll be staying, we’ve decided to put up a few maps showcasing the area.

The arrival airport destination for those visiting our eco resort is capital city San Salvador. Airlines servicing  San Salvador include: American, United, Continental and TACA, the official airline of El Salvador. TACA (www.taca.com) flies daily non-stop from Los Angeles to San Salvador. Flight time is approximately 4 ½ hours.

Guests can also fly to San Salvador non-stop from most Central American capitals as well as connecting through the U.S. via Miami (2 ½ hours), Dallas (3 ½ hours), Washington, D.C. (4 ½ hours) or New York City (5 hours).

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Ground transportation from and to San Salvador airport is included in the price of your stay and  it is approximately a 1 hour 45 minute drive. Helicopter and Private Plane transportation from to and from San Salvador airport is available at an additional cost.

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Things to Do at your El Salvador Beachfront Hotel: Surfing

Thursday, April 30th, 2009

At La Cocotera Resort, the scenery consists of long stretches of coast and clean beaches. From your incredible hotel room to the distant mangroves, it is all breath-taking, not to mention the sunsets. The area is spectacular for so many reasons. From the wild life to the local culture, there is always something amazing to do.

To really make your trip complete, take advantage of one of the best surf locations in the world. In El Salvador, some have described the breaks as rough and there have been stories of people who break their boards - not uncommon stories I might add! Some have reported seeing breaks up to 6 meters! But fear not gnarly dudes and dudettes. If you want softer waves, go down the beach towards the villages where the waves are more mellow and good for beginners.

When you visit La Cocotera, not only do you get to stay at one of the best El Salvador beachfront hotels, you also get to experience some of the world’s most renowned and challenging surfing!

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General Traveler Info on La Barra de Santiago

Wednesday, April 29th, 2009

Location
La Barra de Santiago is located on the Santiago Peninsula with long sandy banks created by the currents of the estuary. It is the perfect location for breathtaking sunsets over the ocean. One of the most attractive features of this area is that there is no one around, with the exception of maybe the locals or surfer kids.

Access

The Santiago Peninsula is a must for people who love nature. There is a coastal highway that runs from Acajutla through the Guatemalan border. To reach the village Barra de Santiago, take the turnoff at KM 98.5 . If you choose to travel by bus, there are two direct departures from Sonsonate (morning and afternoon). Take  bus #285 to the end-stop at 35 Ave Sur, then walk approximately three blocks to the end of the road.

Barra de Santiago provides numerous dirt roads and walkways along the peaceful beaches to the tip of the peninsula. These beaches are unspoiled by the mega-hotels that vacation destinations like Cancun suffer from. You can walk for miles, undisturbed, along this peaceful, safe and relaxing beach.

Must See
Barra de Santiago  harbors a protected area where you can observe turtle nests on the beach, walk through mangroves, and even go bird watching. A short walk will take you to the tip of the peninsula, giving you a remarkable panoramic view of the volcanic mountain chain from the Volcan de Agua in Guatemala all the way to the Santa Ana and Izalco volcano in El Salvador. The lush foothills of the El Imposible National Park are the backdrop of the mangrove forest.

For more information on some of the amazing views or about our El Salvador beachfront hotel, visit our main page at lacocteraresort.com, or click on the icon in the left hand corner.

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