The Cerro Verde Volcano is located about 1 hour west of San Salvador and is part of the Volcano Complex National Park which includes areas of the Izalco and Santa Ana Volcanos as well as the mentioned Cerro Verde which is situated between the other two very distinct volcanos.

At Gringo tours we include the a visit to Cerro Verde as a component of several other full day tours and can be included in a version of the Mayan Sites tour, Ruta de Flores tour or in route to the Ruta de Flores from or back to Suchitoto, San Salvador and other destinations in El Salvador. A visit to the park can be arranged from pretty much anywhere in the western/central part of the country.

The visit to Cerro Verde includes either a 45 minute walk-easy to moderate hike around the extinct crater accompanied by local guides at the park or if time is limited, a shorter walk to the newly restored hotel and lookouts around the parking area which permit easy views of the two neighboring volcanos, this when clear skies permit. For those who enjoy wild life, it is common to see animals like armadillos, snakes, birds of many types and the occasional cotuza (in Spanish) or agouti a rodent similar in appearance to a guinea pig but having longer legs. I tell people it looks like it does a skuttle-hop and resembles a hare or rabbit.

When combined with Joya de Ceren, lunch at a small restaurant on the Lake Coatepeque caldera ridge road can be arranged before or after visiting the park. The newer bistro and hotel also offer nice options for meals. For those wanting local foods the simple kiosks around the parking area offer many quick and low cost options.

For those looking to climb a volcano, El Salvador offers several options and Gringo Tours can arrange two fairly easily.

Both options we offer start at or close to Cerro Verde, are escorted by 1-2 Tourist Police and 1-5 local park guides depending on the size of the group. Tours are offered daily (weather permitting) starting at from 8:00 am till 11:00 am from El Tibet and Cerro Verde.

We are always asked which is the better hike and simply say that they are such different hikes that it is hard to compare them.

Effort wise most consider the Izalco volcano hike more difficult as it is a steeper climb, has more steps to get down to the base and back up to Cerro Verde, provides very little shade and is mostly loose lava rock making it somewhat slippery both going up and coming back down.

The Santa Ana hike offers some shade and vegetation, less steps and offers many times, the very rewarding view of the emerald/turquoise colored crater lake and three concentric craters.

That said both tours take a full 4 hours and require you to be in good physical condition.