Santa Ana Volcano

Santa Ana Volcano | The highest volcano in El Salvador!

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With an altitude of 2,381 meters above sea level, the Santa Ana Volcano is the highest Volcano in El Salvador with the last eruptions in 1904, 1920 and 2005.

It is part of “Los Volcanes Complex” in the Apaneca mountain range, within a tropical mountainous cloud forest, in a coffee region about 65 kilometers west of the capital.

Santa Ana Volcano facts

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• Altitude – 2381 meters above sea level
• Last eruption – 2005
• Location: El Salvador, Santa Ana
• Type: Stratovolcanoes
• Geological Era: Historical Geology
• Cordillera: Cordillera de Apaneca-Ilamatepec
  

How to get to the Santa Ana Volcano?

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By bus to Cerro Verde National Park

If you are thinking on traveling by bus, then you should do it from Santa Ana City. From here, early in the morninh you should look to get the 248 from La Vencedora bus station bus at 7:30am. You can join the bus at a meeting point at Calle 25. The journey will take you more or less 1h30mins.

You will arrive to Cerro Verde National Park where all the volcano hikes of this area starts at 11:00am with the local authorities, guides and red cross.

Private transportation

If you do not want to lose too much time if you are in San Salvador city, it is always a good idea to hire a private transportation company to take you to Cerro Verde National Park. Usually, a responsible tour company as us are able to offer you a non guided spanish speaking transfer service from San Salvador city or any other part of the country. Always look for hiring a responsible certified tourism company.

How is the hike to the Santa Ana Volcano crater?

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First of all, the hiking tour to Santa Ana Volcano actually starts from Cerro Verde National park. From here, you will depart with a local guide and local authorities for a short nature trip of 30 mins along the natural area.

Afterwards, you will arrive to San Blas private property before arriving to the official Santa Ana National Park entrance where you need to pay to local authorities. From here, the hike is a non stop 1h30mins journey to the top of the Santa Ana Crater. This is a moderate to strenous hike depending on your phisical condition.

Finally, you will have a 30 to 45 minutes relaxing time to take amazing photos, get a view to Coatepeque lake and taste a local artesanal ice loly pop and admire the green active lagoon of 90 centigrade with sulfer vapor. You will also have a spectacular view of Zapotitán valley and San Salvador Volcano before getting back to your stating point.

Entrances to consider: Cerro Verne National Park, San Blas private property, Santa Ana Volcano National Park. Total from usd 6 for nationals and usd9 for international travelers.

Santa Ana Volcano biodiversity

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Flora

There are more than 125 species of trees that are present in the ecosystems . Some of these are Evergreen Latifoliate Altimontano Tropical Forest. Altimontano wasteland and lava flow with sparse vegetation. Predominating the species of wax, pinabete, sapuyulo or lava species such as lichens, lycopodia, grasses and agaves; Orchids of different species and bromeliads known as roosters. In the moor there is a group of unique species in the country. Theese species are characterized by presenting wide and flat or soft leaves due to the presence of hairs, these species adapt to the sulphurous gases and strong winds that occur in the volcano. There are approximately 134 hectares of cypress plantations that were introduced by the former owners.

Fauna

Among the mammals are: coyotes, fox, deer, tigrillo. Birds: short-tailed hawk, mountain hawk and black eagle among others. It is one of the few natural areas where birds, mammals, amphibians, reptiles have been monitored.

Internal rules for tourism in the Volcano

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• There is a mandatory registration at the entrance booths of the Park.
• The entry of alcholoic beverages is prohibited as well as smoking inside the Park.
• Deposit the garbage in plastic bags and remove it from the area.
• The use of loudspeakers and car horns is prohibited as it affects the behavior of wildlife.
• If you carry weapons you must leave them at the entrance booth.
• Follow the suggestions of the Guides and park rangers, they are authorized to apply the Law on Natural Protected Areas.
• It is mandatory to ascend to the crater guarded by agents of POLITUR or Tourist Guides.
• Campfire or cooking is only allowed in the indicated places within the natural area.
• Staining, creeping or grating rocks, trees, burners, tables, signs and cabins is not allowed.
• Visitors and people from the Park’s internal communities should refrain from riding bicycles and motorcycles as well as riding horses or driving cattle through the streets and trails.
• Rangers will seize sound devices, firearms, deer, hondillas, intoxicating drinks and pets.
• Not allowed: scandals, burning gunpowder, shouting, musical instruments, sound devices.
• You must be careful when driving your vehicle, the maximum speed is 10 kilometers per hour in the case of Sector Los Andes.

Volcano hiking tour ideas

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