One of the most colorful destinations in El Salvador awaits you!
With its cobblestone streets, colorful murals, handicrafts, cuisine, and cool climate, this is Ataco, another destination on Ruta de Las Flores.
At 1,260 meters above sea level, surrounded by impressive hills covered in vegetation and prominent coffee plantations, Ataco offers an enhanced ecotourism experience, featuring spectacular gardens, hot spring pools, and waterfalls.
If you are a coffee lover, you will surely enjoy the Coffee Tour, an activity you can do at the nearby farms. You can also visit the artisanal looms, go to the viewpoint at Cerro de La Cruz, explore the arts and crafts workshops, stroll through the streets to admire the colorful murals, and visit the church.
In the city, you can enjoy gourmet and traditional food at the gastronomic festivals, especially on weekends. However, any day you decide to visit, you will always find vendors and restaurants around the central park.
One of its most significant traditions is the celebration of "Día de los Farolitos", which has been kept alive for over 200 years. Every September 7th, the streets are illuminated to celebrate the eve of the birth of the Virgin Mary.
The scenic beauty of the mountains, the crystal-clear waters, and the cool climate make Las Ninfas Lagoon the perfect blend for a memorable experience.
Also known as Laguna Verde, it belongs to the recent volcanic chain over the Apaneca-Ilamatepec mountain range and is considered a high-altitude wetland with distinctive and significant wildlife, including the American coot and the pied-billed grebe, aquatic bird species that nest in this lagoon, within others. There are 16 bird species in the surrounding high areas, some of which are migratory, giving the lagoon the status of an important wetland.
This body of water has great ecotourism appeal, where you can have picnics, take boat rides, watch birds, go hiking, cycling, and enjoy buggy tours.
Test your skills by trying to find your way out of the largest labyrinth in El Salvador and Central America.
The Albania Labyrinth is made up of over 2,000 cypress trees that were carefully cultivated to create this labyrinth, considered one of the top five in the world.
It is definitely an attraction you must visit to test your sense of direction, reach the goal, and ring the bell in the center to show that you made it.
In this place, you can also get your adrenaline pumping by daring to fly on the tallest pendulum in El Salvador, ride a bicycle at heights along a cable, or, if you prefer more relaxing activities, enjoy the delicious dishes at the restaurant, have a coffee, or spend time at the playgrounds and gardens.
If you are a coffee lover and want to learn about its history and production process, El Carmen Farm is the place for you.
This place has been dedicated to coffee cultivation for more than four generations. It is located just five minutes from Concepción de Ataco, in Ahuachapán, one of the towns on Ruta de Las Flores.
Here, you will see how coffee is transformed from cherry to fine export-grade beans, making it possible for their traditional Alpha brand to reach the most demanding international markets.
During the visit, you will enjoy the cool climate and beautiful panoramic views, providing an ideal setting to get familiar with coffee culture. This place has been recommended by Jet Set Destination Viewing as one of the most popular coffee plantations in El Salvador.
There, you can choose between two tours. The first is the traditional tour, which includes a guided visit through the coffee processing facilities where the transformation process is explained. The second is the comprehensive tour: you will be welcomed at La Casona, the old manor house of the farm, where you will enjoy a cup of gourmet coffee prepared with the chorreador method, accompanied by a typical sweet bread. Then, you will take a guided tour of the coffee process and learn the basic principles of cupping.
It is a hidden natural paradise in Ahuachapán, where a spring cascades over the rocks to form the refreshing natural “pools” of this destination.
Located just 6.5 kilometers from the road leading to Ataco, this place offers an adventure away from the city’s hustle and bustle, accompanied by a harmonious concert of the natural world.
Cool weather, mist during different times of the year, lush green landscapes everywhere, and natural springs are some of the experiences you can enjoy.
This is a great option to take a short detour from Ruta de las Flores and discover more of the landscapes that El Salvador has to offer.
Amidst mountains and spectacular landscapes lies Juayúa, another town of the Nahuat Pipil culture along Ruta de Las Flores. In this destination, you can enjoy natural attractions such as Las Siete Cascadas or Las Ranas Lagoon.
You can also explore the town on horseback, by carriage, by train, or on the iconic Congabus, a double-decker bus. In the town center, you will find craft shops, cafés, nurseries, restaurants, and art galleries. On weekends, you can enjoy a variety of dishes at its famous gastronomic festival.
One of the most visited attractions is the Nahuat Pipil Commemorative Museum, which provides information about indigenous settlements, history, and details of the 1932 massacre, an event that marked El Salvador. You can also explore the shops and workshops where local crafts and furniture are made and sold.
In this colorful town with historic houses, the most solemn Holy Week activities in El Salvador are celebrated. Additionally, you can enjoy various tourist attractions such as Izalco Volcano and Atecozol Water Park.
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