I’m learning that getting around Central America is pretty darn easy. There are lots of cheap shuttle options that usually pick you up right at your hotel, and when there’s not, there’s an easy bus going right where you want. Just two blocks from my hotel in Guatemala city was where the bus left for my next destination, Santa Ana in El Salvador, and the next country on my list. The border crossing was easy and quick, and in just about three hours I was at the Hostal Casa Verde in Santa Ana. Luckily my room was ready because I had one of the worst migraines ever! I laid down to close my eyes and didn’t move for about eighteen hours. Suck!

The next morning, loaded with Tylenol and a lot of caffeine, I took an Uber out to the first thing on my list, Tazumal, in the neighboring town of Chalchuapa. El Salvador is pretty much the end of the Mayan lands in the east, so I believe this is the last Mayan site I’ll be visiting. I started by looking at some cool pieces at the modest little museum, including some jade.

The best part about the museum on this super ridiculously hot day, though, was the arctic blast coming from the air conditioning.

Tazumal is a really small site. It’s basically this one really big impressive pyramid with a temple in the front. I ended up walking around the back side first, though.

This one section off to the side is thought to have been a Maya ball court, but with it’s odd shape and the fact that it’s attached to the pyramid, they can’t be sure. Personally, I don’t buy the Maya ball theory.

Even though the site is small, the front of that pyramid was pretty impressive. It’s rare to see a temple like that still intact.

After walking around the site I went back into the museum to cool off for a minute before walking the half mile to this next site, Casa Blanca. There was almost no information about the place. Only two of the small pyramids have been excavated.

Casa Blanca was named after the coffee plantation that it was found on. Other than the two small excavated pyramids, the rest were still buried under mounds of dirt, so this was a quick visit.

Back in Santa Ana I cleaned myself up and checked out the view from the rooftop terrace of my hotel. The views didn’t exactly take my breath away, but it gave an overview of the town. Santa Ana really isn’t all that interesting. It’s simply a bustling market town and a convenient jumping off point.

I eventually went out to see the Parque Central and get some dinner. This was the most interesting part of the city and the colonial municipal building and theatre were actually really beautiful.

And just look at how that cathedral lights up at night.

Finally, the main reason people come to Santa Ana, to hike up the Santa Ana Volcano. I booked a ride offered by my hotel with three other guests and off we went.

Volcán Santa Ana is not the highest point in El Salvador, but it is the highest volcano in El Salvador at 7,812ft. And it’s active. During it’s last eruption in 2005 it threw rocks as big as cars almost a mile away. Yowza! Of course everybody wants to climb this thing.

Actually, the hike was pretty easy. It only took about an hour and a half and wasn’t that steep. And thanks to the elevation and the wind, it wasn’t all that hot either. At the top you find yourself at the edge of the crater with a beautiful, boiling, sulphuric lake in the middle.

I read that during El Salvadors civil war years in the 80’s and 90’s they used to drop people into this lake from helicopters. Who would’ve thought that such a beautiful lake could also be the stuff of nightmares? All I did was take pictures. No swimming for me.

Off in the distance I got some good views of Lago de Coatepeque before hiking down. That’s where I’m having lunch.

Also, the hike down gave me some really great views of the neighboring Volcán Izalco. That one is also active. Supposedly, it erupted almost continuously from its formation in 1770 until 1958. Wow! It was known as the “Lighthouse of the Pacific”.

And let’s not forget some of the crazy plants that grow in these strange places.

After the descent, our driver took us to a restaurant on the shore of Lago de Coatepeque to eat and enjoy the view. The lake is a gigantic caldera formed by all the volcanoes like everything else around here.

Those are all jet skis out there. Looks like fun! Maybe next time.

Back in Santa Ana I tried out the famous local pupuseria. Pupusas are similar to empanadas except they’re made with a corn based bread, like a corn tortilla only thicker, and then stuffed with meat, cheese, veggies, or whatever you want in endless combinations. They may not look like much, but they’re delicious and they will stuff you until you can’t breath. Yummmm!

Well, my time in Santa Ana is at an end and its time for the next stop. I told you this trip was going to be fast paced. Tomorrow I finally get to ride the famous chicken bus, but more on that in the next post…