Discover The Beauty Of El Salvador And Honduras

A lot of people who travel to Central-America like to combine several countries on their trip, sometimes even including all of the countries! We are of course very proud of our country El Salvador, but we also enjoy the beauty and culture of our neighboring countries such as Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua. Together with our colleagues in Honduras we have created a great itinerary which is perfect to get to know both of the countries. It is also possible to customize your tour to your liking. If you’d like to see another itinerary, don’t hesitate to contact us. 

Honduras and El Salvador are two Central American countries that offer a unique blend of natural beauty, rich culture, and fascinating history. Combining these two destinations in one tour allows travelers to experience the best of both worlds and gain a deeper understanding of the region.

In Honduras, visitors can explore the ancient Mayan ruins of Copán, hike through the lush rainforests of Pico Bonito National Park, and relax on the white sandy beaches of the Bay Islands. The country is also home to the world-renowned Moskitia region, which offers ecotourism opportunities such as bird watching and wildlife spotting.

El Salvador, on the other hand, is known for its vibrant colonial cities, such as the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Joya de Cerén, and its beautiful beaches, including El Zonte and El Tunco. The country is also home to several active volcanoes, including the Santa Ana volcano, which offers stunning views and hiking opportunities.

A tour combining Honduras and El Salvador offers the chance to experience the rich culture and traditions of the region, including traditional music and dance, delicious local cuisine, and the colorful festivals and markets that take place throughout the year.

In summary, Honduras and El Salvador are two ideal destinations to combine in one tour for travelers who are looking for a unique blend of natural beauty, rich culture, and fascinating history. Both countries offer a wide range of activities, from ancient ruins and ecotourism to beaches and vibrant colonial cities.

Tour Summary

Day 1: Arrival in Honduras
Day 2: Tour to Punta Sal National Park
Day 3: Tela and Cayos Cochinos
Day 4: Pulhapanzak -  Yojoa lake
Day 5: Yojoa Lake
Day 6:  Gracias - The Caves Of Taulabe

Day 7: Copan
Day 8: Copan: Mayan Ruins
Day 9: La Palma - El Salvador
Day 10: Santa Ana - Apaneca
Day 11: Concepción de Ataco and Coffee Tour
Day 12: Hiking Tour in  El Imposible National Park​
Day 13: Cerro Verde National Park - Santa Ana Volcano
Day 14: Joya de Cerén to Suchitoto
Day 15: Tazumal and Suchitoto
Day 16: Suchitoto
Day 17: San Salvador City Tour
Day 18: Bahía de Jiquilisco
Day 19: Playa Costa del Sol - Cacao Farm Tour

Day 20: Playa Costa del Sol - San Salvador
Day 21: Departure

Tour In Depth

Day 1: Arrival in Honduras 

Upon arrival we are picked up and taken to your hotel in Tela, where we’ll stay for the next three nights. 

Day 2: Tour to Punta Sal National Park

Today we get up early and depart by boat from Tela to the Punta Sal National Park (also called Jeanette Kawas National Park). The park is made up of 14 different ecosystems, including mangroves, rainforest, cloud forest, lagoons and coastal coves. These coastal coves used to be used by pirates who went into hiding with their new loot. You can also snorkel in the clear blue Caribbean Sea where the second largest coral reef in the world is located. We have lunch with a typical Garifuna meal on the beach. At the end of the afternoon we return to our hotel in Tela and you can relax.


Day 3: Tela and Cayos Cochinos

During this day trip you will visit the Caribbean islands of Cayos Cochinos. Also called the paradise of Honduras. It is an archipelago formed by 13 small islands of coral origin and two islands of volcanic origin. You can swim in crystal clear water and snorkel here. The Cayos are a biological marine reserve. For example, the coral is protected and commercial fishing is prohibited. The condition of the reef is very good and you will see many beautiful fish species here. Lunch is prepared by Garifunas, the locals of the area, and served on the beach. We get up early because the starting point is in La Ceiba, about a 2-hour drive from Tela. 

Day 4: Pulhapanzak -  Yojoa lake

On the way to the largest lake in Honduras, Lago de Yojoa, we visit the Pulhapanzak waterfalls. The 43 meter high waterfall is impressive. The waterfall has an important cultural place in the history of Honduras, because the Maya also came here to relax. The hiking trails get close to the falls. Then we drive to Yojoa. We stay two nights in a hotel near the lake.

Day 5: Yojoa Lake 

What are you in the mood for today? Maybe you are an early riser and you like to go bird watching in a rowing boat under the guidance of a guide. Or maybe you like to kayak on the lake yourself. You can also choose to stay at the hotel and enjoy the beautiful surroundings that the lake has to offer.

For hiking enthusiasts, it is very worthwhile to walk in the Parque Nacional Cerro Azul Meambar. You can choose between beautifully landscaped walks from 1 hour to 4 hours through tropical forest, on the way you can visit the tower to observe the birds in the treetops, there are beautiful viewpoints and waterfalls. For the real climbers, the 4-hour tough walk is recommended, which goes through tropical forest and cloud forest.

Day 6:  Gracias - The Caves Of Taulabe

Today we drive to the small colonial town of Gracias. In the afternoon we take a city walk. The town is known for its colonial buildings, historic churches and an impressive fortress. We spend one night in a charming hotel in the town.

The caves of Taulabe

We then continue to the caves of Taulabé. Here we find a network of underground caves with unusual stalactites and stalagmites. So far, the caves have been explored to a depth of 12 km, with no end in sight. The Taulabé Caves, or as commonly known Cuevas de Taulabé, are a natural cave system that spreads across the municipality of Taulabé. Over a period of thousands of years, stalactites and stalagmites have been created: It is then about four hours' drive away

Day 7: Copan 

Copán is one of the absolute highlights of this trip. In addition to admiring the ruins, you can also enjoy hiking in the vicinity of this former Maya city. We spend the night near this impressive Mayan site. Besides the ruins there are many other things to do. The area is beautiful to explore by horse. If you’re not into horseback riding we can visit the breeding project of the red macaw parrot and  visit Luna Jaguar's natural hot spring baths. 

Day 8: Copan: Mayan Ruins 

We will go on an excursion to the Mayan ruins at Copán in the morning. Maya art reached its peak in Copán. You can see very detailed sculptures on stelae, temples, stairs and buildings. There are more hieroglyphs and carved monuments in Copan than in any other Maya city. The three meter high images in stone are unique in their kind: images of figures and animals and royal portraits with inscriptions of dates of birth, marriage and death. The longest Maya text known to date is on a gigantic 72-step stairway covered with 2,500 individual hieroglyphics.

Day 9:  La Palma, El Salvador

La Palma is a small, but charming town in El Salvador. If the border crossing goes slow, we’ll just head here and explore the town, but if all goes smoothly, we can go visit the highest peak in El Salvador: El Pital, close to the border with Honduras. 

Day 10: Santa Ana -  Apaneca 

Today we’ll continue to the second largest city in El Salvador, Santa Ana. The architecture of the city cannot be compared to other places in the country. You can see this, for example, at the cathedral, the theater and the palace. After visiting this city we drive to the village of Apaneca where we spend the night in a beautiful green area.

Day 11: Concepción de Ataco and coffee tour

Ataco is one of the most characteristic and artistic villages of El Salvador. Almost every wall is beautifully painted and you will also find many nice shops and bars here. We will visit one of the best coffee processing facilities in El Salvador here. We’ll get a whole tour in which all the different steps in the coffee process are explained and we’ll also take some time to explore the town of Ataco. 

Day 12: Hiking Tour in  El Imposible National Park​

Today we’ll hike in the Imposible National Park, which takes about 5 to 6 hours. This park is a tropical forest with a variety of plants and animals. In addition to the varied wildlife, the views are truly beautiful. We’ll walk on various (sometimes steep) paths to beautiful viewpoints. Along the way you can swim in rivers and visit waterfalls. The walk is 'medium difficulty' and the ride to Imposible takes an average of 2 hours on the way there and the way back. 

Day 13: Cerro Verde National Park - Santa Ana Volcano

In Cerro Verde National Park you will find volcanoes such as Izalco and Santa Ana. Today we climb the Santa Ana volcano up to the crater! The surroundings during the walk are splendid, in clear weather you have a view of three nearby volcanoes. Once you reach the top, you have a breathtaking view over the crater. The green-blue crater water stands out particularly against the surroundings.

Today we hike for about 4 hours. The walk is suitable for anyone with a normal condition.

Day 14: Joya de Cerén to Suchitoto

After breakfast we travel on a beautiful route through the mountains and past coffee plantations to Joya de Ceren. A small archaeological site listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993. Joya de Ceren is the only place in Mayan culture where you can see the daily lifestyle of the pre-Columbian inhabitants. This way you can see houses and utensils of these special people. This Mayan village is well preserved, because it was buried under a large layer of volcanic lava.

Day 15: Tazumal and Suchitoto

Next we visit the Mayan ruins of Tazumal. After this educational visit we drive to the picturesque and cozy town of Suchitoto. Suchitoto means place of birds and flowers in Nahuatl, the local language.

Day 16: Suchitoto

A tour will take us through the history and colonial architecture of Suchitoto. We’ll visit the colonial church of Santa Lucia, colonial houses, museums and art galleries. Many restaurants have a panoramic view of Lake Suchitlan, a dammed river. You then have the rest of the day free to spend to your liking. The main square is very

cozy with several restaurants and bars. You can enjoy a drink on a terrace and visit various museums.

Suchitoto is located near the reservoir “Lago de Suchitlán”. A boat trip on the lake is also recommended, especially around sunset. You often see many birds, and the glare of the setting sun on the lake is a beautiful sight. Or you can participate in an Indigo workshop. Here you can make a white t-shirt blue with a kind of paint that is extracted from the Xiquilite plant.

Day 17: San Salvador City Tour 

San Salvador is the capital and largest city of El Salvador.  We’ll take you to the most beautiful places in San Salvador. When you go to see the city, you cannot miss the El Rosario church in the square, the national palace and the cathedral. From San Salvador you can climb the El Boqueron volcano. The top of the volcano is at an altitude of 1,839 meters.

Day 18: Bahía de Jiquilisco

After breakfast we drive further to the coast, to Bahia de Jiquilisco. It's a short drive of about two hours. The accommodation where we will stay tonight is in a special location, namely at the beginning of the largest mangrove forest in El Salvador. This is a place where you see few tourists.

Upon arrival, you can choose to take an excursion by kayak or boat through the channels of the mangrove. During the trip we’ll look for different animal species such as birds, crabs, turtles, fish and crocodiles. We’ll also have a tour to El Nacascolo where you can see spider monkeys.

Day 19: Playa Costa del Sol - Cacao Farm Tour

Today we visit a local cacao plantation. Due to the volcanic landscape, the soil is very fertile and of good quality for growing cacao. It is interesting to see how the process of growing, harvesting and processing works. Then we leave for the beach of Costa del Sol where you will stay for the last 2 days. Enjoy the sand, the sea and the tranquility!

Day 20. Playa Costa del Sol 

Playa Costa del Sol is a famous beach in El Salvador and is divided into two areas, one is the beautiful sandy beach right on the coast of the ocean and the other side is the mangrove, where the wealthy landlords of El Salvador built houses.

We’ll start with a tour to the mangroves. On the Costa del Sol you can also surf, sunbathe, swim, stand-up paddle boarding and relax. In short; it is a nice place to end your trip in a relaxed way.

Day 21. Departure

Today we’ll bring you to the airport. We can also transport you to the border between El Salvador and Guatemala or Honduras and arrange your border crossing and transport.

Included: 

- Accommodation in midrange/upper midrange hotels/guesthouses
- All transport in private vehicles
- Professional, local English speaking guide  (or Spanish of course)

- All entrance fees and activities as describes 

Not included: 

- Visa and tourist pass 

- Flights 

- Meals and drinks 

- Tips and gratuities