Explore El Salvador's beaches, volcanoes, coffee and culture

When you visit the beaches of El Salvador, you're in for some spectactular sunsets. And you have plenty to choose from: the country features nearly 200 miles of Pacific coastline on its southern flank.

With 22 volcanos in the country, it's not surprising that El Salvador's nickname is "land of the volcanoes." Hikers and eco-travelers marvel at the thrilling heights at Ilamatepec, Santa Ana Volcano, Izalco or Cerro Verde. El Salvador's dry season runs from November to April, offering North American and European travelers an escape from the cold weather.

As you ascend Santa Ana Volcano via the jungle trail, the rainforest gives way to steep rocky mountain landscapes giving way a vast clearings and panoramas vistas dotted with flowers, shrubs and far-reaching with eye-popping views of Izalco Volcano.

When you reach the summit of the the Ilampetec Volcano, you’ll be spellbound as you notice 1,000 feet below, is an avocado-green, heaving caldera. The jaw-dropping sulfur lake’s water temperature is between 100-150℉

Wander off the beaten path and you'll be rewarded with swimming spots like Los Tercios Waterfall. Tucked away outside the quaint town of Suchitoto, it's reached by hiking through lush, verdant jungles. In addition to Instagram-worthy plunges into deep crystalline pools, Los Tercios Waterfall is also an excellent spot to make friends with locals.

Dense verdant forests surround the nearly five-mile-long Lake Coatepeque in western El Salvador.

At different times of the year, Lake Coatepeque's color changes from cobalt blue into volcanic turquoise hues. The blissful lake also makes an astonishing vantage point for birdwatching enthusiasts.

Speaking of which, the turquoise-browed motmot is the national bird of El Salvador. It has a mostly green body with bands of orange, yellow, along with a distinctive, turquoise and black tasseled tail that can be up to a foot long. It lives in open forest spaces.

Fishermen from nearby villages troll Lake Suchitlan in northern El Salvador as a source of food and income. In addition to being an important water source, the reservoir is considered a top-notch birdwatching destination.

Coffee is a way of life in this nation of about 6.5 million inhabitants. Many coffee drinkers forget that the caffeinated brew derives from a fruit. As you traverse the western section of El Salvador, you'll be dazzled by coffee cherries growing by the sides of roads and in mountainous regions.

El Salvador's coffee industry has declined since its 1980s heyday and has been displaced as the country's top export by products like processed ethnic foods, tropical fruits and sugar, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. However, coffee is still an important source of employment and the government has announced a rescue plan designed to revive the industry. Want to make a coffee pilgrimmage? Go between October and March, when the best beans are harvested. Most coffee haciendas offer tours and tastings.

The colonial cobblestone town of Suchitoto overlooking Lake Suchitlan is one of the country's artisan centers. You'll find galleries in and around the town square. Boutique hotels showcase the renderings of local artists and craftsmen. The vibrant town hosts many festivals and its town square is brimming with local culture.

Meanwhile, backpackers and beachcombers flock to the tiny, laid-back surf village of El Tunco, located near La Libertad, on the southern coast. The seaside settlement has evolved into a vibrant surfer's paradise. Locals make a living by offering surfing lessons. There are also numerous shops, restaurants, and bars where foreigners can mingle with locals. And unlike other surfer villages, El Tunco is not lined with tourists.

La Libertad is also the destination for seafood lovers. It has a captivating fish market and comfortable seaside eateries serving up the freshest catch of the day. You’ll find tasty fruits of the sea throughout El Salvador. Come hungry: the portions are large and filling.

For a glimpse into domestic life, visit the fish market on the pier at La Libertad. You’ll view fish hauled right from the sea. While men do most of the fishing, women run small stalls selling fish, crab and shrimp.

Anywhere you go in El Salvador, you can find the tasty national dish of pupusas being made to order. These hot round corncake-like tortillas, which are filled with cheese, beans, vegetable chicken, pork and shrimp, are a delicacy here.

There are many opportunities for encounters with the local,  highly hospitable inhabitants of El Salvador. Children playing in the streets in colonial towns come to welcome you. Families gather together to take a photo, allowing you to immerse yourself into local society. It's not uncommon for residents to invite you to their homes where food and drinks are served.

Love shopping? Leave yourself plenty of time to wander the colorful storefronts along the 22-mile Ruta de las Flores. In the mountain town of Concepcion de Ataco – or Ataco for short – you'll find elaborately painted shops selling locally made products from handicrafts, jewelry, art, paintings and textiles, all made by local artisans.

Ataco is a must visit on any El Salvador trek, especially for those looking for less-traveled destinations.

Ruta de las Flores, or Route of the Flowers, links Ataco with five other charming towns: Nahuizalco, Salcoatitán, Juayúa, Apaneca and Ahuachapán. Along the way, you'll find murals painted on homes and storefronts, providing reminders of El Salvadoran history. Local artists showcase their work on the exteriors of cafés, shops, hotels and just any open space.

History lovers will also also find Mayan ruins without long lines. Most impressive is the well-preserved Tazumal archelological site. The pre-Colombian complex, located about 50 miles from the capital of San Salvador, is one of the most grandiose sites of the Mayan empire.

Feel like no vacation is complete without a sightseeing excursion to a cathedral? El Salvador's got one for you: the ornate, neo-Gothic Santa Ana Cathedral, located in the city of the same name. First completed in 1576, it was destroyed by lightning in the 19th century and rebuilt between 1906 and 1959. From July 17-26, the surrounding area is home to the Santa Ana Festivities, an annual event complete with parades, games, live music, dancing and food.

An excellent way to meet El Salvadoran locals is through its festivals, when town squares are filled with frolicking children, and the small of barbeque lingers in the air. Most festivals are religious in nature and often involve pyrotechnic firework displays, parades, meal sharing and dancing.