Oct 17, 2024
Perfecto! - What a beautiful outing from start to finish! The best thing was Gaby, my guide. She was so knowledgable, thoughtful and adaptable. As a regular hiker, the hike was moderate but enough of a challenge and the lunch by the lakeside was perfect! I would highly recommend this day trip and Gaby!
Lucy S
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Oct 14, 2024
The views are worth it - The hike had its challenging parts but each time it felt like too much, the views would keep us going. Our tour guide francis was beyond knowledgeable about the history, plants, and fauna of the area. A wonderful and remarkable experience that ended with lunch and an unforgettable view
Review provided by Viator
Oct 11, 2024
Great experience - Was definitely worth making it top a bit challenging but worth it ! And our tour guide Francis was the best explain a lot and was patient with us ! Recommend you all to book this !
Review provided by Viator
Oct 7, 2024
Great tour - Everything was well planned and delivered. Josué was a great guide and made the experience relaxed and insightful. The volcano is far more interesting than seen from pictures, and the walk to get there is fun and pretty too.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Oct 7, 2024
Highly Recommend, Do not hesitate! - I had a delightful time on the tour and our tour guide, Harrison, was always in great spirits, supportive, and a fantastic photographer, going the distance for our once-in-a-lifetime photos. Additionally, our driver Francis, went above and beyond their call of duty when one of our group members fell ill. If I was ever to be sick in a foreign country alone, I would want for someone like Francis to be watching out for me. Incredible tour sites and more importantly, even more incredible people, guiding our day!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 26, 2024
First time time in El Salvador, love it! - Looked the view and took some great Pics. We had a local guide named Salva. It was a small group of 5. Took care of everything and even suggested a few hidden gem spots 💎 . There is so much to see, so I'm a come back next year.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 25, 2024
Breathtaking views! - I had the opportunity to take this tour during my visit to El Salvador this month. The views along the hike are absolutely breathtaking and once we reached the summit of the Santa Ana Volcano, I was left mesmerized. Absolutely amazing and well worth the effort it takes to get to the top. The view of the lake from the summit is incredible. Our guide Gaby was phenomenal. Great personality, very knowledgeable and ready to help out if needed. I highly recommend going on this tour if you are in El Salvador and do it with El Salvador Positive Tours!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 24, 2024
Love El Salvador - Very unique experience. It was a little challenging but worth it. The guide(Josue) was amazing and very knowledgeable. Highly recommend this tour, but it will be challenging at times.
Review provided by Viator
Sep 22, 2024
Highly recommended - enjoyable from beginning to end - Excellent tour - highly recommended. In addition to the tour itself, which was enjoyable from beginning to end, I appreciated the prompt and straightforward communication before departure to coordinate pick-up. Josué was an extremely welcoming and knowledgeable guide, and judged the timing/weather perfectly to get our group up to the top of the volcano before the clouds descended. The hike itself takes you through a rich and constantly changing environment, with great views out over the other volcanos in the region to the sea. I was glad to have rented a stick in the parking lot (50 cents). Lunch beside Lake Coatepeque was delicious.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sep 22, 2024
An amazing and breathtaking experience. - The Santa Ana Volcano tour in El Salvador is a breathtaking adventure that takes visitors deep into the heart of the country’s natural wonders. Known locally as Ilamatepec, the volcano looms over the landscape with its towering height and unmistakable presence, offering both a challenge and a reward for those brave enough to scale it.
The tour begins in the early morning, with a pickup from your hotel by Josue Romero. We gathered in the vehicle, one by one, as Josue who knows every twist and turn of the route, picked us up. After an hour or so ride, and a brief stop at a gas station, we arrived at the base of the trail. The journey starts with a gentle walk through lush greenery, as Josue talks about the volcano's history and its significance to the indigenous people who once revered it as a sacred place. Birds sing from the treetops, and occasionally, a breeze rustles the leaves, carrying the earthy scent of the forest.
As the trail climbs higher, the landscape begins to change. The lush vegetation gives way to a more rugged, rocky terrain, and the path becomes steeper. We felt the strain in our legs, but the stunning views of the surrounding countryside keep our spirits high. From this altitude, we can see the sparkling blue waters of Lake Coatepeque in the distance, nestled in the crater of another extinct volcano. Josue pauses every now and then to share stories of past eruptions, including the most recent one in 2005, which sent clouds of ash into the sky and reminded everyone of the power slumbering beneath our feet.
After a couple of hours of steady climbing, our group reaches the summit. Here, the landscape is otherworldly—cracked earth, sulfur-stained rocks, and the faint smell of minerals in the air. But the true highlight of the Santa Ana Volcano is the massive crater that opens up before us. Inside the crater, a turquoise lagoon shimmers under the sunlight, its color almost too vivid to be real. Steam rises from the surface of the water, a subtle reminder of the heat still lurking below.
Standing on the edge of the crater, we take in the view with a sense of awe. The sky feels closer, the wind more intense, and the sense of accomplishment undeniable. Josue explains that the crater lake’s color changes depending on the volcanic activity and mineral content, adding to the mystical allure of the place.
As we rested and snaped photos, Josue recounts the legend of Ilamatepec, which tells of an ancient goddess who watches over the volcano. According to the myth, the turquoise lagoon is her eye, forever gazing over the land to protect it. We listened in silence, enchanted by both the natural beauty around us and the deep cultural ties that connect the people of El Salvador to this majestic peak.
The descent is much quicker, but the memory of standing on the rim of an active volcano stays with all of us. As we made our way back through the forest and to the trailhead, there is a sense of shared adventure, of having conquered something wild and powerful. The Santa Ana Volcano tour is more than just a hike—it’s a journey into the very soul of El Salvador’s landscape, where nature, history, and legend all converge in a single, unforgettable experience. And I want to thank Josue Romero for his patience and expertise with us. I truly appreciate it.
Review provided by Tripadvisor