Monday, July 26, 2021

5 Days Pandemic Rainy Solo Trip in El Salvador

40 Days Pandemic Rainy Solo Trip in Central America
January 12 to January 17, 2021

My 117th country visited on my journey beyond #lakbay100, 93rd solo backpacking trip, 7th country in North America and of course, usual budget do-it-yourself itinerary from arrival to departure. El Salvador served also as the fourth country on my 2020-2021 America Pandemic Adventures Filipino Solo Trip, the new normal of traveling.

El Salvador is a country in Central America and, geographically, is part of continental North America. It is bordered on the southwest by the Pacific Ocean, and lies between Guatemala and Honduras. El Salvador covers an area of about 21,040 square kilometres (the smallest country in Central America), although it is the most densely populated. El Salvador is home to more than 6,500,000 people. It is divided into 14 sections called Departments. It has 25 volcanoes, 14 lakes, and three large cities and is divided in to East, Central and West with the the capital San Salvador in the central region, Santa Ana in the west and San Miguel the largest city in the east.
https://wikitravel.org/en/El_Salvador

Izalco and Santa Ana Volcano Day Hikes

Izalco and Santa Ana Volcano Day Hikes

Izalco and Santa Ana Volcano Day Hikes

INTERESTING FACTS ABOUT EL SALVADOR
timezone - UTC -0600H   capital - San Salvador    language - Spanish    currency - Dollar (USD)
1. El Salvador is the smallest country and most densely populated country in the Americas.
2. It’s the only country in Central America without a Caribbean coastline.
3. The name El Salvador translates to “the saviour” in Spanish.
4. El Salvador has the third largest economy in Central America behind Costa Rica and Panama.

5 DAYS SOLO PANDEMIC TRIP IN RAINY EL SALVADOR ITINERARY

Day 17: Jan. 12, 2021 Tue / Guatemala to Sta. Ana 
1400H ETD Guatemala UTC -0600H; Pullmantur bus 35 USD
1630H ETA Valle Nuevo / Chinamas border
1800H Drop-off Puma Stn; bus to Santa Ana 0.25
1830H ETA Santa Ana UTC -0600H; Hostal Casa Verde 3N; manual laundry; Dinner 5.30; pack snacks 9.38
TOTAL: $14.93 + 35 USD

Day 18: Jan. 13, 2021 Wed / Santa Ana
0715H Volcano Bus Station; Cerro Verde ticket 0.90
0740H ETD Santa Ana; bus #248 to Cerro Verde
0920H ETA Cerro Verde Park; park fee 1.50; guide 5
1100H start trekking with guide (required)
1300H ETA Volcán de Izalco summit; rest / photo; Volcán de Izalco (1,950masl) 4th highest
1330H ETD Summit; back trail
1530H ETA Trailhead 
1600H ETD Cerro Verde Park; bus to Sta. Ana 0.90
1800H ETA Sta. Ana; dinner 6.25; Hostal Casa Verde
TOTAL: $14.55

Day 19: Jan. 14, 2021 Thu / Santa Ana (DAY 50TH)
0715H Volcano Bus Station; Cerro Verde ticket 0.90
0740H ETD Santa Ana; bus #248 to Cerro Verde
0900H ETA Santa Ana Trailhead; park fee 6; guide 2
0930H start trekking with guide (required)
1100H ETA Volcán de Sta. Ana summit; rest / photo; Santa Ana Volcano (2,381masl) highest
El Salvador’s highest and most active volcano
1200H ETD Summit; back trail
1300H ETA Trailhead; bus to Santa Ana 0.90
1500H ETA Santa Ana; dinner 9.85; Hostal Casa Verde
TOTAL: $19.65

Day 20: Jan. 15, 2021 Fri / San Salvador 
0745H ETD Santa Ana; bus #218 to Tazumal 0.25; El Tazumal Archaeological Park
0900H ETD Tazumal 0.25; hostel check-out 42.5
1100H ETD Santa Ana; bus #201 to San Sal. 0.85
1300H ETA San Salvador; walk to hostel; Hostal Cumbres del Volcan Flor Blanca 16 USD
San Salvador Centro walk; lunch 6.10
TOTAL: $65.95

Day 21: Jan. 16, 2021 Sat / San Salvador
0700H ETD Hostel; bus #101B to Santa Tecla 0.30
0745H ETA Santa Tecla; bus #103B 0.50; El Boqueron San Salvador Volcano 2; souvenir 2
0915H ETD El Boqueron; bus #103B 0.50
1000H ETD Santa Tecla; colectivo #42B 0.30
1030H CIFCO; walk to Pullmantur; lunch 3.5; 1st ANTIGEN TEST, passport req'd (Hotel Sheraton)
1130H ETD Pullmantur; bus #101B to Centro 0.25
1200H ETA Calle 1a cor 49 Ave; bus #29A 0.25
1300H ETD Terminal Nuevo Amanecer; bus #129 1; Suchitoto afternoon walk tour; snacks 3.7
1600H ETD Suchitoto; bus #129 to San Salvador 1
1730H ETA San Salvador; bus #29A 0.25; Hostal Cumbres del Volcan Flor Blanca
TOTAL: $16.55

Day 22: Jan. 17, 2021 Sun / San Sal to Tegucigalpa
1000H ETD Hostel; bus #101B to Santa Tecla 0.40
1030H ETA CIFCO; walk to Pullmantur; lunch 6
1230H ETD San Salvador UTC -0600H
1830H ETA Tegucigalpa UTC -0600H
TOTAL: $6.40

GRAND TOTAL: $138 + 35 USD

Izalco and Santa Ana Volcano Day Hikes

Izalco and Santa Ana Volcano Day Hikes

Izalco and Santa Ana Volcano Day Hikes

EL SALVADOR SOLO TRAVEL TIPS DURING PANDEMIC:

Land Border Immigration Issues: Passport Officer went on board the bus and checked the passports inside. I was the only passenger who required stamping on my passport that took the bus waited for long (normal situation for Philippine passport holders). 

Places Visited: Santa Ana, Izalco Volcano, Santa Ana Volcano, El Tazumal, San Salvador, El Boqueron, Suchitoto

01. Izalco Volcano (El Salvador's 4th highest volcano) and Santa Ana Volcano (El Salvador's highest and most active volcano) is just easy to navigate from Santa Ana town. Just go to Vulcano Station beside Super Selectos Colon before 0730H daily with $0.70 fare for more than an hour travel time. Both volcanoes requires guide, around 9-11am start hiking only and with national park fee costs $6. 

02. For planned land border, book Pullmantur bus tickets in advance as the seating capacity is only 50% and departures are once only a day for three times a week. 

03. Almost all archeological parks (except for museums) are open to public and public buses are on irregular schedule (with early last departures). There are also limited international bus schedules, once or twice a week departures only. 

04. On land border arrival, El Salvador requires Negative PCR test within 72 hours only. 

05. On land border departure, my next destination (Honduras) requires negative Antigen Test valid within 72 hours and updated health registration on https://prechequeo.inm.gob.hn/Login. Fortunately, Pullmantur bus provides Antigen Test fees included in the bus ticket purchased online. Just inform Pullmantur in their whatsapp number +503-677469490 at least two days before departure. 

Izalco and Santa Ana Volcano Day Hikes

Izalco and Santa Ana Volcano Day Hikes

Izalco and Santa Ana Volcano Day Hikes

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