16 Best Things to Do in Santa Ana El Salvador

Are you looking for some cool things to do in Santa Ana El Salvador? Are you wondering “Santa Ana what to do?”

You’ve come to the right place! I spent quite a bit of time exploring there with my family during our Pan-American road trip. It’s a vibrant Central American city that has a lot to offer!

So I can safely say that there are plenty of things to do in Santa Ana El Salvador, from exploring the history and culture to enjoying the beautiful scenery.

This beautiful town is home to some of the best attractions and activities in the region including its stunning colonial architecture and its lush green hills. There’s something for everyone in this wonderful city.

Here are my top picks for cool things to do in Santa Ana El Salvador!

Santa Ana El Salvador Things to Do

El Salvador has adopted the US dollar ($ USD) as its currency as well as bitcoin. To keep things simple, all fees in this post are simply listed in USD.

El Salvador is a beautiful country with a rich cultural heritage, offering a variety of attractions and activities for visitors who are eager to explore what to do in El Salvador.

1. Hike the Santa Ana Volcano

☑️ Location: Carr al cerro verde, El Salvador
☑️ Entry Fee: $3 National Park Fee, $6 Entry Fee, $3 Guide Fee. Cash Only.
☑️ Hours: 7 am to 4 pm daily

With an altitude of 2,381 meters above sea level, the Santa Ana Volcano is the highest volcano in El Salvador. It last erupted in 2005.

This volcano is a great family hike because it’s not too strenuous and the views from the top are incredible.

You can see for miles in every direction, including the Izalco Volcano! The best thing to see, though, is the crater lake at the top!

👉 This guided Santa Ana Volcano hike is good for kids ages 8+

To hike it, you can either show up at the trailhead and hire a (likely not English-speaking) guide or you can book with a tour group.

Either way, you will have a guide to show you the way and help with any questions.

2. Go on a Coffee Plantation Tour

☑️ Location: Hotel Pickup
☑️ Entry Fee: Varies
☑️ Hours: 8:30 am

The mountainous, western region of El Salvador is known for its coffee production. There are many different plantations in the area and most of them offer tours.

👉 This tour gets great reviews and includes the Ruta de los Flores!

We actually stayed on one of the coffee farms during our stay there, which was a lot of fun! It was one of my favorite things to do in El Salvador!

It’s a great way to learn about the process of coffee production and taste some of the best coffee in the world!

3. Explore the Tazumal Mayan Ruins

☑️ Location: 6a. Calle Poniente #36, Barrio Santa Cruz Chalchuapa Santa Ana CP, 2205, El Salvador
☑️ Entry Fee: $3 for adults, free for kids
☑️ Hours: 24 hours daily

These ruins are located 14 km outside of town in Chalchuapa and they’re definitely worth a visit. They’re not as big as some of the other sites, but they’re still really interesting and there’s a lot to see.

One of the coolest things about them is the Ball Court, which is the largest in Central America. In addition, the ruins of Tazumal are the best preserved in El Salvador. 

👉 This tour takes you to Tazumal, Joya de la Ceren, and the San Andres ruins all in one day!

The ruins are considered the most important in the country because artifacts found at Tazumal provide evidence of ancient and active trade between Tazumal and places as far away as Panama and Mexico.

There’s a small museum on site that displays them.

4. Swim in Waterfalls

👉 This tour takes you to lesser known waterfalls and is good for kids 8+

This isn’t as easy as it used to be because the Chorros de la Calera waterfalls outside Juayua are no longer open to the public.

We tried to visit in July 2022 and were told by locals that it has been closed by the new private owners.

However, you can still hire guided tours to take you there from a back way as well as hike to some other, smaller waterfalls in the area.

5. Ruta de Los Flores

👉 This Full Day Ruta de Las Flores tour takes you to visit four colonial towns as well as a local coffee farm!

This is a must-do if you’re visiting Santa Ana in El Salvador. It’s a scenic drive through the mountains with stops at some of the most beautiful towns in El Salvador. The towns are all known for their flowers, hence the name of the route.

Pro Tip: The towns on the route are Concepcion de Ataco, Apenaca, Juayua, Salcoatitan, and Nahuizalco. Visit one or all, depending on your schedule!

It’s a great way to see some of the country’s stunning scenery and learn about local culture.

We did the drive in a day, from Ataco to Juayua, but you could easily spend two or three days exploring all of the different towns.

The best time to explore this route is during the major flower blooms, from November to February.

This is at the end of the rainy season, which goes from April to October. We visited in the rainy season and still enjoyed this activity for all the beautiful street art!

6. Santa Teresa Hot Springs

☑️ Location: W52J+WC7, Ahuachapan, El Salvador
☑️ Entry Fee: $10
☑️ Hours: 8 am – 10 pm daily

These hot springs are located just outside of town and they make for a great day trip. They’re geothermally heated by the surrounding volcanoes. Different pools have different temperatures.

👉 This tour includes hot springs, waterfalls, and the Ruta de los Flores for kids 10+!

The springs are surrounded by beautiful scenery and there’s also a small waterfall. If you skip some of the other waterfall hikes and tours, this place is a great alternate option. The water is really soothing and it’s a great place to relax.

7. Visit the Ruins of San Andres

☑️ Location: QJW5+VRC, CA 1, San Juan Opico, El Salvador
☑️ Entry Fee: $3 for adults, kids under 12 are free
☑️ Hours: 9 am – 4 pm Tuesday to Sunday

These peaceful ruins are located 33km west of the town and are a great way to learn about the history of Santa Ana. The ruins are from the Mayan people who lived there from 700-900 CE.

The ruins are comprised of a step pyramid and a large courtyard with a subterranean section, but they are still being excavated.

Experts believe that up to 12,000 people lived here. It’s a beautiful site to explore and take some photos.

8. See the Santa Ana Cathedral

☑️ Location: XCWV+2JG, frente al Parque Libertad,, 1a Avenida Sur, Santa Ana, El Salvador
☑️ Entry Fee: Free; Guided tours are $22.50/adults, $8.50 for kids 14-18, free for kids 13 and under
☑️ Hours: 24 hours

The cathedral is unique because it has two different facades, one from the 16th century and one from the 19th century. It was struck by lightning and partially destroyed but thankfully has been rebuilt.

The inside of this gothic cathedral is just as beautiful as the outside. It has three naves, each with a different dedication as well as really ornate columns.

The view from the top of the cathedral alone is definitely worth a visit!

9. Take a Dip in Coatepeque Lake

☑️ Location: RCMM+RGX, Izalco, El Salvador
☑️ Entry Fee: Technically free, but you may need to pay a business for access to use the lake
☑️ Hours: 24 hours daily

This lake is unique because it’s actually a crater lake. This means that it’s surrounded by volcanoes, which makes for some incredible views. It’s a great place to relax and enjoy the scenery.

It’s one of the most popular things to do in Santa Ana El Salvador and it’s perfect for a day trip. You can even rent a boat and go for a swim!

As it’s grown in popularity, the lake has become more limited in access unless you visit a restaurant or hotel that lines its shores.

If you don’t stay overnight in a lakefront hotel, plan to have lunch there to maximize your time.

10. Explore the Joya de Ceren Archaeological Site

☑️ Location: Carr. San Juan Opico – Agua Escondida Km 32, El Salvador
☑️ Entry Fee: $3 for adults, Free for kids
☑️ Hours: 10 am – 4 pm Tuesday to Sunday

The Joya de Ceren ruins are is a must-see for anyone interested in archaeology or history. It’s an ancient Maya village that was buried by a volcanic eruption in 600 CE. Kind of like Pompeii!

It’s a really fascinating place to visit and learn about the Mayan people.

Because of the exceptional condition of the remains, they provide an insight into the daily lives of the Central American populations who worked the land at that time.

11. Visit the Teatro Nacional de Santa Ana

☑️ Location: XCWV+483, Avenida Independencia Norte, Santa Ana, El Salvador
☑️ Entry Fee: Tours are $7; show ticket prices vary
☑️ Hours: 8 am – 5 pm daily

This theatre is over 100 years old and it’s a beautiful building in the Italian-style.

The interior was recently renovated with spectacular details. It’s definitely worth a visit just to walk around, even if you don’t catch a show.

They often have shows on Sundays at 6:30 pm so stop by and check the schedule when you first arrive in town.

This one may not be super exciting for kiddos, as none of the shows are in English. However, it’s still a fun cultural experience!

12. Cerro Verde National Park

☑️ Location: Cerro Verde National Park
☑️ Entry Fee: $3 National Park Fee per person
☑️ Hours: 24 hours daily

This park is located a 40 km drive outside of Santa Ana and it’s a great place to go for a hike.

Especially if you don’t want to hike the Santa Ana volcano itself. There are several surrounding trails that offer great views of the volcanoes.

Pro Tip: Mirador 1 and Mirador 2 are most popular. They can be accessed from the Santa Ana Volcano Trailhead.

If you do hike the volcano, the views from the top are incredible! Some people say you can even see all the way to Guatemala on a clear day.

However, all we can say is that you can see the Santa Ana volcano pretty easily when it’s not raining.

13. Juayua Gastronomica Festival

☑️ Location: Juayua Parque Central, 4ta calle ote, Barrio San José, Juayúa, El Salvador
☑️ Entry Fee: Free
☑️ Hours: 11 am – 5 pm Saturday and Sunday

Every weekend, the town of Juayua hosts a huge food festival. There are stalls set up all over town selling all sorts of delicious food. It’s a great place to try some of the local cuisines.

Pro Tip: There are no entry tickets. Just show up and eat. Everything is cash based and you buy what you want from individual stalls.

You can find everything from pupusas to yuca frita. Little Man discovered he really likes steamed chayote! We definitely recommend checking it out if you’re in town on a weekend.

14. Cafe Albania Adventure Park

☑️ Location: Cantón san Ramón , contiguo a pila san Andrés Finca Albania, Apanhecat, El Salvador
☑️ Entry Fee: Free but activity costs vary
☑️ Hours: 8 am – 6 pm daily

When you first arrive, it looks like another tasty El Salvadorian coffee shop. However, this is a great place to take the kids for a couple of hours of fun.

There’s a zip line, sky bike, and rope course. But the most fun thing is the hedge maze! Plus it’s only $3. The views from the zip line are incredible but some kids may want to skip it for the height.

Cafe Albania is definitely a lot of fun and it’s great for all ages. Don’t forget to try the coffee!

15. Mariano Mendez School of Fine Arts

☑️ Location: XCQP+WPG, Santa Ana, El Salvador
☑️ Entry Fee: Free
☑️ Hours: 8 am – 6 pm daily

These ruins are all that remain of the school of fine arts that was destroyed during the civil war. It’s a really sad place, but it’s also a really important part of El Salvador’s history.

The school was known for its liberal and progressive ideas. It was also one of the first schools in the country to accept female students.

If you want to get in you need to get a permit from the tourist office. It is located south of parque libertad, in the same house as the library. Show the permit to the guard and you’re free to walk around.

16. Eat Pupusas

☑️ Location: Varies
☑️ Entry Fee: Varies
☑️ Hours: Varies

You can’t visit El Salvador without trying a pupusa! They are the national dish and they are absolutely delicious.

Pupusas are made with corn tortillas and they are usually filled with beans, cheese, or pork. You can find them pretty much anywhere in the country.

We made a trip to Entre Nubes Cafe near Concepcion de Ataco to try them.

This cafe exclusively serves El Salvadorian coffee and is one of the two cafes in the entire country that serve beans grown at the finca where we stayed near Juayua.

Santa Ana El Salvador Hotels

💲 Luxury: Cardedeu Residence

There aren’t any luxury hotels in the city limits of Santa Ana. However, this apartment-hotel on the shores of Lake Coatepeque is the next best thing! It offers bedrooms, living space, and kitchens as well as private terraces.

While you can swim in the lake if you wish, you can also enjoy the shared pool overlooking the lake instead.

💲 Mid-Range: Hotel Remfort

This reasonably priced hotel is located near the mall and central plaza.

Guests can relax at the sauna, work out at the fitness center, or grab a bite to eat at the coffee shop/cafe. Families will love the outdoor pool and terrace.

💲 Budget: Hotel Casa Verde Santa Ana

Located less than a 10-minute drive from Metrocentro Santa Ana, this hotel features a rooftop terrace and offers an airport shuttle (available 24 hours) for USD 60 per vehicle.

Guests can take a dip in the outdoor pool and indulge in massages. It also offers an on-site snack bar/deli, a terrace, a small pool, and a garden. 

💲 Vacation Rental: 3 Bedroom House with Private Pool

This beautiful home offers three bedrooms and three bathrooms as well as a two-car garage. Interior amenities include wifi, a pool table, a patio with BBQ and surround sound system, and a washer/dryer.

The house is located in a safe and quiet neighborhood with 24-hour security cameras and alarm service.

Is Santa Ana El Salvador Safe?

Yes, Santa Ana is a fairly safe place to visit. It’s pretty far removed from the cartel violence that has been known to plague San Salvador from time to time.

You will also see armed security guards all over, from grocery stores and mall entrances to local restaurants and small shops.

They are there for your protection and are very friendly, despite the large weapons they carry so casually.

All that said, there are a few things you should keep in mind to make sure you have a safe and enjoyable trip.

First, it’s always a good idea to research the areas you’ll be visiting in advance. This way you’ll know what to expect and you can plan accordingly.

There are some areas that are known for being unsafe, and locals know where they are.

They can change day to day or week to week, so I can’t list them for you here. Instead, ask your vacation rental host or hotel front desk in order to avoid them.

Second, it’s important to be aware of your surroundings at all times. This means keeping an eye on your belongings and not leaving them unsupervised in busy areas.

Don’t carry your cell phone in your hand when sightseeing. It may make you a target for opportunistic petty theft.

Third, it’s a good idea to travel in groups if possible. Families already have a built-in group, which is always nice. But a tour group is great, too! This will help you stay safe and it’s always more fun to explore with new friends.

Finally, remember to trust your gut. If something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t.

With these things in mind, you’re sure to have a safe and enjoyable trip to Santa Ana El Salvador.

Getting to Santa Ana El Salvador

The best way to get to El Salvador Santa Ana is by flying into the San Salvador Airport. The airport is located about 2 hours from Santa Ana.

If you have extra time, explore San Salvador as well. Some of the best things to do in San Salvador include visiting the National Palace and exploring the Museum of Anthropology.

From there, you can rent a car to drive to Santa Ana. This will allow you to explore the city and its surrounding areas at your own pace.

👉 I recommend using Discover Cars for renting a car on your trip!

While there are buses that can take you between cities, we don’t recommend them. The inter-city buses in El Salvador are often crowded and they can be unsafe. Like in Guatemala, they can be targets for thieves.

Safety Note: We saw an inter-city bus get pulled over by armed men in a pickup truck that weren’t in uniform, so this isn’t just a rumor we heard.

So if you’re planning on taking a bus, make sure to do your research in advance and choose a reputable company. I strongly suggest renting a car, though.

Once you’re in Santa Ana, getting around is easy. You can walk to most places within the city center.

And if you’re planning on exploring further, there are plenty of taxis and local buses that can take you where you need to go.

👉 While we have global health insurance for our day-to-day lives, we also elect travel insurance with SafetyWing for our spurts of fast travel adventure!

Final Thoughts on Things to Do in Santa Ana El Salvador

These are just a few of the things to do in Santa Ana, El Salvador. It’s an incredible city with so much to offer.

Whether you’re looking for things to do, want to enjoy the food, or just want to relax, Santa Ana is the perfect place for you.

With this list as your guide, you won’t have to wonder Santa Ana El Salvador what to do any more!

So start planning your trip today using this things to do in Santa Ana El Salvador list, and you’re sure to have an amazing time.

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