Aside from a progressive stance on cryptocurrencies, El Salvador also offers world-class surfing, volcano hiking, and coffee tours among other outdoor activities.
If you're in the mood for a quiet getaway, pristine nature, and an escape from the tropical heat, El Salvador's Cerro El Pital may be just what you're looking for.
A popular spot among the locals, El Pital is nestled in the mountains on the border between El Salvador and Honduras, in the department of Chalatenango.
Being the highest point in El Salvador at 2730 meters, temperatures drop significantly at evening, so be sure to come prepared with warm clothing, especially if staying overnight in an unheated cabin.
Getting There
From the capital San Salvador, it takes about three hours of driving north through the countryside to get to the Sierra Madre mountain range where El Pital is located.
If you don't have a rugged 4x4, you'll need to park your car in a town near the base, and pay for more powerful transporation to take you up the rest of the mountain.
Although it's possible to get to midpoint Rio Chiquito with 2 wheel drive, there have been plenty of accidents both getting up and down the mountain, so a 4x4 is highly recommended for the entire trip.
What To Do
At the peak of El Pital is a small field of green grass with plenty of benches where you can sit with family and friends to eat and drink while enjoying the views below.
There are a few restaurants and cafes within walking distance where you can order traditional Salvadoran food like pupusas and get yourself a hot latte or cappuccino.
You may be joined by a few docile dogs who will keep you company as you explore the area. Seeing that they aren't caged up, they are unfazed by the human presence.
At night, you may be startled by people launching firecrackers to celebrate the holidays. Firecrackers are legal in El Salvador, and people launch them all the time to celebrate all kinds of events.
A short hike further up the mountain and you'll encounter the Salvadoran/Honduras border, where you can hop between the two countries. Whether or not hikers obey the "no trespassing" sign on the Honduras side I cannot say.
The sunsets are also breathtaking, with spectacular views of both mountains and volcanoes in the background.
Until next time...
Now that El Salvador has become the safest country in the Americas, more tourists are showing up to discover this small Central American country.
Aside from catching waves and trekking volcanos, you may want to check out the little gem of Cerro El Pital to have a more comprehensive experience of the Salvadoran landscape.
If you learned something new from this article, be sure to check out my other posts on crypto and finance here on the Hive blockchain. You can also follow me on InLeo for more frequent updates.
Further Reading
- The Uncertain Future Of Bitcoin in El Salvador and Other Nation States
- More Posts About El Salvador