Best of El Salvador

8 days
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USTOA

Small Group Tour
Good things come in small packages, and nowhere more than El Salvador. Sitting quietly nestled in between Guatemala and Honduras, El Salvador’s epic volcanoes, misty cloud forests, ancient relics and quiet colonial towns will capture your imagination – while the undulating waves that roll along the surf coast will unleash your inner grommet. Immerse yourself ...

Overview

Trip type
Small Group Tour
Lodging level
Standard - 3 star
Physical level
Easy
Trip pace
Balanced schedule

Highlights

    • Indulge in a lunch time feast at Juayua’s phenomenal Feria Gastronomica – this small town hosts its famous food festival every weekend, showcasing sweets, treats and local delicacies.
    • Relax on a scenic drive along the beautiful Ruta de las Flores, a renowned route that winds through flourishing wildflowers, colonial villages and lush countryside.
    • Uncover the ancient ruins of Joya de Ceren, known as the Pompeii of the Americas – a wonderfully preserved Maya village that was buried under volcanic ashfall around AD600.
    • Enjoy a free day to explore the surrounding beauty of Ahuachapan: from the shimmering rivers and pristine forest of El Imposible National Park, to the impressive archaeological Maya ruins of Tazumal.
    • Kick back in the laidback beachside village of El Tunco. Hit the surf, sip on a smoothie, perfect your yoga poses or sway the days away from the comfort of a hammock.

What's this trip about?

    Good things come in small packages, and nowhere more than El Salvador. Sitting quietly nestled in between Guatemala and Honduras, El Salvador’s epic volcanoes, misty cloud forests, ancient relics and quiet colonial towns will capture your imagination – while the undulating waves that roll along the surf coast will unleash your inner grommet. Immerse yourself in the handsome capital of San Salvador, meander through the wildflowers that line the Ruta de las flores, explore the lush nature reserves of Ahuachapan and wander through the whitewashed village of Suchitoto – then spend your last few days swinging in a hammock by the beach in El Tunco. This trip is the perfect introduction to your next favourite country.

Details

Itinerary focusClassic Highlights
Group sizeIntimate group - max of 12 people
Age rangeNo age restrictions
Flights and transportAll internal transport included (including local flights)
Start CitySan Salvador
End CityEl Tunco

Travel Themes

  • Cultural

Destinations

  • Central America
  • El Salvador

Attractions

  • Salvador

Max Group Size

  • Max Group Size: 12

Popular Trips

Itinerary

Travel Map

Day 1 San Salvador

Welcome to San Salvador! As the capital city of El Salvador, San Salvador isn’t just the centre of the country in a political, cultural and financial sense, it’s also surprisingly pretty; trees dot the streets next to drastically different buildings, rebuilt after his...

Day 2 Juayua / Ahuachapan

Early this morning, check out part of El Salvador’s capital with a one-hour leader-led walking tour of your hotel's neighbourhood – then depart the city at 10 am and travel by private vehicle to Juayua (approximately 1.5 hrs). From rolling ‘R’s to rolling hills, learn...

Day 3 Ahuachapan

Today is free for you to discover the surrounding beauty of Ahuachapan at your own pace. Ahuachapan is known for its geothermal activity, which it uses to produce electricity for the rest of the country, and is a great base for exploring the highlights of western El S...

Day 4 Joya de Ceren / Suchitoto

Say Adios to Ahuachapan this morning as you make your way to Suchitoto, the cultural capital of El Salvador! Along the way, enjoy some spectacular views from the comfort of your private vehicle, particularly while driving past the beautiful Lake Coatepeque. After appr...

Day 5 Suchitoto

Use this free day however you wish! Those looking to kick things up a gear may fancy an adventure out to the Cinquera Forest. Once a military stronghold, the local community of Cinquera have created a series of projects that have helped the town bounce back from the h...

Day 6 El Tunco

Depart from Suchitoto late morning and head onwards to El Tunco in your private vehicle (approximately 2 hours). Known for its surf and laidback atmosphere, this peaceful village is the perfect spot to kick back with a drink and sway the days away from the comfort of ...

Day 7 El Tunco

Take the day to enjoy this laidback piece of paradise. Why not hire a board and tackle the waves, practice your poses with a yoga class, sip on a smoothie along one of the main streets or visit the beach caves at low tide. In the evening, munch on the Salvadorian specialty of pupusa and join the locals down from San Salvador at the bar.

Day 8 El Tunco

There are no activities planned today, if you have time, you might like to venture inland and explore the waterfalls nearby to El Tunco. A short hike through the mountains and you’ll reach the isolated waterfall of Cascada Tamanique – where you can cool off with a dip in the pristine waters. Alternatively, make the most of the golden sand and wrap up your eight-day adventure relaxing on the beach.

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Dates & Availability

Price From $1,215
Price per day$152
Last Updated: 12/3/2021

Check current availability, prices, specials & more.

The total tour cost includes the tour price (regular or promotional) and the compulsory local payment. The promotional price is subject to change. Check directly with the operator for the latest price offer. The tour operator requires you to pay only the tour price to purchase your travel. The compulsory local payment will be paid when you join the trip. All prices are based on double, twin or triple share occupancy. Solo passengers will be accommodated in a double, twin or triple room according to availability with a passenger(s) of the same gender. Single supplement only needs to be paid if the passenger does not want to share and requests their own room. Discounts can only be applied at the time of booking and cannot be added at a later date, regardless of any changes made to the original booking.

Prices may vary due to local taxes and trip seasonality. Click "Request Info" to inquire directly with the tour operator for the final trip price.

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Intrepid Travel

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The Intrepid Travel Experience

If you’re looking for adventure, you’ve come to the right place. For the past 25 years, we’ve been taking small groups of travelers on unforgettable trips around the world. What makes them unforgettable? Take a look for yourself and discover the Intrepid experience.

Our travelers have three styles of tour to choose from: Basix, Original and Comfort. Each has a different level of inclusions and accommodation, but all have unforgettable real life experiences as part of the package. Travellers can also choose themed trips, such as Family, Sailing or Food, to suit their interests.

Our group size has an average of just ten travellers, which allows us to get off the beaten track, use local accommodation and transport, and really get to know the culture. It also ensures we are contributing to the local economy; by choosing local suppliers we were able to keep AUD 60 million in local economies in 2012. We’re also working hard to reduce our carbon footprint and were the first in our sector to introduce carbon offset trips. This, along with our many corporate sustainability activities, has meant we’re one of the travel industry’s leaders in responsible travel.

Why Intrepid?

  •   Small groups - average of 10 people per trip
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  •   Local leaders - authentic perspectives
  •   Local transport - get close and personal
  •   Local accommodation - experience real living
  •   Intrepid travelers - like-minded companions 

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Intrepid Travel has come a long way since its beginnings in 1989. From two university friends, a typewriter and a kitchen desk, it is now a proud member of The Intrepid Group, taking over 100,000 travelers every year.

Intrepid Travel is part of The Intrepid Group of companies, alongside leading small group adventure companies Peregrine, Urban Adventures and PEAK DMC.

Despite growing into a global business with over 1,000 staff based all over the world and over 800 different trips across every continent, we’ve remained devoted to the same grassroots values and responsible travel philosophies that we had at the very beginning.

 

Values

On every trip we operate and in every interaction we have with a client, supplier or local, we live our core values everyday:

  • Integrity – Doing the right thing
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  • Fun – It’s engrained into who we are and what we do
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Why we love this operator
They're highly committed to sustainable tourism and contribute to crucial initiatives like climate action, focusing on local cultures and more.
What they’re known for
Small group tours for all types of travelers at a range of different price points and trips to off-the-beaten-path destinations.

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Logistics

Accommodation

Hotel (5 nights),Lodge (2 nights)

Transportation & Flights

Private vehicle,

Transportation & flights

Private vehicle
Guides
All Intrepid group trips are accompanied by one of our group leaders. The aim of the group leader is to take the hassle out of your travels and to help you have the best trip possible. Intrepid endeavours to provide the services of an experienced leader however, due to the seasonality of travel, rare situations may arise where your leader is new to a particular region or training other group leaders. Your leader will provide information on the places you are travelling through, offer suggestions for things to do and see, recommend great local eating venues and introduce you to our local friends. While not being guides in the traditional sense, you can expect them to have a broad general knowledge of the places visited on the trip, including historical, cultural, religious and social aspects. At Intrepid we aim to support local guides who have specialised knowledge of the regions we visit. If you were interested in delving deeper into the local culture at a specific site or location then your leader can recommend a local guide service in most of the main destinations of your trip.
Travel Insurance
Travel insurance is compulsory for all our trips. We require that, at a minimum, you are covered for medical expenses including emergency repatriation. We strongly recommend that the policy also covers personal liability, cancellation, curtailment and loss of luggage and personal effects. When travelling on a trip, you won't be permitted to join the group until evidence of travel insurance and the insurance company's 24 hour emergency contact number has been seen by your leader. If you have credit card insurance your group leader will require details of the participating insurer/underwriter, the level of coverage, policy number and emergency contact number rather than the bank's name and credit card details. Please contact your bank for these details prior to arriving in-country. http://www.intrepidtravel.com/insurance.php
Visa requirements
If you receive an immigration card upon entry, please ensure you keep this safe as it may be requested at point of exit. For further information regarding country entry and exit fees, please refer to the 'Money Matters' section of this document.  El Salvador - Passport holders from Australia, Canada, Great Britain, New Zealand and The United States of America are not required to obtain a visa prior to arrival. For some nationalities, a Tourist Card must be purchased upon entry. Contact the nearest Embassy or Consulate of El Salvador for the most up to date information. Under the Central American Border Control Agreement (CA-4), foreigners may travel between El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua for periods of up to 90 days without completing entry and exit formalities once per year. This period begins at the first point of entry to any of these countries. USA Visa Waiver - Applicable if arriving via the United States of America. Many countries now operate under a visa waiver program, meaning a visa isn't required, however you still need to obtain an authorisation which confirms that you have been approved to travel. This authorisation must be obtained in advance of travel. See https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/us-visas/tourism-visit/visa-waiver-program.html All travellers from Visa Waiver Program countries must obtain an electronic travel authorization prior to their flight from the Electronic System for Travel Authorization (ESTA) website: https://esta.cbp.dhs.gov All ESTA registration applications or renewals require a US$14 fee to paid by card. Apply for ESTA no later than 72 hours (we recommend 1 week prior to travel) before departing for the USA. Real-time approvals will no longer be available and arriving at the airport without a previously approved ESTA will likely result in being denied boarding. If there are any discrepancies between the name on your ESTA, your passport, your tickets or even your frequent flyer membership, you may be detained at Immigration and subject to a secondary inspection which could take a few hours. If you have recently changed your name, please check that your details have been updated everywhere. If you are from a country eligible for the visa waiver program but are a dual citizen of Iran, Iraq, Syria or Sudan, or if you have travelled to Iran, Iraq, Syria or Sudan since 01 March 2011, you will not longer be eligible for the visa waiver program and will instead need to apply for a non-immigrant visa. Please see the Department of State website for more information: http://travel.state.gov//content/travel/en.html
Health & Safety
Many national governments provide a regularly updated advice service on safety issues involved with international travel. We recommend that you check your government's advice for their latest travel information before departure and ensure that your travel insurance covers you for all areas your itinerary covers. Please refer to our website's safety page for links to major travel advisories and updates on safety issues affecting our trips. We strongly recommend the use of a neck wallet or money belt while travelling, for the safe-keeping of your passport, flight tickets, cash and other valuable items. Leave your valuable jewellery at home - you won't need it while travelling. Many of our hotels have safety deposit boxes, which is the most secure way of storing your valuables. A lock is recommended for securing your luggage. Your leader will accompany you on all included activities, however during your trip you'll have some free time to pursue your own interests or relax and take it easy. While your leader will assist you with the available options in a given location, please note that any optional activities you undertake are not part of your Intrepid itinerary, and Intrepid makes no representations about the safety of the activity or the standard of the operators running them. Please use your own good judgement when selecting an activity in your free time. Please also note that your Leader has the authority to amend or cancel any part of the trip itinerary if it's deemed necessary due to safety concerns. For more details on the type of conditions and safety standards you can expect on your trip, please refer to Intrepid's operational safety policy on our website. We recommend that you take a moment to read through this information before travelling, and would appreciate any feedback on how well it's being implemented in the field: https://www.intrepidtravel.com/au/safety-guidelines SEAT BELTS: Please be aware that local laws governing transportation safety may differ from those in your home country and not all the transport which we use is able to provide seat belts. PETTY THEFT AND PERSONAL SAFETY: While travelling there is always the risk of pick-pocketing and petty theft, particularly in the more touristy cities. We recommend that you exercise caution when walking alone at night and encourage you to walk together and only on main, well-lit thoroughfares. Be particularly vigilant on public transport. Simple measures like carrying your day pack on your front, not hanging your bag over the back of your chair or on the floor and wearing a money belt will reduce any chance that your valuables should go missing. MONEY WITHDRAWAL: In order to avoid fraud and theft, it is advisable that you withdraw money from ATMs located inside banks or guarded shops during business hours only. FIRE PRECAUTIONS: Please be aware that local laws governing tourism facilities in this region differ from those in your home country and not all the accommodation which we use has a fire exit, fire extinguishers or smoke alarms.
Age Requirements
No age restrictions
Additional Information

Finish point

  • Tunco Lodge
  • El Tunco, El Salvador
  • El Tunco
  • EL SALVADOR
Trip ID
intrepid-QBSE

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