Cool Spots in El Salvador... Literally.

El Salvador is a hot country, especially during the time of our stay (30-40° C during the day). In fact, had I known how hot it gets during this time of the year I probably would have changed the dates of our trip! Thankfully, there are certain spots in the country that are cooler because of the higher altitude. One of these spots is Cerro Verde (which Sylvie has previously blogged about). Cerro Verde was once an active volcano, but now it´s a national park where you can hike through the crater, camp, and admire a whole range of mountains and volcanoes. Below you will notice that I posted a shot where Sylvie and Levi are all bundled up. This is a significant picture because it is VERY rare that we are bundled up in El Salvador! Sylvie had to buy a sweater when we got there and even Levi had to change his usual attire which consists of a diaper.

Walking path on a cool and foggy day at Cerro Verde

Parque Nacional Cerro Verde, El Salvador

Izalco Volcano, as seen from Cerro Verde

Other cool spots in El Salvador are the road leading to Santa Ana, as well as the towns of Juayua and Apaneca. Again, this is because of the higher altitude. My parents are really good at finding restaurants in the mountains near these towns. Usually these are places where you can eat, drink, walk through their gardens, and have a nap in their hammocks. Among them are Kal-Tepet in Juayua and El Jardin de Celeste in Apaneca (both restaurants are near these cities known for their cool weather). Definitely worth checking out if you are trying to escape the heat or simply wanting to appreciate the picturesque landscape of mountains and volcanoes... Oh, and did I mention the food at both of these places is delicious?!

Santa Ana Volcano, as seen from Kal-Tepet Restaurant

Kal-Tepet

"Puyaso" dish at Kal-Tepet