El Salvador’s coffee country is all about beautiful rolling hills smothered in green and brightly flowering coffee plants and charming villages famous for their arts-and-crafts markets.
Getting out and exploring the mountainous region is easier than you might think. All you need to do is hop on a bus and the travel the 22 miles (35km) between Sonsonate and Ahuachapán.
Bus 249 runs frequently and stops in all the towns along the way. Make sure you don’t miss Juayúa’s traditional weekend market or Ataco’s colourful murals.
This stretch of highway CA-8 is better known as the Ruta de las Flores, or Route of the Flowers. If you travel it between October and February you see an explosion of wild flowers that quickly tell you why.
The incredibly welcoming locals still find foreigners a novelty. Their smiles, curiosity and friendly conversation make a refreshing change from other more tourist-weary destinations.
The lush landscapes and waterfalls outside of the villages make an ideal playground for hikers, mountain bikers and horse riders.
Written by insider city guide series Hg2 | A Hedonist’s guide to…
(Images: Featured image – Carlos Smith, Ataco – damejiar, Bus arrives in Ataco – gsz, Cascadas de Don Juan near Ahuachapan – Carlos Smith, Church in Juayúa – gsz, Mural in Ataco – gsz, Apaneca – -Chupacabras-)
