Santa Ana (El Salvador)

Santa Ana lies 64 km northwest of the capital San Salvador, just off the Panamerica (Highway 1), from where several exits lead into town. Being close to the border, it's also a convinient stop if coming from Guatemala.

Most places within the historic center can be reached within a few minutes walk, there's no need to take a taxi or board local buses. The Tourist Office outside the 🌍 Palacio Municipal (just across from the Theater) has city maps and other information.

Most touristic sights are located at the center of town around the 🌍 Parque Libertad. 4 blocks west of it is 🌍 Parque Menendez, and again roughly 6 blocks further south 🌍 Parque Colon.

From central Parque Libertad Avenida Independencia runs north-south, while Calle Libertad runs east-west. Calles (streets) north of Libertad have even numbers (2-4-6), while Calles south of Libertad have odd numbers (1-3-5). So don't be confused! Avenidas west of Independencia have even numbers (2-4-6), the ones east of Independencia have odd numbers (1-3-5).

When asking for directions remember that house numbers are often out of sequence and might repeat in other blocks. Similar, street numbers are not well established (although well signed), and locals - including taxi and bus driver - usually navigate by these landmarks:

• Parque (Central Park). Parque Libertad. 
• Centro (Downtown area). Buses are not allowed to pass Parque Libertad and usually drop passengers 1 or 2 blocks from the Parque. 
• 🌍 Metrocentro. Shopping mall (roundabout) at south entrance of town. Often shorten to Metro to avoid confusion with Centro (Downtown). 
• 🌍 Terminal. Bus station south of Mercado Colon. Local buses stop at the roundabout at Ave Fray Felipe Moraga y 15a Calle Poniente. 
• 🌍 Pollo Campero. Fast food restaurant at Ave Independencia y 5a Calle, 3 blocks south of Parque Libertad. 
• 🌍 Hospital (Public hospital). Calle Libertad Oriente y 17a Ave Sur. 
• 🌍 ISSS (Regional hospital). Ave Santa Ana California Sur, next to the stadium. 
• 🌍 INSA (Instituto National de Santa Ana / High School). Ave Santa Ana California y 31a Calle. 
• DUI (Center issuing the Documento Único de Identidad). 25a Calle Poniente Entre 18a Ave Sur y Calle Internacional. 

Most visitors of course come to see the Cathedral and the Theatre, but Santa Ana has more to offer. According to La Secretaria de Cultura, its historic center (roughly within the limits of 4a Calle, 7a Ave, 9a Calle, Ave Jose Matias Delgado) counts 210 buildings in neoclassical style, 5 Gothic, 64 neocolonial and 102 in traditional style. The most intact ensemble of colonial houses can be found east of Parque Libertad, although most houses are privately owned and therefore inaccessible. For a self guided tour follow Calle Libertad eastbound and discover the north & south leading Avenidas (1a, 3a, 5a, 7a, 9a).

• 🌍 Teatro de Santa Ana, 1a Calle Poniente y Ave Independencia Norte (right at Parque Libertad). Tu-Sa 09:00-12:00, 13:00-17:00. A masterpiece of colonial architecture, build between 1902 and 1910. Regulary helds performances (sometimes free entrance), check in advance. Guided tours available; after the tour has finished, don't forget to have a look in the restrooms! Tour $1.50 (for foreigners), shows $3-6. 
• 🌍 Escuela de Artes y Oficios Jose Mariano Mendez, Calle Jose Mariano Mendez Entre 10a y 12a Ave Sur (next to Parque Colon). Often overlooked, this once impressive building was saved in the very last moment from demolition by the city government. No plan for restoration exists so far. 
• 🌍 Museo Regional de Occidente, Ave Independencia Sur y 1a Calle, ☏ +503 2441-1215. Tu-Sa 09:00-12:00, 13:00-17:00 (often opens later & closes earlier). Located in the former building of Banco Central de Reserva. Dedicated to the history of El Salvadorian money, exhibition of coins and bills in the former strong room downstairs. Don't miss the art exhibition upstairs. $3 for foreigners. 
• 🌍 Museo de Anatomia Humana de UNASA, 2a Ave Sur y Entre 3a y 5a Calle Poniente. M-F 08:00-12:00, 13:30-17:30, Sa 08:00-12:00. 
• 🌍 Museo de Armas (Museo Militar), 3a Ave Sur Entre 11a y 13a Calle Oriente. Segunda Brigada de Infantería. The ruined building nearby (at the corner of 3a Ave Sur y 13a Calle Oriente) is the Casino Militar Centroamericano, which was destroyed by fire during the war in 1981. 
• 🌍 Museo AJA, 6a Calle Poniente Entre 8a y 10a Ave Norte (if going there by taxi tell the driver it's near Multi Familiares). W Th. Small privately-owned museum. free entrance. 

Santa Ana has a classical colonial town layout with 4 churches forming the Christian cross:

• 🌍 Catedral de Santa Ana (at Parque Libertad). Build in gothic style 1906 and with its splendid facade now completely restored (almost, the lower parts are still crumbling), this is one of the most impressive cathedrals in Central America. Don't miss it! 
• 🌍 Iglesia El Calvario (at Parque Menendez). This church was badly damaged during the 2001 earthquake but is now completely restored. 
• 🌍 Iglesia Catolica El Carmen, 7a Calle Oriente y 1a Ave Sur (4 blocks south of Parque Libertad). 
• 🌍 Parroquia San Lorenzo, 10a Calle Oriente y 1a Ave Norte (4 blocks north of Parque Libertad). within a school compound, access only durning school hours. 

A fairly new addition is...

• 🌍 Mosque Palestina Tierre Santa, 4a Ave Sur Entre 5a y 7a Calle Poniente. Built in 2011, dedicated to Santa Ana's small Islamic community. 
• 🌍 Parque Ecologico San Lorenzo, 11a Ave Norte 2.5 km north of downtown (take bus 51-D from Parque Colon, or R-2 or 51-D from Calle 6a Oriente y 1a Ave Norte (2 blocks downhill from Teatro) and get off at the bus stop right in front of the park (ask driver)), ☏ +503 2442-4584. Daily 09:00-17:00 (zoo 09:00-12:00 and 14:30-16:00). A small zoological garden which is a bit disappointing but maybe to only chance to see local primates such as Mono Araña (Spider Monkeys). Also has attached picnic area with ponds and swimming pools (not too clean). Popular at weekends but deserted during the week. $2 for adults. 

Santa Ana makes a excellent base for discovering western El Salvador's archaeological and natural spots. FUNDAR (Fundación Nacional de Arqueología de El Salvador) maintains the excellent and highly recommended website with tons of information, although its participation ended in 2009.

• 🌍 Tazumal (Parque Arqueológico ), 15 km west of Santa Ana (take bus 218 passing along 31a Calle Poniente, 4a Ave Sur, 11a Calle Poniente, Ave Fray Felipe Sur, to Chalchuapa town. It will drop you almost in front of the entrance gate, $0.30 1/2 hr. Don't take bus 210 to Ahuachapan as it bypasses Chalchuapa town. On the way back to Santa Ana don't take bus 202 as it goes direct to San Salvador and bypasses Santa Ana). Tu-Su 09:00-16:00. One of the most important and most impressive pre-Columbian sites in El Salvador. Excavated ruins cover an area of 10 km² and are the largest Mayan temple in El Salvador. $3 for foreigners, includes museum. 
• 🌍 Casa Blanca (Archaeological Park ) (take bus 218 towards Chalchuapa town - details see Tazumal- and get off at the turnoff into Chalchuapa, $0.30 1/2 hr. Bus 210 from terminal towards Ahuachapan also passes here). Tu-Su 09:00-16:00. $3 for foreigner including museum and indigo workshop. 
• 🌍 San Andrés (Archaeological Park ) (take Seisabus 201 from 25a Calle towards San Salvador, it will drop you right in front of the entrance gate; TUDO bus 201 also passes here but only the regular service stops will stop, while the special service doesn't). 
• 🌍 Joya de Cerén (Archaeological Park ) (take Seisabus 201 from 25a Calle towards San Salvador, or bus 276 from terminal towards Apopa, get at the turnoff to Opico & Quetzaltepeque (2km east of San Andrés), then change to bus 108 towards Opico). The park can be easily visited in concunction with San Andrés. 

• 🌍 Lago Coatepeque (take bus 220 from terminal (ask for Lago), travels via Coatepeque and El Congo, or bus 59 from 31a Calle via Metrocentro and Panamericana to El Congo where you can transfer to bus 220. Last bus 220 back from Lake to Santa Ana at 4pm). A beautiful lake that was once an active volcano caldera. Access to the lake shore is difficult due to many private properties, try at one of the 🌍 hotels or restaurants. 
• 🌍 Cerro Verde (Los Volcanes National Park) (Bus 248 departs from bus station 🌍 Transportes Vencedora at Ave Fray Felipe y 11a Calle Poniente, (more stops along 25a Calle and at Universidad Catholica) at 07:40 and 11:00, returns at 10:30 and 16:00. Sometimes buses are marked 209 (normally going to Sonsonate, but at these times they go to Cerror Verde). The ride takes 2 hours and costs $0.90. The park is the final stop on the line, so don't worry about missing it). A must for eco-tourists, and the starting point for climbing Santa Ana and Izalco vulcano. Inside the park, a small comedor serves breakfast for $1.50 and lunch for $3. Cabins can be rented for $36 per night (up to 3 people per cabin). Entrance fee to the park $3 for foreigners. 
• 🌍 Santa Ana Volcano (next to Cerro Verde). Is noteworthy for the turquoise lake in its crater. A guided and police escorted tour (they don't let you do the hike without a guide) leaves Cerro Verde at 11am to the vulcano. The hike up takes 2 hr and 1.5 hr down, and is moderately difficult. Trekking boots recommended. The weather is chilly at the high altitude (2381m, 7812ft) so long pants, a jacket, and a windbreaker are also recommended. Bring at least 1 liter of drinking water with you! Best time for climbing is during dry season (between Nov and April) when perfect sky is the rule, but even in rain season (between May and October) good weather is not uncommon. For volcanic activity check web, last eruption was in 2005. $1 for guide, plus $1 to pass through some private property, plus $6 for MARN (ministerio del ambiente y resurcos naturales) to climb the volcano itself. 
• 🌍 Izalco Volcano. A guided and police escorted tour (they don't let you do the hike without a guide) also leaves from Cerro Verde at 11:00 to the vulcano. The hike is way harder than the Santa Ana volcano. Both volcanoes can be done in the same day if you start with Santa Ana volcano around 7-8am then go to Izalco and start the hike from there at 11am. 
• Ruta de las Flores. A beautyful route across the mountains south of Santa Ana, with several lakes and waterfalls along the road. To get there, take bus 210 (very frequently) from terminal to 🌍 Ahuachapan, $0.50 1h. Get off at its final stop and transfer to bus 249 departing from the intersection across mainstreet (goes via 🌍 Concepción de Ataco, 🌍 Apaneca, 🌍 Juayua, to 🌍 Sonsonate), or bus R-20 (via Concepción de Ataco as far as Apaneca), $0.40 to Concepción de Ataco resp $0.55 to Apaneca. From Juayua bus 238 brings you back to Santa Ana 4 times a day (last bus M-Sa at 16:00, Su at 14:00), $0.80, or continue to Sonsonate and take bus 216 (last one at 6:40pm) from main terminal to Santa Ana, $0.90. All towns offer plenty of accommodation.
  The Rutas de las Flores can be done as a day trip (although you might miss a lot of its beauty), but it's best to travel the opposite way around: Take bus 238 from terminal to Juayua at 06:40, 09:40, 12:30, and 17:00, $0.80. In Juayua change to bus 249 (ask driver to make sure you're on the right bus!) towards Apaneca, Concepción de Ataco, and finally Ahuachapan. In Ahuachapan you can transfer to the 210 bus back to Santa Ana. As always, times are approximate. It is better to arrive 15min early and safe your seat. 
• 🌍 Los Naranjos (take bus 216 from terminal (towards Sonsonate), or bus 238 (towards Juayua, departure times see above), and get off at the UNO gas station which marks the middle of the village. 1hr, $0.70). While not part of the Ruta de las Flores per se, this tiny village located 23 km southeast of town at an altitude of 1450m (4754ft) is the closest place if you seek relief from Santa Ana's heat. Several hostels, hotels, and fincas in the area offer accommodation (eg 🌍 Paso Alaska Resort, from $75, , or 🌍 Hostal Casa Blanca, $22-$40). As everywhere in the region, ask locals for security advise (and guide, or even police escort) before setting out in the surrounding countryside. You cannot climb Santa Ana vulcano from here! 
• 7 Waterfalls Tour (Las Siete Cascadas): a hike in waterfalls. Not easy. https://goo.gl/maps/1JKikvrRqnJe5YJm8

• 🌍 Academia Europea, 23a Calle Poniente y 6a Ave Sur, ☏ +503 2440-2045. Branch of its San Salvador operation, offers classes in Spanish, English, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, and even Mandarin. Also has job opportunities for native speakers, part time and full time, salary $3.50-4.50 per hour. 

Smaller shops are usually closed between 12:00 and 14:00 (for lunch break) and after 18:00, and most shops are closed on Sundays (except Supermarkets and Metrocentro).

2a Calle Poniente is Santa Ana's small outgoing area. Turns into a pedestrian zone Friday and Saturday evenings, many bars and restaurants with street side tables, safe as guarded by police.

• 🌍 La Taberna del Capitan, 4a Ave Sur y 17a Calle Poniente (west of Colegio Bautista), ☏ +503 2440 9461. M-Th 12:00-22:00, F Sa 12:00-23:30. Bar & restaurant, open until late. 
• Super Selectos (check different locations). This supermarket has a reasonable selection of spirits and Argentinian, Chilean and European wines. Also sells German Köstritzer, Belgium Leffe, and original Czech Pilsener beer. 
• La Despensa de Don Juan, (see supermarkets). Has an even larger selection, including Chinese Tsing Tao and german Erdinger beer. 

Warning: Under no circumstances visit the drinking holes along 11a Calle Poniente Entre 8a Ave Sur y Ave Fray Felipe Moraga Sur (Parque Colon area)!

• 🌍 Correos de El Salvador (Post Office), intersection Ave Independencia Sur Entre y Calle Jose Mariano Mendez (7 blocks south of Parque Libertad). M-Sa 07:30-17:00. International postal rates are similar to the United States Postal Service. Leave parcels open so they can check for prohibited goods. 
• 🌍 Urbano / DHL (), Ave Santa Ana California (10a Ave) Entre 23a y 25a Calle #80 (take Bus 51-E or 51-F from downtown). Local & world wide express delivery services for parcels and envelopes (address on all web pages is outdated) . 

Internet cafes a fairly common and charge roughly $0.50 per hour. If you have your own equipment, visiting one of the many cafes and restaurants offering free and unlimited WiFi might be the better option. The public WiFi network Alcaldia Municipal de Santa Ana is available around the town hall but usually overloaded, while the mesh network indiNET (password: stardust) is more reliable and found at many locations in town.

• 🌍 e-center, 4a Calle Oriente y Ave Independenica Norte (1 block downhill from Parque Libertad, behind the Teatro). 
• 🌍 RC Servicios, 4a Calle Poniente Entre Ave Independencia y 2a Ave Norte. Has air-conditioning. 
• 🌍 Ciber Fenix, 2a Ave Sur Entre 7a y 9a Calle Poniente. Claims to have fast 7.5 Mbps connection. 
• 🌍 Copy@Shop, 2a Ave Sur y 7a Calle Poniente. 

Most parts of the city are completely deserted after 7pm. The Metrocentro area, the Parque Libertad, and the pedestrian street Villa Morena (2a Calle Poniente) are considered safe at night as police and security guards are present. Avoid Parque Colon and surroundings after dark, as many homeless and drunken individuals hang around the area.

Be very careful when walking on sidewalks because many manhole covers are missing (stolen for their value as scrap metal) and openings can be several feet deep. Especially after dark it's recommended to walk on the street (if traffic permits).

Do not climb the hills surrounding the city without local security advice and/or police escort, as robberies have occurred.

• San Salvador. 2 bus companies provide services to the capital's Terminal del Occidente: 

TUDO. Bus 201 travels via the Panamericana. Regular service $0.85, frequent stops. The more comfortable special service (mostly aircon) does not stop along the highway (first stop is in Santa Tecla) $1.35. Departs every 15 min (first at 04:15) from 🌍 bus depot on Antigua Carretera Panamericana (4km southwest of downtown), at least 1h depending on the traffic situation. Take a taxi or local bus marked Paraiso (9, 15, R-3SA, R-4SA, R55-B, or regional bus 210, 218, 236) to get to the bus depot. More convenient boarding points are 31a Calle Poniente y Ave Fray Felipe Moraga Sur, INSA at 31a Calle Poniente y Ave Santa Ana California, or Metrocentro. 

Seisabus. Bus 201 follows the old Carretera via Coatepeque and Ciudad Arce, frequent stops, up to 2 hr, regular service $1, special service $1.50. Departs every 5 min, first at 03:10 (from 🌍 bus depot at La Ceiba), last at 18:10. Boarding points along 25a Calle and also at Universidad Catolica (UNICAES). 

• Guatemala City (direct bus, only stop is at the border), ☏ +503 2415-0069. Departs 05:00 (except Su), 06:00, 07:00, 08:39, 10:00, 12:00, 13:30, 15:00, 4-4½ hr, $16 (same fare as from San Salvador). 🌍 Puerto Bus Route 415 (joint operations of Pezzarossi, Vencedora, Taca) leaves from new office location at La Ceiba (next to Seisabus depot; behind Puma gas station, take a taxi or local bus R-A from downtown to get there). If possible book a day in advance (bring your passport) so they can put you on the immigration list and you can stay aboard the bus, otherwise you have to visit the salvadorian immigration counter when departing the country.
  A cheaper but less convenient option is Bus 236 (ordinario) or 236A (especial) from terminal to San Cristobal Frontera, then visit both immigration offices, and catch ongoing bus to Jutiapa and Guatemala City. The shaky Mendez Express bus 402 also departs from terminal at 11:30 (unreliable, check in advance) to Jutiapa and Jalapa, where you can transfer to a Guatemala City bus. 
• Central North of El Salvador (Chalatenango, Suchitoto, border with Honduras at El Poy, avoiding San Salvador). Take bus 276 from terminal via Coatepeque and Quetzaltepeque to Apopa (2½ hr, $0.80). Get off at final stop (at Puma gas station) and transfer to one of the buses going north along the main highway: Bus 125 for Chalatenago, 141 for Nueva Conception, 119 for San Igancio & Border. For Suchitoto take any bus to Aguilares and change there. Be aware that Apopa has the reputation of being the 'gang capital' of El Salvador, so be careful here. 
• Metapán (for Parque National Montecristo). Bus 235 does not leave from terminal but from the 🌍 bus depot at Calle Aldea San Antonio at the western end of 25a Calle Poniente (across the street from Texaco gas station). A more convenient boarding point along Calle Aldea San Antonio is 1/2 block southwest from Parque Colon, or one of the stops along 6a Calle, $0.90. 🌍 Bus 201-A coming from San Salvador also goes to Metapán, board at Boulevard Los 44 (Metrocentro roundabout).
  From Metapán you can also cross into Guatemala at the border of Anguiatú (bus every 30 min, very convenient if going to Rio Dulce, Puerto Barrios, or Copán Ruinas via Chiquimula), and into Honduras at the border of El Poy (take bus 463 from Metapán terminal, at 05:00 and 12:00, 3 hr). 
• Sonsonate (and on to the pacific coast). Bus 209 (directo) every 25 min from bus station 🌍 Transportes Vencedora at Ave Fray Felipe Moraga Sur y 11a Calle Poniente, via El Congo, travels along the rim high above Lago Coatepeque with occasional views on the lake, 2 hr $0.90. Also bus 216 from terminal via Los Naranjos (1¾ hr $0.70), a very scenic ride over the mountains.