El Salvador's highest peak, the Santa Ana (Ilamatepec) Volcano, erupted in 2005.
Photograph by Galen Rowell/CORBIS
The smallest and most densely populated nation in Central America sits at the edge of the Pacific Ocean between Guatemala and Honduras. • Beautiful beaches and a sizzling nightlife top the list of attractions, but serious surfers have begun descending in ever larger numbers. • Unlike some of its neighbors, El Salvador doesnít rely on ecotourism but instead emphasizes its dollar-denominated economy, ease of getting around, and warm, welcoming people.
Related Features
-
Still Blue
Off the shores of Costa Rica, scientists study a stronghold of whales that once hovered near extinction.
-
Guatemalan Textiles
Enjoy these brightly colored textiles made on looms, virtually identical to those their Maya ancestors used some 1,200 years ago.
-
Maya Rise and Fall
The saga of a civilization in three parts: the rise, the monumental splendor, and the collapse.
El Salvador Map
North America Photos
North America Quizzes
Shop National Geographic
Top Picks for Travel
- Enter Now! Traveler Photo Contest
- NEW! Best of the World Weekly
- Call for Nominations: Travelers of the Year
- How to Become a Nat Geo Photographer
- Top 10 Islands
- Don George's #TripLit Pick for June
- Download City Guides App
- Photos: Galicia, Spain
- Photo Gallery: World's Best Ecolodges
- Tips for Traveling Couples
Advertisement
Our Trips
2013 Traveler Photo Contest
-
Share Your Best Travel Photos
Enter to be featured in our weekly galleries and win a grand prize trip to the Galápagos.
