Description

A unique nature experience: walk to the edge of the crater of San Salvador volcano, touch the sulfur water inside the crater of Tecapa volcano, walk through the forest towards a monkey community and travel by boat through the waters of Jiquilisco Bay in search of the Hawksbill Sea Turtle, one of the most endangered species of sea turtles.

HIGHLIGHTS:

• Walk to the edge of the crater of San Salvador Volcano.
• Walk the charming town of Alegría (Happiness).
• Walk to Alegría Lagoon, The Emerald of America: a lagoon in the crater of Tecapa Volcano.
• Feed bananas to a community of Spider Monkeys.
• Enjoy a Hawksbill Sea Turtle Tour at Jiquilisco Bay, a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.

GENERAL INFORMATION:

Operates:                Package may start any day

Code:                       PSALVMT

Time:                        5 days / 4 nights 

Service:                    Private services (vehicle and driver).

Difficulty level:           Easy  

Lodging:                    1 night in San Salvador and 3 nights in Jiquilisco Bay

GENERAL ITINERARY:

Day 1:                    Arrival to El Salvador International Airport. Transfer to San Salvador.  Lodging at San Salvador.

Day 2:                    Boquerón, Transfer to Alegría town and Lagoon. Transfer to Jiquilisco Bay.  Lodging at Jiquilisco Bay.   (B, L)

Day 3:                    Monkey and Hawksbill Sea turtle tour.  Lodging at Jiquilisco Bay. (B, L)

Day 4:                    Free day.  Lodging at Jiquilisco Bay. (B, L)

Day 5:                    Transfer to airport. (B)

INCLUDES:

• Private vehicle and driver for transfers and tour on Day 2.
• 1 night lodging in San Salvador at selected hotel.
• 3 nights lodging in
• All breakfasts (4) and lunches (2)
• Private English speaking guide for tours.
• All Activities and entrances as stated on detailed itinerary: Boquerón National Park, Alegría Town and Lagoon Tour, Monkey tour, and Hawksbill Sea Turtle Tour.
• All local taxes and fees are included.

DOES NOT INCLUDE: 

• Dinners.
• International Flights.
• Airport Taxes and fees.
• Tips for driver and tour guide.
• Personal expenses.
• Any services not specifically mentioned.

DETAILED ITINERARY:

DAY 1:  ARRIVAL TO SAN SALVADOR

Arrival to El Salvador International Airport. Transfer to San Salvador hotel. 

Lodging at San Salvador hotel.

DAY 2:  BOQUERÓN - ALEGRÍA TOWN AND LAGOON - JIQUILISCO BAY (B, L)

El Salvador is the country with more volcanoes per square kilometers in the world; this is because there are many volcanoes in a very small country, (20,000 square kilometers).  From San Salvador, we have access to visit beautiful volcanoes.  Today we will visit El Boquerón

which is the name of the crater of San Salvador Volcano.  Locals say that it has this name because the crater resembles a big mouth (Boquerón = Big Mouth). At approximately 1,700 meters above sea level, it provides a cool climate in between 15 – 23 ºC.  We will be able to walk to the edge of the crater and admire its beauty. 

Then we will travel east to Alegría town and lagoon.  Alegría is a charming town located within mountains and volcanoes filled with coffee plantations.  Besides the town lies what many people call the Emerald of America; a sulfur lagoon at the crater of Tecapa Volcano.  We will have lunch at Alegría.  Then transfer to hotel in Jiquilisco Bay.

Jiquilisco Bay is a UNESCO Biosphere reserve (one of 14 in all Central America).  It is El Salvador´s largest and most important wetland and the largest mangrove estuarine system in Northern Mesoamerica, it contains mangrove forests, estuaries, sand bars, beaches, 27 islands of varying size, fresh water lagoons and seasonally flooded forests. Its 637 square kilometers, represent a transit point to at least 87 species of migratory birds. 

Lodging at Puerto Barillas Hotel in Jiquilisco Bay.

DAY 3:  MONKEYS - HAWKSBILL SEA TURTLE TOUR – JIQUILISCO BAY (B, L)

Today we will enjoy a Sea Turtle and Monkey tour.Four species of sea turtles nest in El Salvador: Baule (leatherback turtle), Carey (hawksbill turtle), Golfina (olive ridley turtle) and Prieta (green turtle); all of them considered endangered species.The tour in Jiquilisco Bay will focus on the Hawksbill, one of the most endangered species in the world.For the Hawksbill, Jiquilisco Bay is the main nesting point on all the Eastern Pacific.

We will enjoy a boat tour in Jiquilisco Bay, to learn about the Hawksbill Sea Turtle. Hawksbill turtles have helped keep our oceans healthy for millions of years. Today, the hawksbill is near extinction. They are captured and killed in fishing activities—entangled in coastal gillnets (especially lobster gillnets) and shrimp trawls, and are victims of illegal blast fishing practices that also destroy the local ecosystem. Hawksbill eggs are collected for consumption and sale by poachers who live in regions of extreme poverty where the eggs are an important source of protein and income. Hawksbills also are the only sea turtle species collected for the shell (tortoise shell or bekko) by craftspeople, which turn them into combs, pennants, sunglasses and other trinkets. Other threats add to the problem, including pollution, large-scale oceanic nutrient shifts and global warming. This tour consist of capturing a turtle, observe how the biologist studies and measures it while the visitors are given an explanation, and then release the turtle into the water again.

For the monkey’s tour, we will walk through a forest until we reach their home. After calling their names, the monkeys come down the trees and interact with the visitors.

Lodging at Puerto Barillas Hotel in Jiquilisco Bay.

DAY 4:  FREE DAY (B, L)

Free day in Puerto Barillas hotel.

Lodging at Puerto Barillas Hotel in Jiquilisco Bay.

DAY 5:  Transfer to airport for departure flight. (B)  

End of services

SPECIFIC CONDITIONS:

• All general conditions apply
• We may change itinerary due to weather or situations beyond our control.
• Holidays and festivity periods may carry additional surcharges, payment requirements and cancellation penalties. Sites such as: museums, archaeological sites, restaurants, and shopping centers may be limited or not available during holidays or special events.
• Spotting a sea turtle depends on nature, it can´t be 100% guaranteed.
• Boat ride for sea turtle tour also depends on safe weather.
• Category A, B, C only applies to fist night hotel.

HOTELS:

San Salvador:             A) Barceló or similar.

                                     B)  Mirador Plaza Hotel or similar.

                                     C)  Villa Terra or similar.

Jiquilísco Bay:            A) Puerto Barillas Hotel (Apartment)

                                     B) Puerto Barillas Hotel (Tree House)

                                     C) Puerto Barillas Hotel (Tree House)