One Of Central America's Best Routes Is A Cultural Adventure Of Vibrant Villages And Lush Coffee Farms

Central America offers incredible potential for backpacking and cross-country travel. With buses connecting Guatemala to Panama, and every country in-between, each country in Central America has a distinct cultural character, every place being beautiful in its own way. With so much available for the adventurous traveler, focussing on a route is a failsafe way to get the most out of your travels. El Salvador is less frequently traveled, and somewhat underrated, but there's no better way to see this incredible country than by taking the famous Ruta de las Flores (route of the flowers), along the Apaneca hills in the western part of the country. 

This world-famous route meanders through some of El Salvador's most picturesque towns, and it is one of the main reasons international travelers seek to visit the country. Seeing flowers is just the start, though, as this journey is the best way to appreciate the peaceful local life of the Salvadorean people, while also experiencing El Salvador's world famous coffee culture. This is an unmissable destination for any Central American explorer.

The Ruta de las Flores is essentially connected by a road around the town of Juayua, withfive towns making up this iconic region of northwest El Salvador. Juayua sits at the center of the region, while Salcoatitan, Nahuizalco, Apaneca, and Concepcion de Ataco are the other towns forming this scenic path. From November to February, these villages are known for being covered in wildflowers in all different colors and varieties, which is obviously a huge draw of this region. However, this route also offers tourists the chance to interact with the local culture and discover a more authentic side of El Salvador than at its thriving beachy counterparts. 

To get to La Ruta, you can take a bus from San Salvador, which costs around $0.50-0.90 and is a 42-mile drive. La Ruta is also accessible from Santa Ana by taking two regional buses for a similar price, with the journey lasting approximately 1.5-hours. Renting a car or scooter may be more convenient for some, and there are plenty of car companies to choose from in the capital, San Salvador. To get the most out of the route, it's recommended to stay in Juayua and try Bourbon Hotel, which is 5-minutes from the main plaza with breakfast included in the price. Make sure to withdraw cash in Juayua, as it is one of the only places in the area with a functioning ATM.

Each of the villages along this route will amaze even the most well-traveled explorer. Beginning in Nahuizalco, 54 miles from San Salvador, this village's most notable feature is an incredible night market lit by candles. A magical and picturesque Salvadorean town, Nahuizalco is the perfect place to buy artisanal goods and hand-crafted folk art or watch wicker, wood and cotton workshops craft their wares. The Artisan Development Center and the colonial church in the town are other important landmarks. Next on the agenda is Salcoatitan, a small coffee town whose name translates from Nahuatl to "The City of Quetzalcoatl," after an ancient deity who once ruled the land. A small train passes through the local park, and you can enjoy a gastronomic fair here every Sunday.

Juayua is the center of the Route of the Flowers and is a site of incomparable beauty. It's recommended to stay a little longer in Juayua, as its surrounding landscape and wealth of natural attractions are unparalleled in the region. Los Chorros waterfall at La Calera, 2 miles from the city, is an incredible natural waterpark with turquoise waters. Likewise, Las Ranas Lagoon cannot be missed. Later on the itinerary, you'll head to the village of Apaneca, an important coffee town with cobbled streets and adobe houses that is still largely untouched by tourism. 

The archaeological site of Santa Leticia is also found nearby, where three gargantuan stone monuments dating back 25,000 years still stand. Last but not least on this incredible route is Concepcion de Ataco, an indigenous village surrounded by colorful walls and set against lush mountains, which has unparalleled tranquility and feels like something from another era. This without a doubt any coffee-lovers, nature-lovers, or escapists dream destination.