Santa Ana Volcano, El Salvador

The Santa Ana volcano or Ilamatepec is El Salvador's highest volcano at 2381 meters. It is mostly known because of the turquoise lagoon that sits in the center of the crater. I knew I had to climb it when I was researching "thing to do" in El Salvador for my trip over there. All the pictures I saw online were spectacular and I could not be so close to it and not visit it.We drove to Cerro Verde park from San Salvador. It is on top of a hill and this area has parking, bathrooms (15 cents to use) and kiosks selling food and snacks. It is also the meeting point with the guides and tourist police that will guide the tour. The tour starts at 11, and 10-15 minutes prior the start, one of the crew members goes over the details and information about the climb. It is all explained in Spanish only. The lady seemed well educated and prepared. She went over information about the volcano, physical requirements, health concerns, and so forth. She also explained the costs of the tour and where to pay.Cost: $1 to enter the Cerro Verde park plus parking fee if you are driving. You will pay a dollar if national or $3 if foreigner to the guides for their service before leaving the Cerro Verde area to start the tour. You will also pay $3 if national or $6 otherwise at the official entrance of the volcano.They explained the entire trip takes roughly 4 hours. The Cerro Verde Park is at a hill. I still do not understand why they made the park/meeting point in this  area. This is in mountain and to start the actual volcano hike you need to descend around 600 steps. I was already out of breath by the time we finished this part of the trip. This takes around 20 minutes. You will pass the Tibet area, this is a side of the road that leads to different sites including the park. You will drive through it on your way up to the Cerro Verde park.  BTW, the guides told us you can join them here and avoid going up to Cerro verde, this would be ideal if you go by bus because I saw no parking here. Then we continued to the official entrance of the volcano, where we paid the entrance fee, this takes about 15 minutes to get everyone in the group to pay. It all starts feeling so real at this point.Half the hike I will consider simple but very challenging. There are steps helping you with the hike but it requires a good level of fitness. Im not going to sugar coated. As I mentioned earlier, at the very beginning I was out of breath. It didn't get any better at this point and that is why I say it was very challenging for me.My face at the beginning:

My face halfway: 

If you are very active and you practice your cardio diligently, you may find it less challenging. To give you a better idea, from a 1-5 fitness level scale, I am a 3. If you search information about the Santa Ana volcano, most sites will say it is a moderate hike. So I thought it would be “easy”, I really thought it would be less challenging.Good news is the amazing, beyond beautiful panoramic views you get from the surroundings during the climb. Here are some pics:The last 1/3 of the hike is the most difficult, it is more inclined and rocky. God knew my pain at this point but he also gave me the strength to not quick and keep going.  Now that I was at the top, I felt some sort super energy or strength, I don't know from where, and rushed to find the view to the turquoise lagoon.  I walked fast to where I could see it and of course take a selfie with this beauty behind. Here you also get a view of Izalco volcano and the  Coatepeque lake. The view is spectacular. It was very windy and cold at the crater area. Otherwise I would had stay longer taking in the view.I have to mention that there was a gentleman selling popsicles on top of the volcano. He climbs the vocano almost running with a cooler full of them on his shoulders. He probably does it in 1/3 the time it takes everyone to make it to the top. I would like some of that energy and resistance! The popsicles were delicious, I could eat four of them.This pictures sums up my trip, a pleased, almost dying but happy newbie hiker.The descend takes about 1 hour 30 minutes. You can use the bathroom and buy some snacks at the entrance of the volcano, same place you pay the entrance fee. Then keep going down to the Tibet where there was a pickup car waiting for group members that do not want to go up hill to the Cerro Verde park. Remember we descended around 600 step from the cerro Verde park to begin the hike, well now you need to go up again to go back to the Cerro Verde park. But now the walk is through the main road to make it an easier. The fee was 50 cents, I could pay more than that at this point... Some still prefered to finish by foot.This was definitely an experience of a lifetime. I would do it again, no questions about it. But I also learn that this things are not that easy. Some training is required even when it is considered "a moderate" hike. The whole Cerro Verde is spectacular, I need to go back and spend a day at the the Coatepeque lake. It is massive and magnificent.   El Salvador is a jewel of nature, full of magnificent places.Love,Inalvys