El Salvador revealed tailor made tour

Planet

WHY EL SALVADOR IS A RESPONSIBLE CHOICE:

El Salvador remains refreshingly under the radar. Tourism here has only begun to open up in earnest in recent years, meaning there is no overtourism pressure on landscapes, communities, or infrastructure. Visiting now helps support local livelihoods in a country where tourism can make a genuine difference, while spreading visitor impact far beyond the usual Central American hotspots.

CARBON REDUCTION
Flying reduction:
El Salvador is a fantastic destination for reducing flight emissions. As the country is relatively small, and roads are on the whole pretty good, it is easy to explore overland. There are no domestic flights in this trip.

Hotel Emissions:
Accommodation used on this trip includes smaller, locally owned properties that focus on low-impact operations rather than large-scale resort infrastructure.

Human Powered Transport:
Walking and hiking are a key part of the trip, with most days featuring an active excursion. These include city walks in San Salvador and Suchitoto, guided walks in El Boquerón National Park, hikes in Cerro Verde National Park and Santa Ana Volcano, and forest and waterfall hikes along the Ruta de las Flores.

Vegetarian & Vegan food:
Vegetarian options are widely available throughout the trip, particularly in towns such as Suchitoto, Ataco, and Juayúa. Vegan dishes can be accommodated with advance notice, drawing on the country’s strong tradition of plant-based ingredients such as beans, corn, vegetables and fruit.

Local sourcing:
A high proportion of food consumed is locally sourced and seasonal, particularly breakfasts and meals in smaller towns and rural areas. Experiences such as the Juayúa food market, coffee-growing regions of the Ruta de las Flores, and locally produced drinks on Lake Suchitlán directly support small-scale producers. The reliance on local supply chains naturally reduces food miles.

ENVIRONMENT AND WILDLIFE

Accommodation environmental policies:
Accommodation, where possible, is selected on its small scale and location-sensitive design rather than intensive development. Many operate with reduced water use, limited plastics, and low-impact building styles appropriate for their volcanic, forest, or colonial settings.

Nature restoration at accommodations:
Some properties, particularly in the Cerro Verde cloud forest region, maintain gardens, native vegetation, and forested grounds that provide habitat for birds, insects, and pollinators, contributing quietly to local biodiversity.

Parks and protected areas:
The trip includes visits to several protected areas, with entrance fees (where applicable, such as to the ancient Mayan site) contributing directly to conservation and maintenance, including:

- El Boquerón National Park
- Cerro Verde National Park
- Santa Ana Volcano
- Joya de Cerén UNESCO World Heritage Site

Contribution to nature recovery:
Using trained local guides and paying entrance fees to historical sites supports conservation funding and community-based management of protected areas. Guided hikes help ensure visitors remain on established trails, reducing erosion and habitat damage.

Visitor guidance on protecting nature:
Travellers are briefed on responsible behaviour in national parks and natural areas, including staying on trails, not removing natural materials, minimising waste, and respecting wildlife and water sources, particularly around crater lakes and waterfalls.

Expert local nature guides:
Nature experiences such as volcano hikes, cloud forest walks, and waterfall treks are led by local, trained guides with deep knowledge of volcanic landscapes, flora, fauna, and regional ecology. This supports local employment while enhancing safety and environmental awareness.

People

LOCAL ECONOMY

Locally owned accommodation:
The majority of accommodation used on this trip is locally owned and independently operated, rather than international hotel chains. This is particularly true in Suchitoto, Cerro Verde and Ataco, where smaller properties are embedded within their communities and employ local staff. These hotels keep profits within the region and play an important role in sustaining tourism outside the capital.


Supporting local guides and businesses:
The trip is designed to maximise local economic benefit at every stage. All guiding services are provided by local, trained Salvadoran guides, who lead the city walk in San Salvador, the volcano and national park hikes and the treks in Cerro Verde and Santa Ana, and the trip along the Ruta de las Flores.

Travellers visit and spend money directly in artisan workshops, galleries and craft markets, including:

- Casa de la Abuela in Suchitoto
- Art galleries and handicraft shops in Suchitoto and Ataco
- Indigenous craft markets in Nahuizalco
- Coffee-growing communities along the Ruta de las Flores

Hands-on experiences such as the indigo dyeing workshop and cigar rolling (subject to availability) directly support local artisans and help preserve traditional skills while generating meaningful income.


Local food and drink economies:
Meals, tastings and market visits prioritise locally owned cafés, restaurants and producers, including coffee farms, food stalls in Juayúa’s gastronomic market, and locally produced drinks enjoyed on Lake Suchitlán. This ensures tourism spend is spread across small, family-run businesses rather than concentrated in large operators.


EMPLOYMENT, INCLUSIVITY AND DIVERSITY

Local employment:
Nearly all, if not fully 100%, of staff involved in delivering this trip in El Salvador are Salvadoran nationals, including drivers, guides, artisans, workshop leaders, hotel staff and restaurant teams. Many are drawn directly from the local communities visited, particularly in Suchitoto, the Ruta de las Flores towns, and the Cerro Verde region.

Supporting women and Indigenous communities:
This itinerary creates income-generating opportunities for groups who are often underrepresented in tourism. Examples include:

- Women artisans and workshop leaders, notably in the indigo dyeing experience.
- Indigenous craftspeople in Nahuizalco and surrounding towns, where traditional skills form a core part of the visitor experience.
- Small, family-run businesses where women play key roles in hospitality, food production and retail.

These experiences are intentionally included to direct income towards grassroots livelihoods.

Fair pay:
Local operating partners are required to comply with national labour laws, including payment of at least the legal minimum wage in El Salvador. Preference is given to partners known for fair employment practices and long-term relationships with their staff.

Accessibility:
This trip is not ideally suited to travellers with limited mobility due to cobblestone streets, uneven terrain, volcano hikes, forest trails and steps at archaeological and natural sites. It may also be challenging for those with significant visual or hearing impairments. We are happy to advise on alternative itineraries better suited to specific accessibility needs.