El Boqueron National Park, El Salvador

The El Boqueron National Park in El Salvador sits atop the San Salvador volcano. With ornamental tropical flowers like 'cartuchos', hydrangeas, begonias and wild 'sultanas', the park is a wonderful travelers' spot. Travelers coming to San Salvador, visit this park wooed by its main attraction, El Boqueron. Literally translated, El Boqueron means 'wide mouth'. It is a crater that lies in the heart of the park, with a diameter of 5 km and a depth of 558 meters. The surprise is a mini crater inside the bigger one which the locals of San Salvador lovingly call 'El Boqueroncito'(little Boqueron). This little crater is the upshot of the latest volcanic eruption of 1917. A hike down the crater is a challenge, even for practiced hikers since the steep walls make the descent very difficult. There are several scenic trails leading up to five viewing areas from where one can view the craters. It is not much of a walk for regular hikers. However, for travelers whose calf muscles have not had much exercise lately, the hike can prove quite a jaunt. Thoughtfully laid out benches, give tired hikers time to catch their breath. And, then the view of El Boqueron descends on the onlooker. A testimony, to the finality of nature. A reminder of our irrelevance in the larger scheme of things. On the way down, visitors to the park can buy local fruits, sold by local residents trying to make living, at the gate of the park. There are restaurants here too, which sell assorted Central American delicacies, a wonderful treat for the worked up appetite after the hike.

The park is situated at a height of 1800 meters.
Before the Spanish conquest of the 16thcentury, the volcano was known as Quezaltepec since the place abounded in Quetzales, a
long feathered bird native to Central America. 

El Salvador remains packed with tourists during the Semana Santa (Holy Week) the week preceding Easter Sunday,
August and during the winters from November through February. The winters may get a little chilly, but are still the best time to visit. August
is good too, if you can travel keeping in mind the delays caused by occasional downpours. The weather is very hot and humid from March
through August and is best avoided.