natural wonder
El Boquerón Crater
The 1.5-km-wide crater of San Salvador Volcano, reached by a scenic road climbing from the capital to 1,800 m: peer into the perfect cinder cone left by the 1917 eruption.
11 km · about 20 min drive
North AmericaEl SalvadorSan Salvador Department
Mejicanos
San Salvador Department, El Salvador · North America
About Mejicanos
Mejicanos is worth a stop: 5 minutes from San Salvador, 11km from El Boquerón Crater.
Mejicanos is in San Salvador Department, El Salvador, with about 160,000 people. The nearest town is San Salvador, about 4 km away.
The Mejicanos massacre (Spanish: masacre de Mejicanos), also known as the Route 47 massacre (masacre de la ruta 47), occurred on 20 June 2010 when members of the 18th Street gang (Barrio 18) attacked two minibuses in the Salvadoran city of Mejicanos, just northeast of the capital city of San Salvador. During theRead more
massacre, members of Barrio 18 shot at one minibus and burned a second, killing 19 people in total and injuring 14 or 15 more.
Since the 1990s, the Barrio 18 and MS-13 street gangs committed several crimes in El Salvador contributing to the country having one of the world's highest intentional homicide rates. In June 2010, a member of Barrio 18 was killed by a member of MS-13, one of Barrio 18's rivals. The following day, Barrio 18 committed the Mejicanos massacre in revenge for the killing. Since 2011, several individuals have been charged or convicted for their roles in the Mejicanos massacre. Sentences range from 3 years imprisonment to 410 years imprisonment.
Salvadoran president Mauricio Funes and the National Civil Police described the massacre as a terrorist attack. The Legislative Assembly passed a law cracking down on gangs as a direct response to the massacre. The Mejicanos massacre remains the deadliest attack committed by street gangs in El Salvador.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Mejicanos?
Within an hour or so of Mejicanos: El Boquerón Crater (11 km), Joya de Cerén (21 km), Suchitoto (29 km), El Tunco (33 km).
Are there any good drives near Mejicanos?
The nearest famous roads are Ruta de las Flores.
Where is Mejicanos?
Mejicanos is in San Salvador Department, El Salvador, about 4 km from San Salvador.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 160,317
- Continent
- North America
- Country
- El Salvador
- Region
- San Salvador Department
- Timezone
- America/El_Salvador
- Coordinates
- 13.7240, -89.1880
Tags
Worth the detour from Mejicanos
6 notable places within an hour's drive.
ancient ruins
Joya de Cerén
A UNESCO site known as the Pompeii of the Americas, a Maya farming village preserved under volcanic ash from the 6th century.
21 km · about 25 min drive
landmark
Suchitoto
El Salvador's best-preserved colonial town: cobbled streets and a white timber-columned church above Lake Suchitlán, a reservoir that draws huge flocks of migratory birds each winter.
29 km · about 35 min drive
beach
El Tunco
El Salvador's top surf beach with a distinctive pig-shaped rock formation, vibrant nightlife, and consistent Pacific waves.
33 km · about 40 min drive
natural wonder
Lake Coatepeque
A stunning volcanic crater lake in western El Salvador with turquoise water, surrounded by forested hills and lakeside restaurants.
42 km · about 50 min drive
scenic viewpoint
Santa Ana Volcano (Ilamatepec)
El Salvador's highest volcano, whose nested craters hold a sulphurous turquoise lake. A two-hour guided hike from Cerro Verde car park ends on a rim looking down at the acid lake and across to Izalco and Lake Coatepeque.
50 km · about 60 min drive
Driving roads near Mejicanos
- 50 kmSanta Ana Volcano (Ilamatepec)El Salvador's highest volcano, whose nested craters hold a sulphurous turquoise lake. A two-hour guided hike from Cerro Verde car park ends on a rim looking down at the acid lake and across to Izalco and Lake Coatepeque.
- 73 kmRuta de las FloresA picturesque route through the western highlands of El Salvador connecting colorful colonial villages and coffee plantations.
When to drive here
Year-round
Tropical latitude: plan around the wet season rather than temperature.
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