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.
14 km · about 25 min drive
North AmericaEl SalvadorSan Salvador Department
San Marcos
San Salvador Department, El Salvador · North America
About San Marcos
San Marcos is worth a stop: 10 minutes from Panchimalco, 14km from El Boquerón Crater.
San Marcos is in San Salvador Department, El Salvador, with about 55,000 people. The nearest town is Panchimalco, about 5 km away.
San Marcos is a district in El Salvador. It is located in a small valley, 5 miles (8 km) southeast of downtown San Salvador. It has a population of 63,209. San Marcos is one of the 14 municipalities which make up the Metropolitan Area of San Salvador, also known as Greater San Salvador.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near San Marcos?
Within an hour or so of San Marcos: El Boquerón Crater (14 km), Joya de Cerén (26 km), El Tunco (29 km), Suchitoto (34 km).
Are there any good drives near San Marcos?
The nearest famous roads are Ruta de las Flores.
Where is San Marcos?
San Marcos is in San Salvador Department, El Salvador, about 5 km from Panchimalco.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 54,615
- Continent
- North America
- Country
- El Salvador
- Region
- San Salvador Department
- Timezone
- America/El_Salvador
- Coordinates
- 13.6611, -89.1825
Tags
Worth the detour from San Marcos
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.
26 km · about 30 min drive
beach
El Tunco
El Salvador's top surf beach with a distinctive pig-shaped rock formation, vibrant nightlife, and consistent Pacific waves.
29 km · about 35 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.
34 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.
45 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.
53 km · about 60 min drive
Driving roads near San Marcos
- 53 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.
- 75 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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