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.
6 km · about 10 min drive
North AmericaEl SalvadorLa Libertad Department
Santa Tecla
La Libertad Department, El Salvador · North America
About Santa Tecla
Santa Tecla is worth a stop: 5 minutes from Antiguo Cuscatlán, 6km from El Boquerón Crater.
Santa Tecla is in La Libertad Department, El Salvador, with about 120,000 people. The nearest town is Antiguo Cuscatlán, about 4 km away.
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Frequently Asked Questions
What is there to see near Santa Tecla?
Within an hour or so of Santa Tecla: El Boquerón Crater (6 km), Joya de Cerén (18 km), El Tunco (23 km), Lake Coatepeque (35 km).
Are there any good drives near Santa Tecla?
The nearest famous roads are Ruta de las Flores.
Where is Santa Tecla?
Santa Tecla is in La Libertad Department, El Salvador, about 4 km from Antiguo Cuscatlán.
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Quick Information
- Population
- 124,694
- Continent
- North America
- Country
- El Salvador
- Region
- La Libertad Department
- Timezone
- America/El_Salvador
- Coordinates
- 13.6774, -89.2833
Tags
Worth the detour from Santa Tecla
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.
18 km · about 20 min drive
beach
El Tunco
El Salvador's top surf beach with a distinctive pig-shaped rock formation, vibrant nightlife, and consistent Pacific waves.
23 km · about 25 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.
35 km · about 40 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.
39 km · about 45 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.
42 km · about 50 min drive
Driving roads near Santa Tecla
- 42 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.
- 64 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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