Nomadic Backpacker
  • HOME
  • About
    • ABOUT Me
    • About the Blog
  • Sitemap
  • ADVERTISE
  • BORDER CROSSINGS
  • DONATE
  • CONTACT
  • Travel Advice
  • Top 3 Fav Countries
  • destinations
    • United Kingdom
    • Belize
    • Honduras
    • Panama
    • Costa Rica
    • Nicaragua
    • El Salvador
    • Guatemala
    • Mexico
    • Africa
    • Turkey
    • The Balkans

Backpacking Santa Ana | El Salvador

​February 19, 2022

Connect on Twitter

​After Suchitoto, I stayed a further 5 nights in San Salvador and then headed out once again, this time to the town of Santa Ana.

Having loved my stay in San Salvador, I was totally up for exploring Santa Ana.

Just as a reminder, you can see a complete list of all my posts from this wonderful country on my El Salvador Index Page.
Backpacking Santa Ana | El Salvador


​Getting from San Salvador to Santa Ana by bus was easy. Buses go regularly from the Occidente Bus Terminal, which is just a 17-minute walk from the hostel in Flor Blanca.

The route is operated by TUDO. They have a 'servicio ordinario' and a 'servicio especial', the latter has air-con. The former has windows. You can guess which one I chose!

The journey took 85 minutes. The fare was 1 USD. The traffic getting out of San Salvador was horrendous.

Tudo have their own terminal in Santa Ana but it's a bit further out, so armed with intel and following the route on GMaps, I jumped out at the INSA bus stop and walked into town.
How to get from San Salvador to Santa Ana by bus
In Santa Ana, I based myself at the Pool House Hostel.
​
Pool House Hostel Santa Ana El Salvador
Pool House Hostel Santa Ana El Salvador
​[Post sponsored by Pool House Hostel Santa Ana]
Pool House Hostel Santa Ana El Salvador
You can follow the Pool House Hostel on Facebook or message on Whatsapp: +50372468272
​
The town's sights are pretty close to each other. Here are my top things to see and do in Santa Ana:


Catedral de Nuestra Señora Santa Ana:
Catedral de Nuestra Señora Santa Ana
Catedral de Nuestra Señora Santa Ana
A beautiful neo-gothic cathedral, built in 1575/6. As I backpacked Santa Ana on my first afternoon with my roomie, we were lucky that it was open and could enter.

Teatro Nacional de Santa Ana:
Teatro Nacional Sanra Ana
​Built between 1902 and 1910 it was declared a national monument in 1982 and restoration began in 1987.

Palacio Municipal de Santa Ana:
Palacio Miunicipal de Santa Ana
​Built between 1874 and 1878. Notice the clock? 

Drink a beer at Simmer Down:
Simmer Down Santa Ana El Salvador
​Simmer Down is a restaurant/bar right next to the Catedral de Nuestra Señora. Make sure you head up to the 1st floor for the best views and catch the breeze.
Simmer Down in Santa Ana El Salvador
Simmer Down in Santa Ana El Salvador
​All the above are directly around the Parque Libertad. And here you'll find the Monumento de la Libertad and I ❤ Santa Ana sign.
Backpacking in Santa Ana El Salvador
Monumento de la Libertad, Santa Ana El Salvador
Ruinas de Escuela de las Artes:

It was used as an art school as far back as 1855 until it closed in the 1970s due to damage to the roof.

Ordinarily, I think it's closed but they were setting it up to host a performance, so I just wandered in, said a few 'buenas tardes' and had a good look exploring what is left of it.
Ruinas de Escuela de las Artes Santa Ana
Ruinas de Escuela de las Artes Santa Ana
Ruinas de Escuela de las Artes Santa Ana
Ruinas de Escuela de las Artes Santa Ana
Santa Ana is a great base to explore the surrounding area.

In my days here, I backpacked the Sitio Arqueológico El Tazumal and the Parque Arqueológico Casa Blanca, both in nearby Chalchuapa, I explored the Ruta de Las Flores as a day trip, and will be hiking the Santa Ana Volcano soon, so quite a busy time and you know, each post is taking around 6 hours of non-stop work to produce so make sure you  check for the latest posts on 
Twitter.

I blog as I go. It's a lot of work but rewarding.

The blog is funded by donations so if you can spare a few bucks.

Tagged under El Salvador

​Support The Blog

Donate with PayPal
support me on kofi
Next Post:

​Backpacking the Sitio Arqueológico El Tazumal in Chalchuapa | El Salvador

Previous Post:

​Day Trip to La Libertad | El Salvador

Related Posts:


Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.
  • HOME
  • About
    • ABOUT Me
    • About the Blog
  • Sitemap
  • ADVERTISE
  • BORDER CROSSINGS
  • DONATE
  • CONTACT
  • Travel Advice
  • Top 3 Fav Countries
  • destinations
    • United Kingdom
    • Belize
    • Honduras
    • Panama
    • Costa Rica
    • Nicaragua
    • El Salvador
    • Guatemala
    • Mexico
    • Africa
    • Turkey
    • The Balkans
​