The Casa Blanca Archaeological Park (Parque Arqueológico Casa Blanca in Spanish) can be combined with a visit to the Tazumal Archaeological Site, making for a great day trip from Santa Ana.
Opening hours and entrance fees of Casa Blanca are similar to those at Tazumal. I visited during the pandemic in 2022. The details below are taken from the official Casa Blanca Archaeological website.
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm
Guided tour: 35 to 45 minutes
Capacity: 15 people per group
Admission: Salvadorans $1.00, Central Americans and foreign residents $3.00, and non-residents $5.00. Local residents, students with a valid ID, people with disabilities, seniors, and children under 12 are admitted free.
Casa Blanca means White House, so you can brag to your friends, maybe even post an Insta-selfie of you visiting the White House, and you wouldn’t be lying—except that this Casa Blanca is located just 12 km from the City of Santa Ana in El Salvador, Central America.
I took bus 214 from Santa Ana and got off coming into Chalchuapa. This particular bus continues to Atiquizaya, bypassing the main part of town, and in doing so, runs right past the entrance to Casa Blanca.
The site derives its name from a coffee plantation on which it is located, but has a history dating back to the Early Pre-Classic Period (1300 – 700 BC).
The earliest date at Chalchuapa is said to be 1200 BC and is one of the few settlements that had a continuous occupation for more than 3000 years.
The site became an important settlement with Maya influence.
Archaeologists say that the architectural features show influence from the Olmec of the Gulf Coast, Kaminaljuyu of the Guatemalan Highlands and the Izapa along the Pacific Coast.
The six structures found in Casa Blanca rest on an artificial platform, approximately 240 x 220 metres, and were built during the Late Classic Period (400 – 300 BC).
Structure 5, the largest at Casa Blanca Arqueologico Site, is a multi-tiered pyramid and has been partially restored, showing three phases of construction, with the last two dating back to the Late Classic Period. It has a height of 39 feet and a south-facing stairway that extends up to the first tier. And another to the second tier. A ruined temple stood on the top.
The Archaeological Window:
Here you can see the white layer of volcanic ash from the great eruption of Ilopango, 536 AD:
From archaeological studies, it is said that between 900 and 1524 AD, Casa Blanca became a centre of pilgrimage. A mass-burial with 45 individuals and another nine burial sites from different periods were found at Casa Blanca.
Studies revealed that they showed signs of decapitation and were thus victims of human sacrifice, which was a way to extend life after death.
After backpacking the Casa Blanca Archaeological Site, I walked to the Tazumal Archaeological Site before taking bus #218 back to Santa Ana:
