make it better!
Don't just see Suchitoto,
Uncover and explore our colonial gem of a town while giving back to the community with our exclusive community-based tours in English, French and Spanish.
Our epic tours:
HIGHLIGHTS
TOUR OVERVIEW
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This is our Best Seller Tour containing Nature, History, and our signature exclusive BBQ at the waterfalls.
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One of the world's most unique walking tours is at the Central Plaza of Cinquera
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A founder of the Guerrilla Rebel Forces of El Salvador shares his story with us
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A myriad of El Salvador's 80s Civil War memorabilia along the trail
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The exceptional natural diversity of El Salvador's 2nd largest nature reserve
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An incomparable viewpoint of the northern half of El Salvador
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A crystal-clear swimmable waterfall at the end of the hike
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Our signature finger-licking BBQ and drinks at the waterfall
Style Guided Hike + BBQ
Difficulty Moderate
Activity 1.5 to 2 hours hiking
Distance 3.5 kms
Tour Duration 6 hours
Start / Finish 7 am / 1:30 pm
Cost $50 per participant
Minimum 4 participants
DESCRIPTION
Aka "Little Vietnam", this rebel village was literally wiped off the official map during El Salvador's 12-year civil war in the 80s. Don Rafael, war name "Santos", will take us back in time to said war. Hearing first-hand stories from someone who fought in the conflict is a surreal treat.
We'll enter El Salvador's second-largest nature reserve to hike the "Guerrilla Trail" while the forest canopy shelters us from the sun throughout the entire hike. We'll make stations around every 20 minutes to rest, examine local flora/fauna, and interpret memorabilia of the war. The trail includes the ruins of an Indigo Color processing pool, Guerrilla trenches, a Vietnamese-style kitchen, a Guerilla campsite, a Guerrilla hospital, and a fire-control tower with an unmatched viewpoint.
At the end of the hike, we cool off by swimming in "El Salto" crystal-clear waterfalls. The water might be cloudy during the rainy season from May to October. There, our signature finger-licking BBQ and drinks will be waiting for us. There are options for everyone: vegan, vegetarian, beef, and chicken BBQ with grilled vegetables on the side. A cold drink is also included: beer, soda, or water. For dessert, grilled pineapple will be served. Our BBQ is hosted by rebel-family-issued Lupita, owner and Head Chef of Suchitoto's tastiest restaurant "La Lupita del Portal" and her talented cooking staff.
The BBQ requires a minimum of 8 participants. Otherwise, this tour can still run, without the BBQ, with a minimum of 4 participants for $40 per participant.
Finally, we'll drive 5 minutes to Cinquera's Central Plaza to do one of the most unique walking tours in the world. Their distinctive central square showcases a war memorial made with half of a US military aircraft taken down in 1991 by Don Rafael and his friends, surrounded by AK-47s (Russian assault rifles) and G3s (German assault rifles) used by rebels to take down aircraft. The central church displays several bombshells of unexploded 1000 and 500 lbs bombs dropped by American bomber planes. The local priest uses them as bells. He hits these bombshells with a rock when he needs to call for mass!
These are some of the extraordinary humans you will meet in our community-based tours:
Daniel
Abarca
Chief Guide
Perfectly trilingual
(in French, English, and Spanish),
passionate rockstar, engaging expert, and highly knowledgeable in history and nature.
Dany will make you not just explore, but also understand and love El Salvador (as you should).
Roberto
Hernández
Transport Specialist
For all our epic tours,
the Hernández family ensures the comfiest, cleanest, most professional, timeliest, Air Conditioned, and Bluetooth-equipped transport units.
5 of his 7 sons pilot our fleet and are critical elements of our top-quality service.
Mireya
Mayorga
Tour Guide
Botanical specialist, terrific guide, charming goth tattoo artist. She'll spread her keenness about her country on to you.
She's the founder of "Heartist Tattoo Studios" with locations both in Suchitoto and in Juayua.
Lupita
Zuniga
Head Chef
Founder of Suchitoto's finest Restaurant: "Lupita del Portal". Chairwoman of Suchitoto's "Culture Committee". Issued from an ex Rebel Family. She leads our cooking staff of 4 members, delighting us with our exclusive finger-licking BBQ included in our Civil War Hike.
Rafael Hernández
War Historian
Founder of the Guerrilla Rebel Forces of El Salvador,
quick-to-smile, ex military trainer in the 80s, with 18 years of experience as a Forest Ranger and Tour Guide.
Hearing first-hand stories from Don Rafael, who fought in the conflict, is a surreal treat.
Irma
Guadrón
Indigo Artist
For many generations, Irma's family has been keeping the art of organic-vegan indigo cultivation, production and use of ancestral dye techniques to create the most delightful art pieces. Her indigo workshop will enrich your impression of the charming town of Suchitoto.
Laura
Peña
Cigar Roller
With 70+ years of experience rolling natural tobacco cigars by hand, Doña Laura comes from the 3rd generation of Cigar-rolling women of Suchitoto. Paying her family a visit to learn how to roll cigars in her 200+ years old house, is a highlight of Suchitoto.
Peggy
O'Neill
Peace Director
Founder and director of "Centro Arte para la Paz" (Arts for Peace Center), this Sister of Charity heroine assisted and accompanied our refugees during our raging Civil War in the 80s. She's been helping Suchitoto's cultural and social development non-stop ever since.
