Coatepeque Lake is a huge sizeable volcanic lake built millions of years ago after the eruption in the center of the Coatepeque volcano in the center of the volcanic complex in the northwest of the country, in the department of Santa Ana.
You can kayak, sail, snorkel, dive, jetski, SUP and enjoy great meals on the shore of the lake. There are a few lakeside hotels, but the area is tranquil, and most visitors come on weekends.
COATEPEQUE LAKE - Lakes of El Salvador. Photo by ElSalvadorViajar.
Coatepeque Lake Data
| Country: | El Salvador |
|---|---|
| Department: | Santa Ana |
| Category: | Lakes |
| Extension: | 25.3 km² |
| Opening Hours: | Open 24 hours |
| Price: | Free |
Location of Coatepeque Lake
Location, Origin and History of Coatepeque Lake
Located about 18 kilometers south of the city of Santa Ana and just over an hour from San Salvador, we find Coatepeque Lake, at an altitude of 745 meters above sea level, with a depth of 115 meters and an area of 25.3 km², where locals and tourists enjoy the practice of countless activities to please all tastes.
This paradisiacal enclave, declared a Center of National Tourist Interest, is a volcanic caldera resulting from an eruption between 57,000 and 72,000 B.C. Subsequently, slag domes and lava flows were formed, along with six other lava domes. Of these domes, the most recent began around 8000 BC.
There are also other vital formations in Coatepeque Lake; two small peninsulas called Los Anteojos and Isla del Cerro.
The latter was the base of a temple and a monolith representing the goddess Itzqueyé, worshiped by the Nahua Indians, who named this beautiful lake Cerro de Culebras, meaning Coatepeque in their language, Nahuatl.
Also, in its center is the beautiful and cozy island of Teopán, one of the place’s main attractions.
As part of the country’s culture, you must know a legend about Coatepeque lake. The best known is the Legend of Tabudo, a wealthy man who lives in his mansion near the lake and gets lost in its waters, trapped in the realm of the Goddess of Fresh Water, Itzqueyé. The subject was physically transformed and then began to appear, helping fishermen and serving as a guide to all visitors.
Climate, Flora and Fauna in Coatepeque lake
The average annual climate that we can enjoy in Coatepeque Lake is a temperature that varies between 17°C to 31°C, rarely dropping below 14°C or above 33°C. The dry season is characterized by clear skies, with lots of wind and humidity. During the rainy season, we will see cloudy skies and abundant rainfall.
We could say that its climate is dry and hot during the year, of the Pampean or humid subtropical type.
The diversity of habitats in the area is impressive, ranging from high altitude paramo, cloud forests, sulfurous lagoon vegetation on lava, and bare lava, to modified habitats such as forest plantations; coffee, pastures; crops of corn, sugar cane, and mangoes.
On the other hand, the exceptional high altitude páramo contains mixed flowers, grasses, hemlocks, and agaves.
Likewise, the forest area has ceibas and cypresses. In the cloud forests, you can admire the natural wonder of the symbiosis between the Culebro and the Mano de León. Also of the Aguacatillo de Montaña, or Alais, with the species they support, such as araceae, bromeliads and orchids, lichens and mosses, ferns and cacti.
We find foxes, rabbits, gray and brown squirrels, white-tailed deer, and coatis among the fauna. And as for the birds, we will see charas, black-crested eagles, the quiscal or zanate, the white-winged dove, and green toucans.
We have green iguanas, timbous snakes, and cat’s eyes among the reptiles. In the same way, amphibious species make life in the area, such as maki frogs and cave frogs.
This biodiversity allows for a formidable coexistence of unique plant and animal communities, all native to the northern Central American region.
Recommendations for your visit
- In Coatepeque Lake, children must be accompanied by an adult.
- Remember that alcohol consumption is allowed only for people over 18 years old.
- It recommends wearing comfortable clothes, a sweater, and a bathing suit.
- Shoes should be suitable for walking and climbing.
- It is essential to wear a hat, sunglasses, and sunscreen.
- It is advisable to bring enough water and some light food to make the hikes to the top of the lake.
Activities we can perform
In Coatepeque, you have an extensive area to practice active sports, starting with ecotourism, since this extraordinary destination has the conditions to explore the nature of the place, as well as the observation of resident and migratory birds, so we can not forget our camera.
You can even hike around the lake or venture into the practice of hiking or mountain biking if you have the physical conditions to go up in their places.
Water activities are the most requested, so you should not miss the opportunity to go scuba diving or snorkeling, windsurfing, sailing, jet skiing, or kayaking.
Moreover, you can even take a ferry to visit the island of Teopán, and if you prefer, you can go fishing or swimming, considering that in certain areas, Coatepeque Lake is thermal.
On this journey, you can’t miss the impressive panoramic views from the different viewpoints towards the Santa Ana and Cerro Verde volcanoes. At the same time, tasting the typical and international gastronomy dishes in the restaurants installed on the lake’s edges offers the best view of this great mirror of water, which transitions from an intense blue tone to turquoise in a cyclical way.
The natural environment surrounding the lake and everything we can enjoy in its facilities creates the perfect domain to spend one or more days in this Salvadoran paradise. There are multiple hotels near the shore of Coatepeque lake and cottages for rent to make the most of the stay in this fascinating place.
It should note that the best time of the year to visit it is from late November to mid-March.
Prices and visiting hours
- Entrance to Coatepeque Lake is complimentary, at no cost, and in public areas, the price for the use of the facilities is quite economical.
- Some of the restaurants in the area offer services to the facilities for consumption on the premises. At the same time, guided tours have an additional cost and vary depending on the tour type.
- If we talk about lake activities, equipment rental or tours on the lake are done on-site or may be included in your tour package.
- The visiting hours to the lake start from 8 am to 9 pm approximately, every day of the year.
Places near Coatepeque Lake that we can visit
Taking advantage of the stay in Coatepeque lake, we can make exciting walks and excursions in nearby places.
First, we recommend a tour of the Santa Ana Volcano in the Apaneca-Ilamatepec Mountain Range. Start the journey from the city of Santa Ana, about 27 km by road from the lake. For the ascent to the top of this colossus, it is recommended to do the tour with a specialized guide and wear appropriate clothing and footwear. It’s the highest in the country.
Now, if what you want is to know the city, here you will find monuments and beautiful places, such as the Cathedral of Santa Ana, which is considered by many a must-see. Or perhaps visit the National Theater of Santa Ana and the School of Arts, among other buildings surrounding Libertad Park, a favorite meeting place for the people of San Juan.
Just 8km from the city, we can take a Coffee Tour through the Finca La Esperanza. An unforgettable route through coffee plantations, where you can learn about the whole process of coffee production from its planting while enjoying the surrounding landscape and tasting one or more cups of this delicious and stimulating beverage.
Undoubtedly, it is worth stopping at Coatepeque Lake if you visit El Salvador, a unique experience in this fantastic natural treasure that has competed to be named the Eighth Natural Wonder of the World, being in second place for its beauty.
