El Salvador is a country with an abundance of history, culture, and millenary traditions. We can find cities with a colonial aspect that make us travel back in time. But today, we want to talk about Cuscatlán Department, where its cities, mountains, forests, and rivers have become its main attraction.
A special place where tourism is conceived differently but still excellent. With natural landscapes that both nationals and foreigners love. To such an extent that week after week, more and more people visit the town of Cuscatlán and its surroundings.
CUSCATLÁN DEPARTMENT - Departments of El Salvador. Photo by ElSalvadorViajar.
Cuscatlán Data
| Country: | El Salvador |
|---|---|
| Category: | Departments |
| Capital: | Cojutepeque |
| Surface: | 756 km² |
| Population: | 286,23 hab/km² |
| Elevation: | 588 metros |
Location of Cuscatlán
What to see and do in Cuscatlán Department
Do you know what the most exciting thing about Cuscatlán is? Although it is one of the departments of El Salvador without access to the beach, it has other charming attractions. It started with the city of Suchitoto, Los Tercios, and even the Art Center for Peace.
Its areas for enjoyment, squares, rivers, and mountains are unique in the country, even considered city symbols. To know each one of them is to delve into its history while simultaneously, you can perform different activities that will make your vacation the best of all.
Without further ado, we invite you to discover what to see and do in Cuscatlán Department during your visit.
Monuments and places of interest
To talk about Cuscatlán is to refer to its cities and their attractions. Among them, the main and most visited by tourists is Suchitoto because almost all the tourist sites of the department are located here.
In addition, it is a city where you will not be able to see a before and after because everything has been stopped in time. Its cobblestone streets, facades, and everything in the environment are colonial. So when you arrive, you will feel an incomparable peace and tranquility.
Here you can also find the Art Center for Peace with its music workshops, a museum with permanent exhibitions, a hostel, and hire boat rides. But right in the center of town is one of the most critical architectural beauties of Cuscatlán.
We refer to the Santa Lucia Church and the Central Plaza of Suchitoto. Both are attractions of par excellence of the town and, by far, are a clear example of the ancient architecture of El Salvador.
In addition to the above, the San Martin Park Monument, the House of Alejandro Cotto, the Water Museum Project, and the Botanical Garden sites are intensely interesting in Cuscatlán. The latter represents innovation and environmental development for El Salvador.
Attractive places to visit
In Cuscatlán Department, you can do any activity you want, and you can choose hiking, rural tourism, swimming, fishing, or boat rides. So we recommend you visit the Cerro de Las Pavas.
A natural space where you can walk around without problems and connect with nature. The best thing is that there you will find the Grotto of the Virgin of Fatima, a place of pilgrimage every year.
In addition, when you reach the highest point, you can see the Jiboa Valley, the Chinchontepec Volcano, and Ilopango Lake. You can also go to Lake Suchitlán, where you can enjoy its waters. You can choose boat rides, ferry, kayaking, fishing, or enjoy the breathtaking scenery of its surroundings.
Other places you should visit in tCuscatlán Department are the caves of Los Fierros, El Guaro, and La Peña. In each of them, perfectly preserved petroglyphs have been found.
Of the three options, we recommend the route to La Peña because you can enjoy the Guaza River with its waterfall of more than 15 m high. On the other hand, we find the Cerro Guazapa between Cuscatlán and San Salvador.
Thousands of years ago, it was an active volcano of imposing strength. Its summit is 1,438 meters above sea level and is a favorite destination for the most adventurous.
Destinations near Cuscatlán that you should visit
As we have seen so far, in Cuscatlán Department, there are plenty of places to visit. That is why we want to show you others of great importance, which will surely put adrenaline into your vacation.
We start with Cerro Tecomatepe in Ciudad Vieja de Suchitoto. Although it has an altitude of only 950 meters above sea level, it is the source of the rivers that feed the Lempa River. Other mountains in Cuscatlán are Cerro Macance towards Quebrada Las Lágrimas and Cerro El Jiote near the Sirigual River.
You can have an ecotourism experience full of adrenaline and adventure in each of these places. Now, if you take a hike to the Mirador Lago Suchitlán, you will be able to see the center of the island El Ermitaño and everything around it.
Other options that we can recommend to finish the tour are the Sinacamapán River and the Los Tercios waterfall until you reach its viewpoint.
History of Cuscatlán Department
The origins of Cuscatlán Department date back to the time of the pre-Columbian Pipil tribes. Whose original name is Kuskatan, in Nahuatl means “Place of precious things.”
By then, it came to stand out as the capital of the kingdom of the indigenous monarchs. In the early sixteenth century, its leader was Topiltzín Acxitl. Then came Atlacatl, who became the lord of these lands until the arrival of the Spaniards.
Cojutepeque and Suchitoto constituted Cuscatlán in 1786, officially a department in 1,835. Its capital was Suchitoto, although, in 1861, this was changed by decree, passing the title to the city of Cojutepeque.
Geography and municipalities of Cuscatlán Department
Cuscatlán Department has an area of 756.19 km2. It is bordered by the departments of Chalatenango to the north, Cabañas to the east, San Vicente to the southeast, Lake Ilopango and La Paz to the south, and San Salvador to the west.
At its highest point are the sources of springs and rivers that feed the Lempa River and which allowed the creation of the Cerrón Grande reservoir. Which, in turn, is the largest artificial lake in El Salvador.
On the other hand, it is characterized as a mountainous region with plains and plains suitable for crop production. Such is the case of sugar cane, coffee, and various kinds of cereal. Cuscatlán is one of the 14 departments of El Salvador and is divided into 16 municipalities:
- Cojutepeque is the capital of Cuscatlán and has 6 cantons.
- Candelaria has 8 cantons.
- El Carmen with seven cantons.
- El Rosario with four cantons.
- Monte San Juan with ten cantons.
- Oratorio de Concepción with two cantons.
- San Bartolomé de Perulapía with 2 cantons.
- San Cristóbal with 6 cantons.
- San José Guayabal with 9 cantons.
- San Pedro Perulapán with 17 cantons.
- San Rafael Cedros with 6 cantons.
- San Ramón with 5 cantons.
- Santa Cruz Analquito with only one canton.
- Santa Cruz Michapa with six cantons.
- Suchitoto with 28 cantons.
- Tenancingo with ten cantons.
Climate, flora and fauna
The climate in Cuscatlán Department is Tropical Humid with annual temperatures of 20°C. During the rainy season, rainfall is approximately 1,500 mm. Regarding flora, there are 114 different tree species, 41 types of shrubs, and 12 epiphytes, including orchids.
There are ten types of amphibians, 27 species of reptiles, more than 150 types of birds, and 15 types of mammals. Some of these are gray squirrels, raccoons, snakes, wild cats, and ocelots.
Culture and customs in Cuscatlán Department
The typical costume is part of the culture and traditions of Cuscatlán Department. It is used during the most important celebrations of the town. It consists of a colorful dress with handmade sequins and a shawl. Its handmade manufacture makes it more attractive and with an elegant finish.
Another custom of the Cuscatleco people is the pilgrimage to the Cerro de Las Pavas during the festivities of the Virgin of Fatima. This tradition is more than 50 years old and consists of a one-kilometer walk to the cave.
Finally, every year it is customary to hold the Sugar Cane Festival organized by the Casa de la Cultura de Cojutepeque. It is one of the most important of the department, the election of the queen, contests, and craft samples of all kinds.
Festivals and gastronomy
In Cuscatlán, there is a tremendous religious sense that can be seen in its patron saint festivities, known as “Las Fiestas Enerinas.” Between January 15 and 29, the Immaculate Conception of Mary and Saint Sebastian Martyr, patron saints of the city, is celebrated.
Each day a different activity is organized, ranging from traditional dances, music, sales of typical dishes, and more. And what better time to enjoy the gastronomy of Cusco with some good sausages, sausages, and sausages, prepared by hand.
In addition, you must try the exquisite varieties of atol prepared here—a delight for the palate.
