With its 1,973 hectares, Montecristo National Park is the ideal destination for those who wish to get in touch with nature. Its misty forest enjoys an incomparable beauty that would be impossible to describe.
It is a protected area where you can enjoy an excellent climate and the most important flora and fauna of El Salvador. It, in turn, allows you to come into direct contact with all species in their natural habitat.
MONTECRISTO NATIONAL PARK - National Parks of El Salvador. Photo by ElSalvadorViajar.
So, if you want a different vacation experience in Montecristo National Park, you can enjoy a spacious natural garden that will leave you speechless. But what activities await you? We will talk about that and more below.
Montecristo National Park Data
| Country: | El Salvador |
|---|---|
| Category: | National Parks |
| Department: | Santa Ana |
| Surface: | 19,73 km² |
| Tip : | Ideal for camping and enjoying nature |
Location of Montecristo National Park
Activities we can do in Montecristo National Park.
Part of the attractions of Montecristo National Park is its landscapes, making it inevitable to take advantage of the opportunity to take stunning photographs. In addition to observing wildlife and any number of species in their environment.
The environment, shape, smell, and even the smallest detail make this park the perfect destination to share with family and friends, where recreational activities reflect the many ways to enjoy nature.
Without further ado, here are some things you can see and do in Montecristo National Park during your visit.
Hiking
Montecristo National Park has three hills that you can visit without any problems. We are talking about Miramundo at 2,393 meters above sea level, El Brujo at 2,140 meters above sea level, and Montecristo at 2,418 meters above sea level. You can enjoy a fantastic view of the surroundings from different heights.
But, if you reach the highest point, you will be precisely at the Trifinio Point. It has been given this name because it is where the border between El Salvador, Honduras, and Guatemala is located.
On the other hand, although the trails are marked, the park has guides that offer you a complete tour through the forest. They will take you through those trails where you can see the most emblematic fauna of the place in its habitat.
Hiking to viewpoints and general areas
As mentioned above, Montecristo National Park has a large number of trails. Many go up to the hills, and others have detours leading to the viewpoints.
If you want to get to these points, you can request a tour from park guides. From there, you can take the pictures you like while discovering all the magic in this forest.
Camping in Montecristo National Park
What could be better than arriving and discovering that you don’t have to take a day tour but that you can camp inside Montecristo National Park?. For this purpose, the park rangers have designated some places for this activity.
But you can also rent one of the cabins available for tourists. They all have essential services such as electricity, water, showers, and a kitchen.
Price and visiting hours
One aspect that makes Montecristo National Park an ideal vacation destination is that you can camp and stay inside the facilities. All services are priced per day, which are as follows:
- The entrance fee for nationals is 3.00 USD, and for students with ID is 0.50 USD.
- Parking for light cars is 1.00 USD, and 2.00 USD for heavy vehicles.
- Camping areas cost 5.00 USD per person.
On the other hand, the schedules are a fundamental part of the park’s operation since this is the way to control the entrance of tourists and the time they spend in the park.
- Entrance from 7:30 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
- The cabins are delivered at midnight.
- Departure time 3:00 p.m.
Location, origin, and history of Montecristo National Park
Montecristo Natural Reserve was the first area declared National Park in El Salvador in 1987. It is located in Metapán, in the Department of Santa Ana.
Its highest peak is Montecristo Hill, known as the Trifinio Point, as it is part of the border between El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras. On the other hand, it has a colonial town dating from 1783 that was used for mining.
Later, it became a hacienda where sugar cane, coffee, and wheat, among others, were cultivated. In 1932, the San José River flooded, causing great destruction in Metapán.
After these events, the exploitation of the area was prohibited. That was when in 1973, the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock acquired the land. As a result, it received the title of forest reserve until it was later declared a national park, now under the responsibility of MARN.
Climate, flora, and fauna of Montecristo National Park
The climate in Montecristo National Park depends on factors such as altitude and the year’s seasons. The average annual temperature is between 16 ºC and 25 ºC, dropping in winter to 0 ºC at its highest point.
Due to the climatic conditions, the park is the perfect refuge for many species. In the case of flora, arboreal specimens are more than 700 years old and 30 meters high.
You can see oaks, pines, and coppices. But, the most important and remarkable is the 100 years old garden, because here you can find a variety of orchids unique to El Salvador and first discover in Germany.
In addition, there are another 200 species of orchids of equal importance. As well as 21 types of ferns, 20 types of fungi, and approximately 42 varieties of pines, among others.
The fauna in Montecristo National Park is another of its outstanding attractions. Through the trails, observing white-tailed deer, porcupines, black shrews, and 343 other species of mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians will be effortless.
Recommendations for your visit
Given the number of tourists that come to Montecristo National Park, daily access is limited. Similarly, some regulations must be fully complied with to ensure the safety of other visitors. Such is the case of:
- Make a reservation to access the park in advance. To do this, you must fill out the application form available on the official website MARN.gob.SV. Or by calling +503 2123-6220 / 2123-6239 / 7850-9056.
- Between May and October, the cloud forest is closed to the public, and it’s because it is the breeding season for the fauna in the area. However, the camping areas, Casco Colonial, and the trails to the viewpoints remain open.
- Do not carry alcoholic beverages or narcotics, cigarettes or similar, firearms, bladed weapons, or pets.
- Wear comfortable clothes and shoes considering the climate of the park and the activities you wish to do. If you are going hiking, you should have an extra pair of shoes due to the humidity of the environment.
- Bring your food and plenty of water for your stay.
- Bring bags for waste.
- Avoid loud sounds to avoid affecting the fauna or disturbing the rest of the tourists.
- Given the conditions of access to the park, it is recommended to enter in non-automatic vehicles.
Nearby places to visit
If you like everything Montecristo National Park offers, you can take advantage of other tourist attractions in the Department of Santa Ana. In the Municipality of Metapán, you will find the Lake Güija, the Metapán Lagoon, and the Cuscachapa Lagoon.
Here you can perform activities such as jogging, fishing, boating, and touring the area to enjoy all the vegetation. But this is not the only thing you will find here, because in this region you will also find one of the eight most beautiful lakes in the world.
We are talking about Coatepeque Lake, which can be fully appreciated from the Santa Ana Volcano, another favorite destination for tourists. In addition to the above, you can also visit Cerro Verde, the Apuzunga Turicenter, and the Tazumal Archaeological Site in your itinerary.
In short, in Santa Ana, you will find all kinds of attractions and places to visit, and you will have no choice but to organize a new vacation to the department. Of course, you can also discover and learn about its rich history.
But what can we say about its gastronomy? The traditional and emblematic dishes of the region are so varied that you can eat whatever you want. Yuca sancochada, fried yucca, pupusas stuffed with chicken, fish, beans, and sweets are known as borrachitos.
If you prefer international dishes, you will find restaurants that offer varied menus of all kinds throughout the department. As well as lodging, cabins in the forest, and more, you must prepare your itinerary and come to know the Montecristo National Park and all its attractions.
