The village of San Miguel is the head of the department of the same name. Among its great tourist attractions are its beaches, rivers, lagoons, and a volcano that has given it the popular name of “town where the lava passes.”
Because of its attributes, location, and population density, it is ranked as the third most important city in El Salvador. So if you want to travel and know the town of San Miguel, here, we tell you what places to visit and a little about its history.
SAN MIGUEL - Villagesof El Salvador. Photo by hectorlo. Flickr.
San Miguel Data
| Country: | El Salvador |
|---|---|
| Category: | Villages |
| Department: | San Miguel |
| Elevation: | 129 m |
| Surface: | 593.98 km² |
| Patron Saint Festivities: | November 21 |
Location of San Miguel
What to see and visit in San Miguel
If something is particular, there are plenty of tourist options in the town of San Miguel. If you want to do rural tourism, you can visit buildings considered cultural and colonial heritage of the region.
One is the Museo Regional del Oriente, where you can enjoy different archaeological exhibits. Although it is not a large museum, its rich history is invaluable.
You will also have the opportunity to visit the Church of the Rosary, a temple built in the eighteenth century by the hand of José Matías Delgado. A brave man, hero, and hero of the independence of El Salvador.
Now, if you prefer to spend a few days enjoying the natural wealth of the town of Migueleño, you cannot miss two beautiful beaches. We are talking about El Cuco and Las Flores beach, and the best thing is that both are part of the sun and beach route of El Salvador.
They stand out for their black sands, gentle waves, and endless water activities to do. But if you prefer hiking or climbing a summit, there is nothing better than visiting the San Miguel or Chaparrastique Volcano.
A tour will take you to know San Miguel’s biodiversity, indescribable view, and splendid climate. But this is not all. You can also enjoy the Yamabal, Las Lajas, or Miraflores rivers, to mention a few.
You can enjoy unique water mirrors such as Olomega Lagoon, Jocotal, or Aramuaca. In short, San Miguel is a town that you can not miss and enjoy every last corner.
History and Characteristics
The first inhabitants of San Miguel were the Lenca people who, with the arrival of the colonizers, were displaced to other regions. This historical fact occurred in 1525 with the arrival of Pedro de Alvarado.
A few years later, he ordered Capt. Luis de Moscoso founded the city known as a town under the name of San Miguel de la Frontera. Thus, on May 8, 1530, the city was born and moved to its present location in 1586.
On the other hand, San Miguel, before and after independence, was considered the second most important city in the Salvadoran territory. To such an extent that it has been the economic capital of the eastern region of El Salvador for more than 500 years.
In addition, it is a town that enjoys the recognition of both foreign and national tourists because of its famous festivity known as the Carnival of San Miguel as part of its patron saint festivities.
Patron saint festivities and gastronomy
Among this beautiful city’s patron saint festivities, we can mention those of September 29 and 30 in honor of Saint Michael the Archangel and the Virgin of the Rosary, respectively. The most important is from November 21 of each year and is known as the Fair of La Paz in honor of Our Lady of La Paz.
During this festival, the great Carnival of San Miguel takes place, consisting of parades, concerts, and presentations of the region’s dances, among others. During the festivities, we can enjoy a whole gastronomic parade.
Where many of its traditional food are part of the culture of El Salvador as:
- Pupusas.
- Beans with rice.
- Thick tortilla.
- Sweet bread is known as marquesote.
- Chicken bread.
- Totopostes.
- Cipitio breads and more.
Nearby places to visit
Now that you know the most important of the city of San Miguel, do you want to know what other places you can visit? The Department of San Miguel has other municipalities and areas that will amaze you.
So if you have time to visit other places, we recommend the Quelepa Ruins with 40 platforms, and many still need to be excavated. You can continue your tour at the Cathedral Nuestra Señora de La Paz just before David J. Guzman Park.
If you want more, a walk to the Zacatillo Island, the Moncagua Caves, and the Francisco Gavidia National Theater awaits you. Undoubtedly, San Miguel is a paradise worthy of knowing and visiting, which is why its inhabitants call it the Pearl of the Orient.
