Discover El Salvador’s Many Curious Sides

A small-group journey beyond the expected

November 4–11, 2026

Optional Add-On Extension: November 11–14, 2026

Reserve Your Spot

What is a CuriosiTrip?

A CuriosiTrip is an exploratory travel experience where curiosity leads the way.

We design our small-group trips to balance meaningful experiences, local culture, and spontaneous discoveries without rushing through a rigid “see everything” itinerary. Instead of checking off attractions, we focus on understanding a destination through its people, neighborhoods, landscapes, food, and stories—guided by curiosity.

Why El Salvador?

El Salvador may be the smallest country in Central America, but it offers an incredible variety of experiences within a relatively compact area. This small-group trip is designed to explore the country’s many sides while balancing culture, nature, discovery, and the freedom to follow our curiosity.

• Volcanic landscapes, scenic lakes, and mountain scenery

• Colorful towns, local markets, and communities with distinct identities

• Pacific coast beaches, surfing culture, and dramatic ocean views

• Layers of history spanning Indigenous heritage, colonial influences, and more recent events

• An opportunity to experience one of Central America’s fastest-changing destinations while it remains largely undiscovered by mainstream tourism

People gathering in front of the Palacio Nacional in San Salvador, El Salvador.

What to Expect?

A thoughtfully planned small-group trip with room for flexibility, community, and moments of wonder. Comfortable enough to enjoy the journey, adventurous enough to feel like you’re really exploring.

  • A curated experience with a balance of structure and spontaneity
  • Travel through multiple regions by private group transportation
  • A mix of cities, coast, mountains, lakes, and local communities
  • Time built in to explore, rest, or follow your own curiosity
  • Shared meals and a welcoming group atmosphere
  • Accommodations that reflect the character of each destination

Who This Is For

  • Curious travelers who want to experience a destination beyond its most famous sights
  • People who enjoy traveling with others while also having time to explore independently
  • Those who are open to different perspectives, cultural immersion, and embracing the unexpected
  • Travelers who appreciate a balance of thoughtful planning and spontaneous discovery
  • If you’re comfortable staying curious and saying “yes” to new experiences, you’ll fit right in
View overlooking a lake and surrounding hills in El Salvador

What’s Included:

  • Curated small-group experience throughout El Salvador
  • Private transportation, including airport transfers
  • 7 breakfasts, 5 additional meals, plus a welcome and farewell drink
  • Entrance fees for all included attractions and activities
  • Group leadership and coordination
  • Access to a private WhatsApp group with other attendees

Optional Add-On Extension: Participants adding the November 11–14 extension will also receive additional accommodations, transportation, meals, activities, and entrance fees associated with the add-on itinerary.

What’s Not Included:

  • Airfare
  • Visa fees or other entry requirements (if applicable)
  • Travel insurance (required)
  • Medical expenses or emergency evacuation costs
  • Some lunches, dinners, beverages, and snacks
  • Optional activities not specifically included
  • Personal expenses outside the included itinerary

Where We’ll Explore

From vibrant cities and Pacific beaches to colorful mountain towns and lesser-visited regions, this route showcases many of El Salvador’s diverse landscapes and communities. While the exact itinerary may evolve, the journey below reflects the places we plan to explore.

📍San Salvador

History, neighborhoods, museums, markets, and the energy of the capital.

📍Pacific Coast

Ocean views, black-sand beaches, surfing culture, and coastal communities.

📍Ruta de las Flores

A region of charming towns, mountain landscapes, coffee culture, and artisan traditions.

📍Santa Ana

One of El Salvador’s most important cities and a gateway to archaeological sites, volcanic landscapes, and the country’s rich historical heritage.

📍Suchitoto

A colonial lakeside town known for cobblestone streets, relaxed plazas, scenic boat rides on Lake Suchitlán, and timeless charm.

⭐ Optional Add-On Extension:

📍 Northeastern El Salvador

Discover another side of El Salvador as you explore Civil War history, resilient local communities, and one of the country’s most remote and historically significant regions while staying at an eco-lodge.

Visitors standing near a waterfall in El Salvador.

Sample Itinerary

Curiosity helps shape every CuriosiTrip, so think of this as a sample itinerary rather than a fixed schedule. Together we’ll explore El Salvador’s cities, coast, mountains, and places many visitors miss, but the exact order of activities and specific experiences may change based on local opportunities, weather, logistics, and other factors that help us make the most of our time together.

Please plan to arrive in El Salvador on Wednesday, November 4, so you’ll be rested and ready to begin our journey the following morning. Airport transfers are included for participants arriving that day.

If you arrive in time, you’re welcome to join us for an optional self-pay dinner. The meeting time and location will be shared with the group in advance via WhatsApp.

We’ll begin the day at El Boquerón National Park, where you’ll take in panoramic views of San Salvador and, for those feeling adventurous, test your courage on the 115-foot (35-meter) Rainbow Slide.

After a leisurely breakfast and time to explore the volcanic crater, we’ll return to San Salvador for a walking tour of the city’s Centro Histórico. Along the way we’ll visit stunning churches and cathedrals, the Palacio Nacional, Teatro Nacional, and other downtown landmarks.

We’ll also visit the Biblioteca Nacional de El Salvador, the country’s largest library, where we may have the opportunity to learn about Indigenous musical instruments. If time allows, you’ll have a chance to visit the library’s observation deck, art gallery, or other highlights of this remarkable cultural space.

After a full day of exploration, we’ll gather for our official welcome dinner to share highlights from the day and toast to the beginning of our journey together.

After breakfast, we’ll visit an important monument commemorating the 2001 earthquake before making our way south through the mountains toward El Salvador’s Pacific coast.

We’ll stop in La Libertad before continuing to the El Tunco/El Sunzal area, where we’ll spend the night in one of El Salvador’s best-known coastal destinations. There will be time to experience the region’s renowned surf culture, take in ocean views, and embrace the laid-back pace of life along the Pacific coast.

Today we’ll follow the coastal highway, passing through five tunnels as we make our way toward the Ruta de las Flores.


Along the way we’ll have our choice of waterfalls, colorful mountain villages, and scenic overlooks, leaving room for unexpected discoveries.

Depending on the day, we may wander through the labyrinth in Apaneca, explore colonial architecture in Juayúa, tour a coffee plantation or historic hacienda, or simply pull over when something catches our attention.

We’ll spend the night in the charming village of Concepción de Ataco, where vibrant murals, inviting pupuserías, artisan shops, and countryside views provide plenty to explore.

Today is our biggest travel day of the trip, but it also showcases some of El Salvador’s greatest diversity.

We’ll begin in Ahuachapán, a town in the coffee-growing highlands filled with colonial architecture, mosaic murals, geothermal hot springs, and lively local culture.

Next we’ll visit Tazumal, El Salvador’s best-preserved Maya archaeological site, where we’ll explore pyramids, an ancient ballcourt, sophisticated drainage systems, and an on-site museum.

We’ll likely stop for lunch in Santa Ana, El Salvador’s second-largest city, with time to admire its impressive colonial buildings and, if we’re lucky, visit an abandoned art school.

If time permits, we’ll continue to Joya de Cerén, the UNESCO World Heritage Site often called the “Pompeii of the Americas,” where volcanic ash preserved an entire farming village.

By evening we’ll arrive in the lakeside town of Suchitoto, where we’ll spend the next two nights with time to slow down and enjoy one of the country’s most captivating destinations.

This day is all about slowing down and embracing the relaxed pace of life in Suchitoto.


We’ll explore the village together, giving you ideas for the afternoon ahead. If it’s open, we’ll visit the Alejandro Cotto Museum, the former home of El Salvador’s most celebrated film director, where the grounds and sweeping lake views are worth the visit alone.

After lunch together, you’ll have free time to choose your own adventure. You might visit a nearby waterfall, take a boat ride on Lake Suchitlán, explore the cathedral, browse local shops, or settle into a café and watch daily life unfold around the central plaza.

On our journey back to San Salvador, we’ll stop at La Puerta del Diablo (“Devil’s Gate”), a dramatic rock formation offering a panoramic view. The short hike is moderately challenging in places, but the reward is a memorable farewell to El Salvador’s volcanic scenery.

Back in the capital, you’ll have free time to relax, pick up any last-minute souvenirs, or finish packing before we gather for our farewell dinner to celebrate a week of curiosity, connection, and exploration.

Departure Day


Enjoy one final breakfast before included airport transfers for participants departing today. We hope you’ll leave with wonderful memories, new friendships, and a deeper appreciation for the many sides of El Salvador.

Colorful folk art mural in La Palma, El Salvador.

⭐ Optional Add-On Extension

Not ready to head home? Continue the journey into northeastern El Salvador to discover a region that tells an entirely different story about the country.

Today we’ll travel into the remote and mountainous Morazán Department of northeastern El Salvador, where we’ll spend the next two nights exploring one of the country’s most overlooked regions.

Along the way we’ll stop for lunch in San Miguel, El Salvador’s third-largest city, with time to visit the impressive Catedral Basílica Nuestra Señora de la Paz and perhaps stroll through the city’s central park before continuing toward Perquín.

By evening we’ll settle into our mountain eco-lodge, where we’ll have time to relax, enjoy dinner together, and prepare for tomorrow’s exploration of the region’s history and communities.

We’ll deepen our understanding of El Salvador’s Civil War with a visit to the Museo de la Revolución Salvadoreña (also known as the Museum of the Conflict) in Perquín.

Not far away lies the tiny village of El Mozote, where nearly 1,000 civilians, including more than 500 children, lost their lives during one of the most tragic events of the Civil War. We’ll visit the memorial plaza and the Monumento a La Paz y La Reconciliación as we reflect on this important chapter in the country’s history.

Later, we’ll enjoy lunch and a refreshing stop at a nearby waterfall before spending the afternoon exploring villages throughout the region and gaining a deeper appreciation for rural life in El Salvador. Time permitting, we may return to our eco-lodge with time to unwind before dinner.

Today we’ll make our way back to San Salvador, with plenty of opportunities to stop and admire the mountain vistas along the winding roads.

Before returning to the bustle of the capital, we’ll enjoy scenic views of Lake Ilopango along its southern shoreline.

We’ll conclude our extension with a farewell dinner, sharing memories from the journey and celebrating a deeper appreciation for one of El Salvador’s most unique regions.

After one final breakfast together, we’ll head to El Salvador International Airport for your flight home.

Thank you for continuing the journey with us. We hope you’ll leave with not only wonderful memories, but also the satisfaction of having experienced a side of El Salvador that relatively few travelers ever see. May this trip inspire curiosity wherever your travels take you next.

Boat carrying visitors on a lake in El Salvador

Pricing

Main Trip
$1,795

Main Trip + Extension
$2,195

Prices listed in USD. Subject to availability.

Before You Register

A $500 non-refundable deposit is required to reserve your spot

Final payment is due September 15, 2026

Travel insurance is required

Please review the CuriosiTrip Terms and Conditions

Please review the El Salvador Trip-Specific Terms and Conditions

Complete the reservation form below to get started:

Reserve Your Spot!

Payment Options

The listed prices reflect payment by fee-free methods such as Zelle or Venmo.

Credit card payments are also available through our secure online payment system for a small additional processing fee.

After Registration Is Confirmed

Once your registration is confirmed, here’s what you can expect:

  • Invitation to the private WhatsApp group
  • Opportunities to connect with fellow travelers
  • Flight coordination and arrival information
  • Support with pre-trip planning and logistics
  • Packing tips and final itinerary updates
Sun setting over the Pacific Ocean in El Salvador

What Past Travelers Are Saying

John The Traveler is your perfect guide if you are looking for something a little different. He fully embraces “curiosity” and allows you to experience it with him.

If you’re looking for a trip with other curious individuals who like to explore new places then taking a CuriosiTrip may be perfect for you! You’ll be delighted by a mixture of local flavors both cultural and food.

I am generally not a fan of multi-day group tours (even when the group is smaller), but the CuriosiTrip was not a typical group tour. It felt like we were just hanging out with new friends, rather than trying to rush through a firm itinerary. I’d book another CuriosiTrip with John the Traveler!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Reserving your spot is easy. Simply complete the reservation form and submit your $500 deposit. Once we’ve received both, your reservation is confirmed.

We’ll then follow up with information about your remaining balance, travel details, and other trip logistics as we get closer to departure.

A non-refundable $500 deposit is required to reserve your spot. The remaining balance is due by September 15, 2026.


Reservations made after September 15 require payment in full at the time of booking, subject to availability.

If you have questions about payment timing or options, please don’t hesitate to reach out.

We accept payments via Venmo, Zelle, and credit card. Listed pricing reflects fee-free payment methods. Credit card payments are processed securely through Stripe, and Stripe’s standard processing fee applies.

If you prefer a different payment method or have questions about payment, please contact us at curious@johnthetraveler.com.

Travel insurance is required because unexpected situations can happen before or during a trip. Trip cancellations, medical emergencies, travel delays, lost baggage, and other unforeseen events can quickly become expensive without adequate coverage.

We’ve had positive experiences with Allianz and have been using their annual plans for our own frequent travels. If you’d like to compare policies from multiple providers, Insure My Trip is another excellent resource. These are simply two options to help you begin your research. You’re welcome to purchase travel insurance from any provider that meets the trip requirements.

By registering for this trip, you agree to obtain travel insurance that meets the trip requirements. You may be asked to provide proof of coverage prior to departure. If you have any questions about this requirement, please don’t hesitate to contact us.

Absolutely! You’re still welcome to join us.

We strongly encourage participants to download WhatsApp, as it will be our primary way of communicating before and during the trip. We’ll use it to share meeting points, schedule updates, photos, and other important information with the group.

If you’re unable or prefer not to use WhatsApp, please let us know in advance and we’ll do our best to make sure you stay informed throughout the trip.

We firmly believe that age ain’t nothing but a number! That said, CuriosiTrips are designed for adults and are not intended for children or minors.

Our travelers come from a variety of backgrounds, but they tend to share a few things in common: curiosity, flexibility, respect for local cultures, and an enthusiasm for exploring on foot. We won’t be partying all day, but we won’t be sitting around either.

Most participants are likely to fall somewhere between the ages of 35 and 75, but there is no upper age limit. If you’re comfortable with the activity level and excited to explore with an open mind, you’ll fit right in.

Solo travelers, couples, friends, and parents traveling with their adult children are all welcome.

Compared with many CuriosiTrips, this one involves less walking because we’ll travel primarily by private vehicle between destinations. That said, you’ll still want to be comfortable with moderate walking throughout the day, especially in San Salvador and the smaller towns we visit.

Some sites, including El Boquerón Volcano, the Maya ruins at Tazumal, La Puerta del Diablo, as well as a few historic villages, involve hills, uneven terrain, stairs, or short hikes. We won’t be rushing from place to place, and there will be opportunities throughout the day to rest, stretch, and enjoy the surroundings.

We recommend bringing comfortable walking shoes that can also handle light hiking, along with sun protection such as a hat and sunscreen.

If you have mobility or accessibility concerns, please contact us before registering. While we can’t guarantee that every location will be accessible, we’ll be happy to discuss the itinerary with you and help you determine whether this trip is a good fit.

CuriosiTrips don’t have a fixed rule about accommodations. This happens to be the first CuriosiTrip that explores beyond a single city, allowing us to experience several very different regions of El Salvador.

Including accommodations makes the trip much more efficient for everyone. Rather than coordinating separate lodging and pickup locations, staying together allows us to maximize our time exploring, minimize unnecessary travel, and keep the experience running smoothly from one destination to the next.

Most importantly, it lets us focus less on logistics and more on discovering everything El Salvador has to offer.

CuriosiTrips are priced based on shared accommodations. If you’re traveling solo, we’ll do our best to pair you with a same-gender roommate. If you’re traveling with someone you know or have a specific roommate request, we’ll do our best to honor it. If you’d prefer a private room, a single supplement may be available for an additional cost, subject to availability. We’ll ask about your room preferences after you’ve reserved your spot.

This trip is designed with some free time built into the itinerary, allowing you to explore on your own or with new friends. During these periods, you’re welcome to relax, visit additional sites, or simply enjoy the destination at your own pace.

Some days will naturally have more free time than others. If you’d prefer to skip an optional activity in favor of relaxing, that’s perfectly fine as long as it doesn’t disrupt the group or affect our travel schedule between destinations.

We strive to balance busy sightseeing days with opportunities to slow down and recharge. We’ll also be happy to suggest activities for anyone who wants to make the most of their free time in El Salvador.

El Salvador has changed dramatically in recent years and is attracting a growing number of international visitors who are discovering a country many had previously overlooked. While outdated perceptions still exist, today’s reality is very different from what many people remember.

We’ve carefully researched and planned this CuriosiTrip to focus on destinations that offer an enjoyable and rewarding experience while avoiding unnecessary risks. We’ll travel together in a private vehicle with a local driver and encourage the same common-sense precautions you would use anywhere in the world.

No destination is completely risk-free, but we’re excited to experience this remarkable country at a time when so many travelers are just beginning to discover it for themselves.

The best way to arrive is to fly into El Salvador International Airport (SAL), located about 40 kilometers (25 miles) from San Salvador. The drive to the city typically takes around 30 minutes, depending on traffic. Airport transfers on the official arrival and departure dates (November 4 and November 11 or 14) are included in the cost of this CuriosiTrip.

SAL is well-connected to major cities throughout North America and Latin America. We’ll be happy to provide guidance on flights and arrival times once your reservation is confirmed.

This trip requires a minimum number of participants to operate. If that minimum is not reached, all registered participants will be notified promptly.

In that event, all payments made directly to us for this CuriosiTrip will be refunded in full. Please note that we are not responsible for any additional costs you may incur, such as non-refundable flights or other personal travel arrangements. This is one reason why travel insurance is required.

Ready to Explore El Salvador?

If this CuriosiTrip sounds like the kind of adventure you’ve been looking for, we’d love to have you join us.

Reserve Your Spot
View of a volcano framed by trees in El Salvador

Photographs featured on this page may include images courtesy of Martin Norman, used with permission, along with licensed images from Unsplash and Pexels.