Budget-Friendly Things to Do in Santa Ana
THE 5 BEST Cheap Things to Do in Santa Ana
Best Budget-Friendly Things to Do in Santa Ana
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What travellers are saying
- TravelingFamilyTripChicago, IL194 contributionsThe hike up Santa Ana is really worth your time, and probably our favorite thing we did in our 4 days in El Salvador. It's a good hike that take s a bit of stamina, but nothing outrageous. Your strenuous hike is rewarded with a spectacular view of the green caldera lake, complete with sound effects of steam. hissing from vents around it.
There are options in between taking the very cheap, but very slow and early local bus and paying $80 pp for a standard group tour. Uber was available from Santa Ana, and it showed about $20 one-way. We opted for a driver arranged through our hostel, which was $20 pp. He got us there in less than half the time of the bus, and then stopped at a spot on Lake Coatepeque for lunch. Having a driver was nice in that we didn't have to worry so much about getting back for the 1:00 bus. It isn't a big deal, really, but we were a little more comfortable lingering at the summit longer since we didn't have to worry about the deadline.Written 28 February 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - QuakeupVictoria, Canada212 contributionsOne of the guides on the trail up Santa Ana Volcano suggested that hiking Izalco Volcano is about the same distance as Santa Ana, but double the exertion. He was right!
I joined a guided hike that started from the Cerro Verde parking lot at 11 AM. Our large group on this Sunday morning descended through a beautiful wooded switchback trail to the saddle that separates Cerro Verde from Izalco Volcano. From here it’s a 45° rise, which is hiked on a rough and rocky switchback trail. There are plenty of solid handholds if you need to pull yourself up in places.
It was amazing to see the steam vents seeping out of the rock as we neared the small crater rim. Izalco has retained its iconic cone shape, so it’s not very wide at the top or as interesting as the sweeping view inside the magnificent Santa Ana Volcano nearby. I was rewarded by the expansive views all the way into Guatemala to the north, Lago de Coatepeque to the east, San Salvador to the south, and the great blue sea of the Pacific to the west.
Enjoy a frozen ice cream novelty at the crater rim when you get there. Only $1.5 for a popsicle—wow!
This is an out and back trail, and we retraced our footsteps to the car park the way we came. Going down the volcano was easy, but the return up Cerro Verde was a tough slog because of the grade and distance. The saving grace is that this section is entirely in the shade.
Prices: I was charged $4 for park admission (including parking fee), plus $3 for the guide.
Hiking time: Guides suggest four hours. Took me three hours, because the guides eventually allow us to hike the last strenuous section at our own pace.Written 13 February 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - TravelingFamilyTripChicago, IL194 contributionsVery pretty and huge cathedral in the center of Santa Ana. Unfortunately, the facade was covered in scaffolding when we visited. But it is still nice to see and worth a walk through, though the interior is more modest than many other cathedrals.Written 28 February 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- TravelingFamilyTripChicago, IL194 contributionsWe wound up having lunch at the lakeshore one day, and at a restaurant on the cliffs around the lake another day. Both were really nice. The lake is famous for ocassionally changing colors, and we got to see a bit of this change-over in progress one of the days we were there. Very cool!Written 28 February 2023This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
- LolaGo1Washington DC, DC5,821 contributionsGlad that I visited it on my last day in Santa Ana! Entrance fee for foreigners is $5 plus $2 for the use of camera. I had an English speaking guide named Stephanie.
She explained the history of the theater and showed me its various areas. My favorite area is the salon where they do the dancing. On its sides are the separate areas for men and women. The paintings on the ceilings mouldings, chandeliers. etc are all very beautiful.
There are 3 levels or sections for the audience to sit. The top level is for the poor customers where the seats had been modernised. The bathroom at this level is modern and free to use during my visit.
There is a small museum on the right side of the theater (ground level). Highly recommende to visit!Written 17 December 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews. - TravelingSoccerLoonSaint Paul, MN2,446 contributionsBeautiful region. It was about a 90 min drive from San Salvador and I came up here on a personal guided tour with Centro America Tours. My guide Benjamin was excellent. The hike to the top of the Santa Ana Volcano was the highlight of my stay in El Salvador. My guide on the trail Herzon was great. 4 mile round trip hike that was moderately strenuous but beautiful views along the way including of the nearby Izalco Volcano. Sights and smells of the active volcano when we reached the top were awesome. Didn't see too much wildlife when visiting but it was midday. There is also an observation point with views of Lake Coatepque in the park. It was clouding up at this point in the afternoon but I could imagine this would be beautiful from photos that I've seen.Written 12 January 2022This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.