On July 8, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office relaxed its travel advice opening up the prospect of a holiday to the amber list country of El Salvador for the fully vaccinated, without the need to quarantine on the return.

Often overshadowed by Central America's biggest hitters, Costa Rica, Guatemala and Belize, pocket-sized El Salvador is a rising star in Central America that holds enormous appeal to those with an appetite for adventure. Specialist tour operator Journey Latin America reveals seven surprising reasons to consider a visit.

EXQUISITE LANDSCAPES

The spectacularly scenic Ruta de las Flores winds its way through the coffee heartland and is dotted with picturesque highland villages across its landscape. Alternatively, head to Los Volcanos National Park for an exhilarating adventure where you can trek up the slopes of volcanoes and into the craters.

FASCINATING HISTORY

Discover the country's most important Mayan site, buried for centuries under volcanic ash. Drawing comparisons with Pompeii, Joya de Cerén, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, was a pre-Hispanic farming community which was buried beneath lava following an eruption in 600AD. Discover also the village of El Mozote and Perquin's Peace Museum, both significant locations in El Salvador´s recent history during the conflict period. You will hear first-hand accounts of these difficult years from the veterans themselves, who will guide you through Perquin's moving Peace Museum.

JUNGLE HIKES

Criss-crossed by a network of jungle trails, the tropical forest of El Imposible National Park is a strikingly beautiful territory of rippled mountain ridges swathed in luscious vegetation. Perquín is another great area for hiking and bird watching and is historically significant as part of the country's revolutionary background. Your guide, a former guerrilla soldier, will be able to share tales of the 1980s conflict.

REMOTE BEACHES

Unwind on the soft white sandy bays and dark volcanic beaches of El Salvador's Pacific coastline which are peppered with small fishing communities. Home to four species of turtle, you'll also find world-class surfing and enjoy succulent seafood washed down with an ice cold beer.

DELICIOUS DELICACIES

Known for its Bourbon and Pacamara beans, El Salvador produces some of the world's finest coffee. Visit a plantation to discover the coffee making process. There is also an opportunity to visit a cacao plantation and not to be missed is a pupusa-making workshop. Consisting of tortillas stuffed with crispy pork, savoury beans or melted cheese, pupusa is El Salvador's national dish.

COLONIAL TOWNS

The enchanting colonial town of Suchitoto is a centre for arts and culture. Explore the cobbled lanes flanked by red-adobe tiled roofs and a white-chalk baroque church. The colonial town Conchagua on the flanks of a volcano is home to one of the oldest churches in the country.

EXCEPTIONALLY FRIENDLY PEOPLE

Everyone who returns from El Salvador remarks that one of the most enduring memories is the warmth and friendliness of the locals.  By travelling off the beaten path in El Salvador, you will be genuinely welcomed by everyone you meet and regaled by their fascinating life stories.

As the UK's only tour operator to offer a comprehensive expertly designed private holiday to El Salvador, Journey Latin America is delighted to showcase their 11-day Signature El Salvador: Revolutionary Road Trip. This unique holiday visits the Route of Flowers, the Gulf of Fonseca, Perquín, Suchitoto, Ataco and Puerto de la Liberdad on the Pacific coast. Highlights include: peering into the crater of a volcano, visiting the Joya de Cerén archaeological site and a pupusa cooking lesson. The holiday costs £1,980 per person and includes good-quality mid-range hotels, breakfast daily, guided excursions and all land transportation. International flights are extra and start at £700 per person.

Stuart Whittington, Head of Product at Journey Latin America, comments, “While most of Central America is on the UK's amber list, unfortunately the UK Foreign Office continues to advise against non-essential travel for most of the region.  El Salvador is an exception: with the green-light to visit from the UK, this small and diverse country is perfectly formed for a fascinating and rewarding 11-day adventure.”

Notes to Editor:

• A negative PCR test is required 72 hours prior to arrival in El Salvador.
• Proof of Covid-19 vaccination will be accepted in lieu of testing.
• No Covid-19 testing is required on arrival in El Salvador.
• There is no quarantine imposed on arrival in El Salvador.
• Travellers from the UK are permitted to enter El Salvador.
• The borders to El Salvador are open, although flights remain limited.
• Iberia Airlines is flying 3 times a week (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays) from Heathrow to San Salvador via Madrid until October 30.
• From October 31 until March, Iberia increases its schedule to San Salvador via Madrid 4 times a week (Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, Sundays).
• Journey Latin America currently offers a Flexible Booking Policy allowing clients to postpone or make changes whatever the reason up to 45 days before travel.