Americas

[Visited: January 2019]

After driving down the Ruta de las Flores, I base myself in Juayúa, the largest town of the famous Salvadoran region. It quickly turns out to be a good decision: the town is a pleasant base to start your explorations. After deposing my bags, I head to the Chorros de Calera, a series of modest waterfalls in walking distance from Juayúa. Back in town, I buy a few chunks of pineapple, and head out on the backroad I saw on my map, leading to Nahuizalco in the south. The sandy road soon deteriorates, and I walk past peoples houses, adorned with flowers, dodging a furious dog, until I hit a slightly bigger road. It is not used often: on my walk south, I meet not one single soul. I just hear the regular sound of my shoes on the dust.
There are patches where the vegetation opens up, and invariably, it allows me great views of the string of volcanoes, which I had climbed just days before. I feel happy for those on top now: the views are splendid, and also the steep slopes of the pointy Izalco volcano can easily be seen. When I see a first parked car, I know I have reached the outskirts of Nahuizalco, and when the sand is covered by cobble-stones, I am getting close to the centre. I first walk around quickly to get an idea of this town, buy a drink, and sit on one of the high sidewalks to just enjoy village life passing by. It is clear people know each other: there is constant greeting, calling by name, shaking hands. Even as an outsider, I feel at home almost instantly.
As the sun is getting lower, I start walking around town, enjoying the doors, the flowers, the cobble-stone streets, and slow village life. At the small market, I buy some mangoes, and sit down again for some people-watching. A school is coming out, and the impeccably dressed kids go to one of the stalls to buy sweets or shaved ice. Back at the romantic main square of pre-hispanic Nahuizalco, I am a little disappointed: there are so many tall palm trees, they obstruct the view of the white-washed church with the volcanoes as a perfect backdrop. In fact, the name Nahuizalco means Place of Four Izalcos (it was apparently founded by four families from the nearby town of Izalco). When the day is drawing to a close, I walk to the main Ruta de las Flores road, and board a north-bound bus which is so full I have to stand next to the driver. The sun is setting in his exposed rearview mirrors, which somehow feels like making for a perfect end of the day.

Around the World in 80 Clicks

Personal travel impressions both in words and images from Nahuizalco (El Salvador). Clicking on the pictures enlarges them and enables you to send the picture as a free e-card or download it for personal use, for instance, on your weblog. Or click on the map above to visit more places close to Nahuizalco.
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Nahuizalco > El Salvador > Americas

[Visited: January 2019]

Around the World in 80 Clicks

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