Active, outdoor-loving travelers will enjoy the chance to hike to the top of a volcano without getting lost. The logistics will be taken care of so all you have to do is hike. The ascent of Ilamatepec takes about two hours, and the descent another two. Be amazed by the views at the top, including of the green crater lagoon. Relax over a leisurely lunch at Lake Coatepeque.

Receive personalized attention on a small-group tour
Hiking poles are provided to help you ascend and descend
Best suited to moderately fit, active travelers
Travel in a comfortable air-conditioned vehicle

What's Included

Air-conditioned vehicle
Certified Tourist Guide
Admission Tickets
Small Groups

Gratuities
Lunch
From El Zonte, Lagarza, Mizata etc ) has an extra cost $25 per person!

Meeting And Pickup

Pickup points

Select a pickup point

Pickup details

Alla Hotels Located in San Salvador, El Tunco and El Zonte are included.

What To Expect

Santa Ana Volcano

4 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Lago de Coatepeque

2 hours • Admission Ticket Included

Additional Info

Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Not wheelchair accessible
Service animals allowed
Near public transportation
Infants must sit on laps
Infant seats available

Not recommended for travellers with back problems
Not recommended for pregnant travellers
No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Travellers should have a moderate physical fitness level
Hotels located in the area of San Salvador are included too! From Surf City ( El Tunco Beach, El Zonte, etc ) has an extra cost per person, But if you are a group you wont have an extra cost from Surf City!
This tour/activity will have a maximum of 10 travellers

Cancellation Policy

You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.

For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.

Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
This experience requires good weather. If it’s cancelled due to poor weather, you’ll be offered a different date or a full refund.
This experience requires a minimum number of travellers. If it’s cancelled because the minimum isn’t met, you’ll be offered a different date/experience or a full refund.

Traveller Photos

Featured review

Sophia_T

Francis was a wonderful guide! He was attentive during the hike for the entire group and extremely knowledgeable of the geography and history of El Salvador. We were able to get to the top of the volcano and take in the views before larger tour groups and had a lovely experience!

Reviews

5.0

148 reviews

Total review count and overall rating based on Viator and Tripadvisor reviews

Reviews by Viator travellers.

Showing 1-10 of 148 reviews

Great trip, unforgetable moments.

Barry_T, Sept 2023

Today I did a first in my life - I climbed the 4 hours return hike up a live volcano and peered over its edge into a turquoise, sulphur lagoon. Unforgettable! The comfy minivan and expert guidance and care from Antonio our guide was exceptional and made the trip even better. He was very considerate, had great knowledge, chatty and took time to ensure we were all safe and enjoying the strenuous climb. The hike is not easy, but doable if you are moderately fit. The last 200 metres before the summit area are probably the hardest with lots of slippery and lose rocks underfoot that can make you slide and trip. I learned that while I am fit, have strong legs and knees, I have a poor balance ability, thus I took a slower but surer pace. The food at the balcony restaurant overlooking Lake Coatepeque was superb with captivating views to the lake and nearby three volcanos. This trip is well worth the time and money!

amazing tour!

Sophia_T, Sept 2023

Great hiking day trip experience!

Hannah_R, Sept 2023

Great communication leading up to the trip! It was a moderate level hike through a rain forest area and a rocky portion. It was worth it to get there early before larger groups came by and make sure to bring some cash to get a paleta at the top. Our guide also gave us some interesting information about El Salvador on the way there. Great experience and would highly recommend!

The good ,bad and ugly.

Jessica_E, Sept 2023

Ask for Josué. It was just him and I. It was 1st time hiking. He was super patient with me and let me do it at my own pace. On the way down it rain he entire way. He held my hand through the slippery parts, had a poncho so I wouldn’t be totally drenched, and made me feel super comfortable. It was a tough climb for me but I felt So accomplished after it. Again ask for Josué. He knows a lot of facts about the area and nature. Plus he was so kind. Advice: it is not an easy hike. Wear hiking boots and bring water and sunscreen. If possible a hiking stick as well. They say it takes 2 hours up and back. Took me 4 hrs bc of breaks and not having proper shoes. Josué was still patient with me.

Santa Ana Volcano

Neil_M, Aug 2023

Frances was an excellent guide. He was very courteous, friendly, and knowledgeable. I learned a lot about the country's culture, history, and landscape. Hike to the top of the Santa Anna volcano was more challenging than expected but we made it. The view was worth the 2 hour hike. The crater lake and lunch was a nice, relaxing finish after our hike. The van was comfortable and Frances drove well. Highly recommend this tour and ask for Frances.

Santa Ana

Jonathan_F, Aug 2023

Josue was a wonderful guide. He was more than accommodating and took incredible pictures!!! Highly recommend this experience.

Can’t wait to book again!

DeWein_P, Aug 2023

Had an amazing time on my hike! My tour guide was Gaby. Her communication was great as she contacted me to let me know my pickup time the day before. She was also prompt and detail oriented when it came to the pickup. The journey/drive to the hike as well as the site itself was smooth as well (I was a party of 1 along with another solo adventurer). She was informative, funny, and knowledgeable of so much! She takes awesome photos too! You won’t regret the hike or booking with this service, especially if Gaby is taking you there.

Fun and Friendly

Elvira_M, July 2023

Gabriela was very knowledgeable and made the experience very pleasant. She kept checking in and hiking at our pace. I recommend Gabriela as a tour guide.

Josue is the best!

Heather_L, July 2023

This was one of the best tours I’ve ever done! Although it is a hiking tour, my guide Josue gave me an incredible amount of interesting information about life in El Salvador. He answered a bunch of my questions and was overall extremely helpful! The hike itself was challenging, especially because I am not used to the altitude. Josue was very kind and made sure we paused for breaks and was always checking in - he even let me borrow some of his sunscreen when mine wasn’t cutting it! He also takes AMAZING pictures and made sure we snapped every photo op. I’m really glad I did the tour super early because we got to enjoy the top entirely by ourselves for awhile!

Good tour but a few frustrations

Alice_C, June 2023

The tour itself was great. The hike up Santa Ana was medium difficulty, so keep in mind it will take 1:30-2 hours to reach the top. There are a few great viewpoints along the way. Gaby was my guide and she was nice, but at times a little quiet and never turned back to check if I was following along on the hike - I'm not sure what that would have been like if I was less physically fit and needed more breaks. She took pictures of me at each stop which was really nice! The view is fantastic. Lunch was at a decent place that I was taken to on another tour - but it was a great view of the lake. The process of booking the tour was one of the biggest frustrations. I had another tour to Sochitoto booked for weeks and was texted around 6:30pm the night before my tour to inform me that it would be canceled because the government apparently shut down the archeological site that went along with that tour. They then refused to rebook me and told me to find myself another tour and did not provide any compensation when they easily could have - that was super frustrating. They kept blaming "the government" rather than helping me plan a good experience in its place (I had to ask about this tour, for example). Add on to the fact that I was called at 6:25am for my 6:30am pickup that they were having mechanical issues with the original car and needed to delay pickup for an hour, which cause us to be stuck in morning traffic that took 1.5 hours to get to Santa Ana. I was unhappy about both of those but I did enjoy the hike

amazing views!

David_M, June 2023

Josue picked us up from our hostel, along with a few others, and we took a great hike up the volcano. He ensured that everyone knew what to expect during the hike and that everyone was safe and happy. The hike itself is a few hours with uphill and flat sections, and offers amazing views

Great experience. Thank you Francis!

Enrique_D, June 2023

Francis was an amazing guide! Thanks for all the stories, history, and knowledge shared. We were the first group to arrived to the summit, with a great pace. My only feedback regarding the hike, it’s to have better breaks whether a longer one at the peak or a bit more breaks throughout the hike so everyone can keep up lol. As for the lake visit, I’d preferred if we could have chosen the restaurant or a common meet up point so there are better food options within a given distance range. Other than that, beautiful lake views.

Amazing Experience!

Elizabeth_K, May 2023

This excursion is amazing! The guide was friendly and knowledgeable about the volcano as well as all of El Salvador’s history. He spoke perfect Spanish and English. He picked us up from our hotel and dropped us off at the end of the tour. Highly recommend!!

Great tour, great guide.

Jonathan_D, May 2023

Great tour, great guide. Thanks Josue! Very professional and knowledgeable. The hike is challenging but the view and full experience make it worth every step. Highly recommend!

Must do when in El Salvador

Ben_V, Apr 2023

We did 4 volcanos in Central America and this was our favorite hike. Not simple, but not too difficult, and the view of the crater was awesome. Must do activity

Awesome!

Scarlett_W, Apr 2023

It was a great hike and Josué was an awesome guide. Definitely ask for him! It’s a challenging hike but worth the reward of the beautiful views.

Fun Experience!

Isoken_O, Apr 2023

Such a fun experience! My tour guide Gaby was amazing. She gave me so much information about the country. The hike was about 2 hours up and 1 hour down. The view from the top was beautiful. It was also chilly so I suggest a light jacket. We went and had lunch by the lake after the hike. That was very relaxing and beautiful to look at.

Amazing tour, Francis is...

Diane_F, Apr 2023

Amazing tour, Francis is an incredible guide, I really recommend you to take this tour! He will tell you a lot about the country, nature, culture ...

It’s a good tour. I...

Mark_O, Mar 2023

It’s a good tour. I recommend it. You leave early enough to get to the top of the volcano before the other groups.

Hike a volcano

James_R, Mar 2023

We had a great guide, Carlos, who spoke excellent English and had a wealth of knowledge to share. You could tell that he really enjoyed the trip himself. The hike itself is spectacular and I'd saw a bit more than moderate for the average person. The trail is well marked but it is steep in parts. Do be sure to bring water. Why 4 stars? I do think it is overpriced for what you get (unless they are paying the guide really well) but if you have no other options then go for it.

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