The National Theatre of San Salvador is the oldest theater in Central America.  This cultural and architectural gem was built between 1911 and 1917 after an international competition promoted by the Salvadoran Government. The winning design was awarded to French architect Daniel Beylard.

This building supplanted the old National Theatre, which burned in February 1910. To this date, the theater shows an impressive façade with a central colonnade, combining neo-classical, Gothic and Renaissance architectural movements.

Over the years, this building has received two major renovations. The first one between 1975 to 1976, and recently from 2004 to 2007 finally reopening in 2008.

This important building has been the scene of Italian operas, operettas, drama, scientific conferences, charity concerts and major motion picture films.

It has 650-seat capacity; it is divided into three levels including the exclusive presidential box and ministry area.

Inside you will appreciate French Renaissance style with lavish details of Rococo, Romanic and Art Nouveau. In it’s ellipsoidal dome there is an impressive mural from famous Salvadoran painter Salvador Carlos Cañas, combined with a striking crystal chandelier.

Today, the National Theatre provides services like art workshops, national and international concerts, symphonies, folk music shows, among other scenic art forms.

It has five spaces available for carrying out these activities: The Great Room, The Foyer, Lobby, Conference Room and The Small Room for minor art displays.

It was declared National Monument in 1979, due to its architectural importance and since it is the most important center for the performing arts in El Salvador.

How to get there:

Address: Delgado Street and 2a. North Avenue, San Salvador.

The building is located on the south side of Plaza Morazán on Delgado Street. If driving you may park in the parking structure Morazán for $ 0.75 an hour.

Bus routes: R3, R4, 23, 29, 29-A, 41-A, 41-D, 42-A. Ticket cost: US$ 0.25.

More information:

Phone: (503) 2222 – 8760

Official Website: http://www.cultura.gob.sv/temas/teatros/teatro-nacional.html

Email: teatron@cultura.gob.sv

Additional Information: http://www.sansalvador.gob.sv/?p=149

Located in one of the most prestigious areas of the capital, Crowne Plaza Hotel is a place that exceeds in personal attention and quality services, and its only 40 minutes from Comalapa International Airport.

Trained staff will assist you in English, French and German. At Crowne Plaza Hotel you will also find servides like: ATMs, concierge, dry cleaning and laundry, gift shop, gym, outdoor pool, sauna, restaurant and business area.

Where to stay:

There are 194 comfortable rooms and 9 suites on a 6 level building equipped with all modern amenities.

Where to eat:

You will find exquisite dining in the restaurant “El Mirador” with great specials to suit your tastes. Also indulge your palate with a delicious gourmet coffee at Essenza Coffee Shop with incredible desserts and snacks at affordable prices.

How to get there:

Address: 89^th North Avenue y 11^th West St, Colonia Escalón. The hotel is located adjacent to Torre Futura and the World Trade Center.

You may park your vehicle at the parking lot with over 500 spaces available and with free continuous surveillance. Crowne Plaza Hotel also offers valet parking for $ 2.00 USD.

Bus Routes: 52. Fares from US$ 0.35 USD.

More:

Reservations or inquiries: (503) 2500-0700

Website: http://www.crowneplaza.com/h/d/cp/1/es/hd/sslcp

Just 35 minutes from the Comalapa International Airport, San Salvador Sheraton Presidente Hotel enjoys a privileged location close to shopping malls, museums, bars and restaurants.

It has extensive facilities for a comfortable stay and large halls for social and business events.  There is a large pool area, gym, spa, bar and restaurant with international specialties food available.

Among the wide range of services available there is a fully equipped business area. There is also daily transport to and from the airport, car rental, parking, valet parking, VIP limousine service, helicopter pad, VIP lounge, safety deposits, cell phone rental, ATM, beauty salon, candy shop, jewelry and tobacco stores, among others.

Where to stay:

The hotel has 225 rooms and suites with amazing views of the city. There are in-room movies, free Internet and 24-hour room service for your convenience.

“Club Rooms” have the same features of the Deluxe Rooms plus upgraded amenities like bathrobes, high speed Internet and access to the Sheraton Club Lounge.

The Sheraton Club Lounge offers complementary breakfast, afternoon hors d’oeuvres and a variety of beverages.

You can take a Pullmantur bus bound for Guatemala and Honduras at this hotel.

Visit San Salvado Sheraton Presidente Hotel for a memorable experience.

Where to eat:

The restaurant and bar area is a perfect place for meeting friends or work colleagues and enjoy a great meal. Among the dining options are:

• The Terrace Restaurant: specializes in international and regional cousine. Opening hours from 6:00 a.m. to 11:00 p.m.

• San Benito Bistro: their specialty are sandwiches, desserts and coffee. Opening hours from 9:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.

• Marquis Bar & Grill: try Salvadoran famous seafood cocktails from 12:00 noon to 1:00 a.m.

How to get there:

Address: La Revolución Ave., Colonia San Benito, San Salvador.

If traveling by car, take the road The International Center for Fairs and Conventions (CIFCO), up to the Monument to the Revolution. The entrance is on the south side of the monument. For your convenience there is secured parking.

The hotel also offers shuttle service from Comalapa International Airport to their facilities and vice versa.

If traveling using public transport, take route 30-B (from Metrocentro Mall). Ask the driver for a stop at Plaza Italia and walk towards the Monument tothe Revolution. Fares from US$ 0.25.

More:

• Reservations: (503) 2283-4000

• Contact Email: reservaciones@sheratonpresidente.com.sv

• Website:

- Www.sheraton.com / Sansalvador

- Http://www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton/property/overview/index.html?propertyID=1597

Additional Information:

Pullmantur Sheraton Presidente Hotel: (503) 2526-9900

Website: www.pullmantur.com

Contact Email: salreservas@pullmantur.com and información@pullmantur.com

El Salvador has a coastline of over 300 kms of extension in which you will find beautiful beaches of golden and black sands, with very friendly waters all year round, surfing waves of international quality, rocky reefs for diving and snorkeling, a beautiful bay and estuaries with gentle waves, excellent for water sports.

Eastern Area Beaches: Jiquilisco bay: Beautiful place to sail, go offshore, Ramsar Site and Biosphere Reserve, Playa El Espino:one of the most extensive in the country with friendly waves, and wide beach ideal for sports like volleyball beach, Football etc. Beach Las Flores: Great waves for surfing, The Cuco: beautiful beach for family holidays,  Las Tunas: beach ideal for snorkeling The Tamarindo, with gentle waves and the possibility of sailing or rowing.

Central Area Beaches: Estuary of Jaltepeque and Costa del Sol: excellent service offering tours to mangrove and Fish for marlin and dorado, La Libertad: with a modern resort complex and wide range of food

La Paz, San Blas, Sunzal, El Zonte, La Perla: Great waves for surfing, with all tourist services, and instructors for the sport.

West beaches: The Cóbanos: Golden Sand and The rocky reef diver’s paradise, Port of Acajutla, classic Metalío beah with fresh cuisine, Barra de Santiago with its beautiful estuary and mangroves.

Pleasant route which crosses one of the most florid areas of El Salvador, crossing the forests of high mountains coffee where the cool weather prevails, visit their places of rich history, which celebrate, cultural events, cuisine and eco tourism.

Nahuizalco: Beautiful city located 70 kms from the capital with a strong presence of indigenous population, a colonial church built it in the seventeenth century, Its economic patrimony is based it in the developed of artisan industry of natural fibers: wood, wicker, Tule, Henequen , Visit the Artisan Development Center to learn about the creativity and beauty of these works.

Salcoatitán: City of artists offers art galleries and permanent exhibitions, located at 1045 meters above sea level, enjoy typical food in the central square and admire the recently restored colonial-style church.

Juayúa: Its name means River of Orchids Purple purchase beautiful plants in their nurseries, enjoy traditional food fair held every weekend, visit its beautiful waterfalls of pure waters and beautiful ecological environment, savor the Gourmet Coffee in the benefits of Coffee .

Apaneca: the city is located at higher altitude: 1477 meters above sea level apx. Home of the best coffees in the world in its comprehension is a very important archaeological site, is host of exciting activities of adventure tourism, as canopys, motorcycle tour, buggies, hiking, camping etc.

Ataco: Lovely colonial town that smells like antique village of cobblestone streets, colonial church, surrounded by coffee plantations and constantly decorated by the mist, appreciate the development of textiles in their artistic yarn workshop which still work with machines craft. Listen to folk music in its central square in the weekend afternoons you can enjoy sipping the typical drinks and dishes.

Tacuba: Has an archaeological treasure which is the remains of his church affected by the earthquake of Santa Marta in 1773, walk through the quiet streets, take a walk to Bosque El Imposible, visit their viewpoints, enjoy the rhythm of life in this city located in Apaneca llamatepeq in the mountains which is connected by excellent roads.

This shopping center is built around a turn of the century mansion, giving it aunique atmosphere. At “Galerías” visitors find the most distinguished andelegant stores, it also offers a complete financial center, and a wide varietyof cafés and restaurants. Metrocentro

The largest and most visited shopping center in the region, synonymous with fun,service and entertainment, it is opposite the Hotel Real Intercontinental. One of thebest known in the country, it has 2 bars and 2 first rate restaurants. The “Gran Vía” shopping center

The “Gran Vía” shopping center is a semi-open space combining a shoppingarea and an entertainment area. The latter includes restaurants, bars, discotheques,cafés and movie theaters. Its beautiful architecture, fountains, lampposts, andbenches in the open air, all attract local and foreign visitors. The central plaza,around a grand fountain, is also the setting for live events. A few steps away isMarriot’s Courtyard Hotel. Multiplaza Shopping Center

Inaugurated in 2006, this shopping mall is a great attraction forvisitors, not only due to its 250 stores, but also its terraces and itsvariety in restaurants, discotheques and bars, modern movie theaters,department stores and a supermarket. Its terraces are used for live shows,which bring life to the setting. ]]> http://mitm.elsalvador.travel/shopping/feed/ 0 http://mitm.elsalvador.travel/volcanoes-and-colonial-route/ http://mitm.elsalvador.travel/volcanoes-and-colonial-route/#comments Wed, 12 Jan 2011 14:43:35 +0000 mitm http://mitm.elsalvador.travel/?p=86 Read more...]]>

Multidestination touristic schedule that runs through Central America following the old Camino Real that was built by the Spaniards over a preexisting indigenous route, parallel and transversal to the volcanic mountain chains of the pacific coast.

This route is considered in the touristic industry as the most important example of regional touristic integration because it allows its nature, volcanoes and a series of towns that were built during the Spaniard colonial era to be admired simultaneously.  With this integrated effort, it’s relied on, at a national level, the offerings of services and touristic products of 33 municipalities.

Itinerary

Make tourism and support the conservation and help thecommunities who want to make sea turtles a tourist attraction by avoiding the collection of eggs for consumption.

Season Sea Turtle Monitoring

From May to September being the peak season in August and September.

You can experience it at:

- Beach Cóbanos Sonsonate

- Downtown San Diego, La Libertad

- Playa San Blas, La Libertad

- Isla de Méndez, Bahía de Jiquilisco

- Isla San Sebastian Bay Jiquilisco

Cóbanos beach

The protected area of Los Cóbanos is one of the few areas where the Carey Turtle nests and El Salvador is the most important, from Baja California to Ecuador, for reproduction. In the beaches of El Salvador nests four of the seven species of sea turtles in the world and this wonderful show can be seen at Los Cóbanos at night from May to September being the peak season in August and September. Also you will know about the efforts of marine turtle conservation held by the local community.

Release of sea turtles

During the season from August to December turtle eggs that have been grown in hatcheries begin their process of emergence, so, small turtles are born. These turtles are released into the sea to make their incredible journey which will last from 11 to 20 years before returning to lay their eggs on the beach they were born. you can live this unique experience of releasing a newborn sea turtle, making conservation tourism contributes to the preservation of these beautiful specimens.

Information: Cóbanos Tours – Phone: 2417-6825 / 7254-8838 / 7568-8395

Playa San Diego and San Blas

The beaches of San Diego and San Blas from July to October become one of the most important and most nesting area for sea turtles in El Salvador.

Also a season for release of sea turtles is held on these beaches from August to December.

Information:

San Diego

Hostal La Tortuga Feliz (Tourism Committee of the Association for the Protection of the Sea Turtle Beach San Diego)

Phone: 2545-2252 / 7423-6288 / 7852-7518

hostaltortugafeliz@gmail.com

San Blas

Tourism Committee of the Association for the Protection of the Sea Turtle Beach San Blas

Phone: 7403-4759 / 7168-8477 / 7168-8475

Surfing has been practiced in El Salvador since 40 years est. which makes El Salvador in one of the surfing pioneers in the world.

The multiple “spots”, nice water temperature all over the year, international category of the waves, which consider facts like, consistence, velocity, height, and the important human features, hospitality and kindness of the people are reasons for which this beautiful country has received surfers from all over the world since the lately 60′s and nowadays is placed between the best 10 destinations of the world for surfing.

National and International Championships are held in beaches like: Punta Roca, El Tunco, El Zonte, El Cocal, Las Flores, Punta Mango, El 59, and many others.

One of the most important facts is the touristic infraestructure, which is a great value of the beaches, in El Salvador there are many quality hotels, restaurants surfing boards factories, surf teachers, tour operators who will make unforgettable your surf season.

Visit El Salvador, one of the most beautiful countries in America, where friendly people is waiting to share with you the waves and make you feel the tropical paradise.