Upon arrival, transfer to the hotel and free for the rest of the day.

We will have a short drive to Joya de Ceren, an Ancient Maya village that was buried under 18 feet of ash over a thousand years ago. This is a World Heritage Cultural Site with ancient corn, lilies, houses, tools, and other everyday objects remarkably preserved. From Ceren we continue on to Los Andes sector of Los Volcanes National Park, which sits on the slopes of the dormant Santa Ana Volcano. This is 5 Star camping with beautiful platforms nestled in the forest. Each platform has its own private bath, beds, and lounging chairs and hammocks.

We will have a full day in the field. We start off with an optional birding walk from 6:00 – 7:30 AM. After breakfast we have two options – a more leisurely hike focusing more on flora and fauna with a local naturalist; or climbing the highest volcano in El Salvador. Regardless of which option you choose, the views are spectacular from the Pacific Ocean to the western highland of Honduras. After dinner there will be an optional night walk where we will try to call in some owls and cacomistles (Ring-tailed cats).

We will have about a 1.5 hour drive from Los Volcanes to Barra de Santiago, the largest coastal protected area in El Salvador. We will have a boat tour of this rich mangrove area and then have lunch on the beach with swimming option. We will learn about the conservation efforts in the area from our local guides. After lunch we drive to El Imposible National Park, the largest park in the country. We will be staying at the beautiful Hostal El Imposible. Our cabanas are nestled into a hillside with spectacular views. The forests of El Imposible host more species of plants and wildlife than any other place in the country and is considered El Salvador′s gem. It covers an area of approximately 3,800 hectares and contains the largest tract of Pacific slope deciduous forest, some of it remnants of old growth. The Park is home to a diverse array of El Salvador′s flora and fauna, and is the last refuge for species that require large territories for their survival. There are numerous trails in the park of varying difficulty, from slightly moderate to strenuous. The cabin area is frequented by Mottled Owls, Common Pauraque and Ring-tailed Cats (Cacomistles). We will look for them over the next two nights. For the birders in the group, the park has a number of Pacific slope endemics such as the Banded Wren, Fan-tailed Warbler, Pacific Parakeet, Orange-chinned Parakeet, Long-tailed Manakin (seemingly hopping everywhere), White-bellied Chachalaca, Pacific Screech-Owl, Bar-winged Oriole, Bell′s Vireo and Ash-throated Flycatcher. Other species include the Berylline Hummingbird, Elegant Trogon, Blue Bunting, Thicket Tinamou, and Scissor-tailed Flycatcher.

One of the many things that make this visit so enjoyable is the great trail system. Today we will have the opportunity to hike the long, steep “Los Enganches” trail that descends into the valley floor. We will slowly drop approximately 1,000 feet. If you prefer not to take the hike down to the valley floor there are many shorter trails close to the visitor center. The strenuous hike, however, takes us into a beautifully forested valley with a small river running through it. Its lush vegetation is a haven for wildlife where Great Curassows still roam free. Coatimundi, Armadillos and Kinkajous are sometimes seen during the day as they go to the river for a drink.

After a leisurely morning, we drive to the airport for your homeward flight. The tour ends here.