Recommend Jan 2018 - 55

Central America's smallest country, El Salvador, has yearround tropical climate, jungle peaks that brush the sky and an
assortment of off-the-beaten-path travel pleasures that include
mountain biking through the cloud forests of Apaneca, hiking
up volcanoes, visiting artisan towns, and surfing the waves of La
Libertad and El Cuco.
SEE/DO: SAN SALVADOR is an interesting capital. By day,
you'll find the most important buildings grouped around the Plaza
Barrios, including the National Palace and the Metropolitan
Cathedral; the National Theater, beautifully restored, is nearby.
Above all, the museum scene is rich with the National Museum
of Anthropology and its grand treasury of Mayan artifacts; the
Museum of Art of El Salvador highlighting Latin American
artists; and the Museum of Popular Art, showcasing a fine
collection of folk art. For shopping fun, head for the Mercado
Nacional de Artesanias. By night, the tourist-friendly Zona
Rosa is the neighborhood to be in for good restaurants and
good hotels.
SIGNATURE EVENT: Semana Santa or Holy Week, with
parades, performance art, and gigantic street "carpets" of
religious and natural themes, made with colored salt and sawdust
(end of March through Easter).
STAY: In the capital, there are many international brand choices,
including the Hilton Princess. Of course, everyone loves the
classy Los Almendros de San Lorenzo, occupying a restored
colonial home in nearby Suchitoto, and on the nearby Pacific
coast, consider Casa de Mar.

BEST TIME TO GO: November to May
GETTING THERE: Delta flies from Atlanta and Los
Angeles to Guatemala City
ENTRY DOCUMENTS: A passport, valid for at least six
months beyond arrival
CURRENCY: Quetzal
INFORMATION PLEASE: INGUAT-visitguatemala.com

Colonial Antigua, a UNESCO World Heritage site.

Cerro Verde National Park, home to some of El Salvador's most amazing volcanoes.

FASTFACTS
BEST TIME TO GO: November to May
GETTING THERE: Delta flies from Atlanta
and Los Angeles to San Salvador
ENTRY DOCUMENTS: Valid passport for
at least six months beyond arrival date
CURRENCY: U.S. Dollar
INFORMATION PLEASE: Ministry of
Tourism of El Salvador-elsalvador.travel

GUATEMALA CITY

GUATEMALA is one of those countries tailor-made for National
Geographic. It's the land of the ancient Maya who guard their traditions in
dozens of magical fiestas and picture-perfect colonial towns; and it's also a
nation whose nature reserves are brilliant with flora and fauna.
SEE/DO: The front door to this Tennessee-sized country is GUATEMALA
CITY, a cosmopolitan capital well-endowed with fine hotels, good
restaurants, and a pulsing new bohemian quarter, Cuatro Grados Norte.
Spend time in two excellent museums: the Museo Popol Vuh with
artifacts spanning Mayan civilization, and the Ixchel Museum, showcasing
the weaving traditions apparent in everyday dress today. An hour away is
the colonial town of Antigua, offering some of the finest examples of 16th
and 17th century architecture, as well as excellent restaurants, boutique
shopping and accommodations.
Plan to stay awhile along the shores of Lake Atitlan, a majestic natural
wonder, ringed by colorful indigenous villages; here, too, is the place for
great mountain biking and volcano climbing. And, of course, hop on a
plane to Flores, air gateway to the magnificent ruins of the temples and
palaces of Tikal, long a centerpiece of Maya civilization and surrounded by
the wildlife-filled Parque Nacional Tikal.
SIGNATURE EVENT: Guatemala's famous Holy Week celebrations are
held in Antigua.
STAY: Small is beautiful around Guatemala. In the capital is chic, boutique
Otelito, in the safe and lively Zona Viva. In Antigua, one can say all of the
restored mansion-hotels-such as Casa Encantada and Lion's Inn (true
manor houses), as well as Casa Santo Domingo (larger and occupying a
former convent)-offer beautiful surroundings and Antiguan experiences.
Staying around Lake Atitlan, you even have a Relais & Chateaux
member: the 10-room Casa Palopo, overlooking the lake and facing
three volcanoes.

GUATEMALA

FASTFACTS

EL SALVADOR

SAN SALVADOR

http://www.elsalvador.travel http://visitguatemala.com

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Recommend Jan 2018