El Salvador
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View of hills and a distant volcano beneath a pink sky.

El Salvador · San Salvador & surroundings

Archaeology near the capital

Three Ministry of Culture archaeological parks within 40 km of San Salvador: the buried village of Joya de Cerén, the San Andrés acropolis and the city of Cihuatán. All three open Tuesday to Sunday.

3 places

  1. 1

    CultureOpen

    Joya de Cerén Archaeological Park

    Km 35 of the San Salvador–San Juan Opico road (La Libertad), about 36 km northwest of San Salvador.23 km from the centre

    Entry
    Non-resident foreigner US$10
    Hours
    Tue–Sun 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
    Booking
    Not stated

    A Late Classic pre-Hispanic village buried and left intact by a volcanic eruption about 1,400 years ago: houses and traces of daily life. A UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1993, run by the Ministry of Culture.

    Source: Ministerio de Cultura – Parque Arqueológico Joya de Cerén · 2022 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Salvadorans US$1; Central Americans US$3; foreign residents US$7; non-residents US$10 (Ministry of Culture). A March 2026 press report gives the same US$10. The park offers free guides.
    Hours
    Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; closed Mondays (Ministry of Culture).

    Nearby: San Andrés Archaeological Park (4.6 km) · El Boquerón National Park (13.2 km)

    Sources: Ministerio de Cultura – Parque Arqueológico Joya de Cerén · El Salvador.com – Ruta Maya: horarios y precios (marzo de 2026)

  2. 2

    CultureOpen

    San Andrés Archaeological Park

    Km 35 of the Pan-American Highway, Ciudad Arce (La Libertad).24.2 km from the centre

    Entry
    Non-resident foreigner US$5
    Hours
    Tue–Sun 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
    Booking
    Not stated

    A pre-Hispanic site in the Zapotitán valley, five kilometres from Joya de Cerén. It keeps a Late Classic adobe acropolis and a large plaza to the north with the bell-shaped structure, the largest on the site.

    Source: Ministerio de Cultura – Parque Arqueológico San Andrés · 2021 · +1

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Salvadorans US$1; Central Americans and foreign residents US$3; non-residents US$5. Free for residents of the municipality, students with a valid card, people with disabilities, seniors and children under 12 (Ministry of Culture).
    Hours
    Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; closed Mondays (Ministry of Culture).
    Time needed
    Guided tour of 35 to 45 minutes (Ministry of Culture).

    Nearby: Joya de Cerén Archaeological Park (4.6 km) · Los Chorros Recreational Park (13.7 km) · El Boquerón National Park (13.9 km)

    Sources: Ministerio de Cultura – Parque Arqueológico San Andrés · El Salvador.com – Ruta Maya: horarios y precios (marzo de 2026)

  3. 3

    CultureOpen

    Cihuatán Archaeological Park

    Km 36.5 of the Troncal del Norte road, 3 km north of Aguilares (San Salvador).31.7 km from the centre

    Entry
    Non-resident foreigner US$5
    Hours
    Tue–Sun 9:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
    Booking
    Not stated

    A pre-Hispanic city of about 300 hectares north of San Salvador, with a walled ceremonial centre, an acropolis and the area where the rest of the population lived. An archaeological park since 2007.

    Source: Ministerio de Cultura – Parque Arqueológico Cihuatán · 2023

    Practical details and sources
    Entry
    Salvadorans US$1; Central Americans and foreign residents US$3; non-residents US$5. Free for residents of the municipality, students with a valid card, people with disabilities, seniors and children under 12 (Ministry of Culture).
    Hours
    Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; closed Mondays (Ministry of Culture).
    Time needed
    Guided tour of 35 to 45 minutes (Ministry of Culture).

    Sources: Ministerio de Cultura – Parque Arqueológico Cihuatán

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