Parks for a family day
out

How to use this guide

This guide is for families living in San Salvador, or spending a few days in the capital, who want a park to get out of the city. There are three styles. For swimming, Los Chorros Recreational Park has pools 18 km west of San Salvador, and Apulo Recreational Park sits on the shore of Lake Ilopango, 16 km away. For walks and views, Balboa Nature Park (Los Planes de Renderos) is 12 km south, and El Boquerón National Park is at the summit of the San Salvador volcano, at about 1,950 m, with trails and viewpoints over the crater. In the city itself, Saburo Hirao Park has the Natural History Museum (MUHNES) inside.

With one day, combine two parks. Los Chorros and El Boquerón are both in La Libertad department: go to the pools first, as they close at 4:00 p.m., and head up the volcano afterwards, since it stays open until 5:00 p.m. Balboa is open from 6:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m., so it fits at the end of the day, with the viewpoints and restaurants of the area. Apulo keeps the same hours as Los Chorros, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., and works as the alternative if you would rather have a lake than a pool.

On a tight budget, Balboa is free if you walk in, and El Boquerón costs foreign visitors US$2. Saburo Hirao Park is the most expensive for non-residents, at US$5, and opens only Wednesday to Sunday, so save it for a day when the museum appeals more than the open air.

Tips

• Bring a warm layer to El Boquerón: daytime temperatures are 18 to 22 °C, dropping to 8 to 12 °C at night. The park sometimes closes for maintenance.
• At Los Chorros and Apulo, the national rate (US$1.50) requires a DUI, the Salvadoran ID; foreign visitors pay US$3.
• The former National Zoo next to Saburo Hirao Park closed permanently in May 2022: the visit is the park and MUHNES.
• If you travel by minibus or in a large group, parking at El Boquerón costs US$2 for up to 18 seats and US$3 above that; at Balboa, a car pays US$2.
• Do not mix up Los Chorros with Chorros de la Calera, which is in Juayúa.