The Ruta de las Flores

The Ruta de las Flores, the Route of the Flowers, is one of El Salvador's most delightful journeys, a scenic winding road through the cool, coffee-growing highlands of the west, named for the flowers that bloom along it in season. It links a string of charming, colourful colonial towns, Nahuizalco, Salcoatitán, Juayúa, Apaneca, Ataco and Concepción de Ataco, each with its cobbled streets, whitewashed and vividly muralled houses, old churches and relaxed highland air. The towns are famed for their weekend food fairs, artisan crafts, coffee estates, and access to waterfalls, crater lakes and nature, making the route a joyful, easygoing highlight.

What you actually see

• The colonial towns - the colourful, muralled highland villages.
• The weekend food fairs - the famous gastronomic fairs, especially at Juayúa.
• The coffee estates - the highland coffee farms and tours.
• The waterfalls and nature - the Los Chorros falls and crater lakes.

When to go

November to April, the dry season, for the most pleasant weather in the cool highlands and the best conditions for exploring the towns, coffee estates and nature; the weekend food fairs, especially the famous one at Juayúa, are a highlight, so timing a visit for a weekend adds to the experience. The flowers bloom most vividly at certain times of year.

Honest expectations

The route is a string of small, relatively low-key highland towns rather than grand destinations, so its charm is in the relaxed atmosphere, murals, coffee, food fairs and scenery, best savoured slowly rather than rushed; the towns are quietest midweek and liveliest at weekends. El Salvador's improved security has made such highland travel increasingly popular. As a delightful, easygoing journey through colourful colonial towns and coffee country, though, the Ruta de las Flores is a genuine pleasure.

Nearby

The Santa Ana volcano, Lake Coatepeque and the surf coast are within reach.