San Salvador Layover Tour: City Sightseeing and Joya de Cerén
San Salvador, El Salvador
Trip Type: Half-day Tours
Duration: 4-6 hours
Got a long layover at Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport? Get out and explore San Salvador and nearby Joya de Cerén on this 4- to 6-hour tour that includes private, round-trip airport transfers. In San Salvador, visit top city attractions such as Salvador del Mundo Square and the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Holy Savior. Later, travel to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Joya de Cerén, where your guide gives you a glimpse into life in the 6th century. You can do this tour with private transport only, or upgrade to include a guide.
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Got a long layover at Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport? Get out and explore San Salvador and nearby Joya de Cerén on this 4- to 6-hour tour that includes private, round-trip airport transfers. In San Salvador, visit top city attractions such as Salvador del Mundo Square and the Metropolitan Cathedral of the Holy Savior. Later, travel to the UNESCO World Heritage site of Joya de Cerén, where your guide gives you a glimpse into life in the 6th century. You can do this tour with private transport only, or upgrade to include a guide.
Make the most of your long layover in San Salvador by taking upwards of six hours to tour the city and Joya de Cerén, a former Maya village that was covered in ash during a volcano eruption in the 6th century. Read on to learn about what to expect during your trip.
San Salvador Tour (2–3 hours):
San Salvador Tour (2–3 hours):
Following a pickup at the Monseñor Óscar Arnulfo Romero International Airport, hop into your private airport transfer to the city of San Salvador, El Salvador’s bustling capital. Explore Salvador del Mundo Square and Masferrer Square and hear of San Salvador’s rich history from your guide. Alternatively, simply enjoy the private transport as you explore the city on your own.
Among the must-see attractions? Visit El Rosario Church and the grand Metropolitan Cathedral. The cathedral, widely considered to be the city’s most beautiful building, houses the tomb of the fourth Archbishop Oscar Romero. You’ll also see a mural by Fernando Llort — the country’s most famous living artist — inside the cathedral.
Joya de Cerén Tour (2–3 hours):
Continue on to nearby Joya de Cerén, a local archaeological site nicknamed the ‘Pompeii of the Americas.’ In the 6th century, the nearby Loma Caldero volcano erupted and rained thick, heavy layers of ash down on the settlement of Joya de Cerén. Although the inhabitants had time to flee, their homes, storehouses, places of worship, utensils, ceramics and furniture were completely encased in the thick ash.
Today, Joya de Cerén is a UNESCO World Heritage site that provides fascinating insight into how daily life might have been centuries ago. Wander the site, which is considered a museum, to marvel at the relics of an early civilization.
After two to three hours at Joya de Cerén, transfer back to the airport with plenty of time to catch your next flight.
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