EL SALVADOR

Steep, seismic and lush, El Salvador is a unique treasure in the region. With rich volcanic soils, imposing volcanoes, an easily accessible Pacific coastline, cool mountainous highlands, and delicious coffee and cuisine, it provides visitors with tremendous diversity in an area smaller than the state of Massachusetts.

Deforestation is one of the most serious environmental problems facing El Salvador, with a high-rate of forest loss over the past half century. Between 1990 and 2010, El Salvador lost 23.9% of its natural forest cover, or around 900 square kilometers, putting a huge strain on its most important resources: soil, water, and trees. Logging, agriculture, and the use of fuelwood for cooking has led to increased risk of erosion and mudslides, which have claimed thousands of lives in recent years.

Our partner organization, Arboles y Agua para el Pueblo (AAP), addresses these issues through reforestation, producing over 28 hardwood and fruit tree species in their nurseries. Local residents use these trees for food, firewood, and shade. In 2001, Trees, Water & People and AAP joined with the community members of El Coco in the Department of Santa Ana to develop a clean cookstove program. To reduce the fuelwood pressures on the area's forests, TWP introduced the Justa stove, a fuel-efficient, wood-burning clean cookstove with a chimney that vents smoke out of the home. The Justa stove reduces consumption of fuel wood by 50-75% compared to traditional cooking methods. Since 2001, the program has expanded into twelve additional communities.

When you take a tour of Guatemala with TWP Tours, you will:

  • Tour and experience the community of El Porvenir and learn about conservation projects implemented by one of our partners, Arboles y Agua para El Pueblo (AAP) – including a hands-on tree nursery preparation and planting and touring a local water project.

  • Explore the highland town of Apaneca also known as the ‘river of the wind’. The city is known for its cobblestone streets, colorful adobe houses and the Apaneca-Illamatepec Reserve.

  • Travel to the Cerro Verde National Park for a garden tour, hiking, and spectacular views of the Santa Ana and Izalco Volcanoes. Next to the park, visit Lake Coatepeque, a large crater lake that sits in the middle of the volcano complex in the Department of Santa Ana.

  • Visit the Nahuat Pipil Community Museum in the town of Nahuizalco to learn about the use of natural fibers by different communities.

 

Tour dates coming soon.