Santa Ana Department · El Salvador
Santa Ana travel guide
Santa Ana is a city in Santa Ana Department, El Salvador, home to about 251,000 people.
- Best months
- November
- Nearest airport
- ILS58 km · Ilopango International Airport
- Currency
- USDUnited States dollar
- Time zone
- America/El Salvador
- Language
- Spanish
About
About Santa Ana
Santa Ana is the second largest city in El Salvador, after the capital of San Salvador. It is located 64 kilometers northwest of San Salvador, the capital city.
Wikipedia contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in Santa Ana
See
Most visitors of course come to see the Cathedral and the Theatre, but Santa Ana has more to offer. According to La Secretaria de Cultura, its historic center (roughly within the limits of 4a Calle, 7a Ave, 9a Calle, Ave Jose Matias Delgado) counts 210 buildings in neoclassical style, 5 Gothic, 64 neocolonial and 102 in traditional style. The most intact ensemble of colonial houses can be found east of Parque Libertad, although most houses are privately owned and therefore inaccessible. For a self guided tour follow Calle Libertad eastbound and discover the north & south leading Avenidas (1a, 3a, 5a, 7a, 9a).
- Teatro de Santa Ana
- Escuela de Artes y Oficios Jose Mariano Mendez
- Museo Regional de Occidente
- Museo de Anatomia Humana de UNASA
- Museo de Armas (Museo Militar)
- Museo AJA
- Catedral de Santa Ana
- Iglesia El Calvario
- Iglesia Catolica El Carmen
- Parroquia San Lorenzo
- Mosque Palestina Tierre Santa
- Parque Ecologico San Lorenzo
Do
Santa Ana makes an excellent base for discovering western El Salvador's archaeological and natural spots. FUNDAR (Fundación Nacional de Arqueología de El Salvador) maintains the excellent and highly recommended website with tons of information, although its participation ended in 2009.
- Tazumal
- Casa Blanca
- San Andrés
- Joya de Cerén
- Lago Coatepeque
- Cerro Verde
- Santa Ana Volcano
- Izalco Volcano
- Ruta de las Flores
- Los Naranjos
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
When to go
The best time to visit Santa Ana
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Santa Ana are November. March is the warmest month, with average highs of 32 °C; September is the wettest, with about 347 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to Santa Ana: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Ilopango International Airport (ILS), about 58 km from the city centre in a straight line; El Salvador International Airport Saint Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez (SAL, 82 km) and La Aurora International Airport (GUA, 123 km) are also within reach.
Getting in
Santa Ana lies 64 km northwest of the capital San Salvador, just off the Panamerica (Highway 1), from where several exits lead into town. Being close to the border, it's also a convenient stop if coming from Guatemala.
Getting around
Most places within the historic center can be reached within a few minutes walk, there's no need to take a taxi or board local buses. The Tourist Office outside the Palacio Municipal (just across from the Theater) has city maps and other information. Most touristic sights are located at the center of town around the Parque Libertad. 4 blocks west of it is Parque Menendez, and again roughly 6 blocks further south Parque Colon. From central Parque Libertad Avenida Independencia runs north-south, while Calle Libertad runs east-west.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
ILS · Ilopango International Airport
SAL · El Salvador International Airport Saint Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez
GUA · La Aurora International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in Santa Ana
Eat
Virtually hundreds of comedores (cantins) offer salvadorian standard meals (comida tipica) for as little as $2. Mostly self service (comida a la vista). Usually open for lunch between 11:00 and 14:00 (for dinner head out to pupuserias). Be early as food is often prepared in advance and may not stay fresh in the tropical heat. Also places sometimes run out of food after 13:00. Virtually all comedores are closed Sundays.
Drink
2a Calle Poniente is Santa Ana's small outgoing area. Turns into a pedestrian zone Friday and Saturday evenings, many bars and restaurants with street side tables, safe as guarded by police.
Stay safe
Most parts of the city are completely deserted after 19:00. The Metrocentro area, the Parque Libertad, and the pedestrian street Villa Morena (2a Calle Poniente) are considered safe at night as police and security guards are present. Avoid Parque Colon and surroundings after dark, as many homeless and drunken individuals hang around the area. Be very careful when walking on sidewalks because many manhole covers are missing (stolen for their value as scrap metal) and openings can be several feet deep. Especially after dark it's recommended to walk on the street (if traffic permits).
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
Santa Ana: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit Santa Ana?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in Santa Ana are November. March is the warmest month, with average highs of 32 °C; September is the wettest, with about 347 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to Santa Ana?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Ilopango International Airport (ILS), about 58 km from the city centre in a straight line; El Salvador International Airport Saint Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez (SAL, 82 km) and La Aurora International Airport (GUA, 123 km) are also within reach.
What currency is used in Santa Ana?
United States dollar (USD).
Nearby
Destinations near Santa Ana
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.