Ruta de Las Flores with Kids
Our family recently explored the Ruta de las Flores region of El Salvador with our kids. This area is known for its charming colonial towns, vibrant weekend markets, and lush hiking trails. It is perfect for adventurous families who want culture, nature, and great food – all without crowds. Here’s everything you need to know for your own family-friendly adventure, plus a few tips we learned along the way.
Juayúa: Our Favorite Base in Ruta de las Flores
We absolutely loved staying in Juayúa. The town has a relaxed vibe, but it’s buzzing on weekends with the famous food festival. If you can time your visit to coincide, do it—it’s totally worth it. We feasted on massive churrasco plates with all the fixings for just $6, flavorful chicken kabobs for $7, and delicious chorizo with sides for $3. Bonus: if you’re cooking for kids or have picky eaters, there’s a Super Selectos grocery store in town that’s very reasonably priced and well-stocked with both local and familiar items.
If you’re looking for accommodations for families near Juayúa, our AirBNB was incredible. It’s part of a gated farm, so there were zero safety concerns. After 32 countries as a family, this is the most beautiful view at a rental we’ve ever had. The open-air layout means you’ll hear the birds, feel the breeze, and yes, maybe spot a bug or two. However, the bedrooms are fully sealed, and the fans kept everything super comfy at night. The kitchen is fully equipped, perfect for prepping snacks or full meals.
Pro tip: We paid the friendly farm assistant a few bucks to set up a campfire and had an epic marshmallow roast under the stars. The kids loved the swing and hammocks, and we loved sitting by the fire staring at the incredible view. Just note. the road in is a little rough. You’ll want an SUV, but it doesn’t need to be 4WD—we had a Chevy Traverse and did just fine.
Driving Between Towns: Watch Out for “Shortcuts”
We highly recommend renting a car while you’re in this region. Yes, it’s possible to travel by bus or shuttle, but having our own wheels made everything so much easier and let us explore at our own pace. Parking was never a problem, even in popular spots. It took us about 2.5 hours from the San Salvador airport to arrive to Juayua. We’ve rented cars in many countries and sometimes regretted it, but not here! Almost all rental cars have automatic transmissions, and both the roads and drivers in El Salvador are quite good. You will have to pay a $15 a day liability policy per El Salvador rules, unless your personal insurance or credit card issuer specifically covers liability for personal injury to others and to other property. Ours only covered the actual rental car, but Jon researched it ahead of time (including obtaining a letter of coverage). This is a legitimate requirement to have this additional policy, so don’t get bent out of shape about it. Read more information about getting around El Salvador on our separate blog post coming soon.
One heads-up: Google Maps can get…creative. On the way from Villa Luvier to Santa Teresa Hot Springs, it sent us on a supposed “shortcut” that turned into a washed-out path. We ended up “setting her down” and parking in a local’s yard (not a parking lot, we gave them $5) and walking the rest of the way. It was a little wild—but turned into a fun adventure and a great story.
Soak at Santa Teresa Hot Springs
If your kids are water lovers like ours, the Santa Teresa Hot Springs are a fun afternoon stop. It cost $30 for all four of us, and while it wasn’t the best hot springs we’ve ever been to (we’re still obsessed with this one in Costa Rica), it was definitely worth a visit. The pools were reasonably clean, the water warm, and it was a relaxing way to end a busy day of exploring.
Eat Local and Eat Well
We mostly stuck to fresh produce that could be peeled—think bananas, mangoes, pineapple, avocado—and everything was super fresh and delicious. And you can’t talk about Salvadoran food without mentioning pupusas. These thick corn cakes are stuffed with cheese, beans, meats, or veggies, and we loved trying different combos at each new place. At $0.75 to $1 each, they’re budget-friendly, filling, and kid-approved.
Our #1 Recommendation: Siete Cascadas Hike
If you do one big activity in this region, make it the Siete Cascadas hike. Our amazing AirBNB host connected us with a local guide, and we met him in Juayúa before driving about 10 minutes to the trailhead. From there, it’s a stunning hike through jungle trails and across seven (actually a total of 10) waterfalls, each one more beautiful than the last.
The real highlight is the fourth waterfall, which you actually climb up using a rope tied off by the guide. Yep—you climb the waterfall. Our kids loved it – grandparents that saw pictures, not so much. It’s probably about as safe as it looks, but you should definitely do it with the right shoes. You’ll get completely soaked but wear solid shoes with great grip. They don’t need to be expensive—these ones worked great for us. The hike ends at the famous Chorros de la Calera waterfalls, where you can swim, jump off rocks, or just relax in the water. Unforgettable.
Hike the Santa Ana Volcano
Many people visiting the Ruta de las Flores area stay in Santa Ana just to hike the volcano. However, we found it super doable as a day trip from Juayúa. We left around 7:30 AM and arrived by 8:30—just ahead of the big buses. You can join the group hike for $3, or hire a private guide, which made for a more enjoyable experience for us to go at our own pace. We paid $40 for the guide, but it seems like the price is variable from $35 and up. We liked our guide right away as we arrived to the area so stuck with her. If you put “Santa Ana Volcano Tour Guide Meetup” into Google maps, it takes you exactly where you need to be to park. This time, Google Maps actually does perfectly, and there are parking lots to use. Expect to pay $2-3 to park. The hike itself isn’t overly difficult if you’re used to moderate activity, but if you haven’t hiked before, we’d recommend a bit of training in advance.
After about two hours getting to the top, you’re rewarded with views of a turquoise crater lake, though the weather can be hit or miss. We had fog most of the way up but were lucky to get a few magical minutes of clear skies—and wow, it was stunning.
Three quick tips for this hike:
- Bring layers. The weather changes fast, and it can get chilly at the top.
- Start early. Beat the crowds and the clouds for the best experience.
- Pack snacks and plenty of water. There is a small tienda at the base of the trail, and popsicles for sale at the summit (yes, really, and yes, get one (or three)).
Final Thoughts
El Salvador’s Ruta de las Flores was one of the most surprisingly wonderful destinations we’ve ever taken our kids to. With just the right mix of adventure, nature, good food, and warm people, it gave us everything we love in a family trip—without the high price tag or the tourist crowds. If you’re up for a little adventure and a lot of beauty, definitely add this region to your list.
**This post contains affiliate links. We are grateful for the opportunity to be hosted by our Airbnb. All opinions are our own.
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