Private Tour
Adventure Tour: Santa Ana Volcano Hike & Coatepeque Lake
Overview
Available languages
Mobile ticket
Hiking to the summit of Santa Ana Volcano, El Salvador’s most iconic peak, is an unforgettable adventure that blends physical challenge, spectacular crater views, and rich local culture. On this guided hike, you’ll enjoy panoramic sights of Izalco Volcano, Cerro Verde National Park, Lake Coatepeque, and even the Pacific Ocean on clear days.
What sets this tour apart is the personalized experience:
Led by a certified bilingual local guide passionate about sharing Salvadoran history and nature.
Small group with private tour transportation, ensuring a safer and more intimate journey.
Ends with a relaxing lakeside lunch at Coatepeque, one of Central America’s most beautiful crater lakes.
Hotel pickup and drop-off from San Salvador included for your convenience.
Whether you’re an adventure lover, a first-time visitor, or simply want the best Santa Ana (Illamatepec) volcano tour in El Salvador.
Additional Info
Public transportation options are available nearby
Not recommended for pregnant travelers
Not recommended for travelers with poor cardiovascular health
Travelers should have at least a moderate level of physical fitness
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
What‘s Included
Private transportation
Bilingual guide
Air-conditioned vehicle
All Taxes and admission fees to protected areas.
Lunch
Gratuities are not included. They are entirely optional and appreciated as a gesture of thanks to your guide or driver.
Meeting and Pickup
Pickup points
Hostal Casa Luna
Calle Poniente 25, Entre Octava Y Décima Avenida Sur Santa Ana El Salvador
Hotel Casa del Sauce
49 Avenida Norte #143, San Salvador El Salvador
Hotel El Bunker
#02Calle Principal Lotificacion El Jute, Calle Principal El Finisherman La Libertad El Salvador
What To Expect
Santa Ana Volcano
Prepare to conquer the summit of El Salvador’s highest volcano! Experience breathtaking panoramic views of the crater's vibrant sulfur lagoon, the shimmering Lake Coatepeque, the iconic Izalco Volcano, the lush Cerro Verde, and the vast Pacific Ocean. An unforgettable adventure awaits!
Lake Coatepeque
After hiking El Salvador’s highest volcano, relax with a delicious lunch in local restorant at Lake Coatepeque, enjoying stunning views of its clear waters and lush surroundings
Options
Adventure Tour: Santa Ana Volcano Hike & Coatepeque Lake
Pickup included
Reviews
25 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Ilamatepec Tour
S6243YZglendag,
Nov 10, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Jorge is the best!!! Picked us up from our Airbnb, drove us to Volcán Ilamatepec, encouraged us the whole way, never rushed us, took some pictures for us, took breaks when needed. He knows all the best spots around! Super sweet, respectful, and safe!
By far the BEST in El Salvador
ayamatsuda,
Oct 15, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Jorge is a very kind and professional tour guide. We had 3 other private tours in San Salvador during our trip, and Jorge was by far the best driver, as the traffic in and around Dan Salvador is awful and requires experience and lots of patience. He can also take drone footage (upon request) of the breathtaking scenery you will experience with him.
Must do! ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Ansley P,
Aug 30, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00This was such an incredible experience. From the pick up, and Jorge went out of his way to find us coffee, to the drop off, when he went out of his way again to find me a post office, the whole day was great. The hike was very challenging for me (33 years old) mainly due to the elevation. Jorge allowed us to stop as many times as we needed and carried our water bottles for us so we didn’t have the extra weight. He also had extra sunscreen in his bag if we needed it. The views at the top was soooo worth it and there’s even a man selling ice cream at the top. It took our group about 2.5 hours to go up and 1.5 hours to go down. We then stopped for lunch at the lake and Jorge recommended some delicious ceviche as a starter. We took a beautiful mountain road to get back to our hotel on the beach. Jorge had left that morning at 4am to spend the day with us and we are so grateful for the time, energy, and thoughtfulness of the day. Highly recommend this tour!!
Great day trip/hike.
lifewelltravelled808,
Jul 31, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Really fantastic day! Jorge was an amazing driver and guide. The hike was much better than expected with incredible views at the summit. After, we had a really nice lunch by the lake before heading back to San Salvador. Highly recommended!
To do!
794val riet,
Jul 18, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Great day with David. The climb u volcano was not completely relaxing, but it was totally worth it! Then we ate at the lake. It was very beautiful and the food was good. Thank you for the day!
Amazing excursion !
819yamelr,
Apr 16, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We traveled to El Salvador with our 2 teens - we wanted to do a fun excursion - Jorge made this possible ! We hicked the famous Santa Ana Volcano ! He was knowledgeable and professional. He also answered all our inquiries- we highly recommend this outing ana ask for Jorge
Amazing tour and amazing guide!
reneeaY9071YV,
Mar 29, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00This tour was great and well worth the hike to the top of the volcano The views were breathtaking along the way. Our guide Jorge, was very knowledgeable and well prepared. The 4K drone images and videos came out amazing. Lake coatapeque was beautiful and we got to jetski on the lake after enjoying lunch.
Fun Last Minute Experience!
Teshara U,
Feb 6, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00I booked this experience last minute (the night before), and Jorge was very kind to pick me up at my hotel. We stopped for breakfast on the way, and he was very informative about what the experience would be like. He made sure to allow me to do the hike at my own pace and was prepared with snacks and hand wipes. It was a challenging experience, but we had a lot of fun. Then lastly, we enjoyed lunch at Lake Coatepequeand Jorge made sure I got back to the hotel safely. It was nice to meet new people and see the beautiful views in this experience!
Jorge went above and...
Philip A,
Feb 5, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00Jorge went above and beyond to make this a wonderful trip. From checking to see if you needed anything to answering any questions you may have. When answering questions about the area his passion for what he does truly shines.
Amazing Private Tour with Jorge
Saran O,
Feb 1, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00The Santa Ana volcano tour is a must do in El Salvador. I highly recommend booking through Cotuzas Tours as Jorge is an amazing tour guide. Plus, this is a private tour meaning you get your own private transportation with your group and personalized service. PLUS, Jorge offers free drone photos and videos, all included in the price, so it's definitely a better deal than the other tours. As for the hike, it was good that we went early. 6am pick up was perfect since it's about 1.5 hour drive to the site and going that early in the morning is worth it because it's less crowded. Jorge stop to let us grab coffee and breakfast. He let us know about the high altitude and that we can go as slow as we needed to, which was good for me because I have altitude sickness. The hike took about 2 hours going up and 1.5 doing down. You definitely need hiking boots or shoes because you'll be walking over rocks and uneven trails. I would was it's a challenging hike but worth it as the view was amazing. You can see the crater lake, the volcanos and the Coatepeque Lake. We stopped at the lake to have lunch. You can rent a jet ski, go on a boat ride or kayak.
Related Experiences
Operated by Cotuzas Tours