The mountaintop cloud forest and lowland rainforests in Cerro Verde National Park are home to dozens of bird, reptile, insect, and mammal species. Many visitors come to scale one or all of the volcanic peaks, while others enjoy the simple pleasures of birdwatching from the crater lake, Coatepeque. Once you arrive at the park, you’ll need to pay for an official guide (which is required of organized tour groups, as well).
Before your visit, it’s best to do a little advance planning. For instance, you and your guide can hike the volcano and explore the park without issue. Or, you might join a tour with multi-attraction itineraries combining a visit to the park with a Santa Ana city tour and Joya de Cerén Archaeological Site. There are also operators in Santa Ana and San Salvador that provide private or shared shuttles to the park.