Destination : EL SALVADOR

Located in the heart of Central America, bordering the North Pacific Ocean, between Guatemala and Honduras El Salvador is the smallest and the most densely populated of these countries (Population: 6,122,515 (July 2000 est.) El Salvador achieved independence from Spain in 1821 and from the Central American Federation in 1839. A 12-year civil war, which cost the lives of some 75,000 people, was brought to a close in 1992 when the government and leftist rebels signed a treaty that provided for military and political reforms.

Situated 680m (2240ft) above sea level, San Salvador, which is the second largest city in Central America, is the capital. The city is a blend of modern buildings and colonial architecture, broad plazas and monuments, amusement parks and shopping centres. Standing within short distances of each other are the Cathedral, the National Palace, the National Treasury and the National Theatre. The amusement park on San Jacinto Mountain can be reached by cable car and gives a panoramic view of the city.

A land of agriculture, the rich volcanic soil on the slopes of over 25 dormant volcanoes attracted the largest farms and, through time, the major population centers in the country established on these slopes. The soil of El Salvador is not a quiet one : on  January 13, the worst tremor in a decade took place. A national state of emergency was immediately declared after the initial quake, and the most serious of more than 3000 aftershocks rippled through the region east of San Salvador on February 13th. Not all areas of El Salvador were affected by the quake, but landslides and collapsed buildings were rampant in the regions around San Salvador. 

The lowlands and middle highlands are planted with coffee, which is the main crop, supplemented by cereal grains, cotton and sugar cane. El Salvador is also the world's primary source of balsam which is used for perfumes and medicine. El Salvador is an important part of the ancient Mayan world: impressive step pyramid ruins at Tazumal and San Andres testify to the once large and sophisticated Mayan civilization. Precolumbian culture in El Salvador has left many archeeological sites, the most important being: Tazumal, the pyramids of Campana San Andres, the ball of Cihuatan, the Ruins of Quelepa and Cara Sucia, and Joya de Ceren, a well preserved Maya site with dwellings buried under 20 feet of volcanic ash clutter Together with Guatemala, Honduras, México and Belize, El Salvador is part of the "Mayan World Route", a tourist itinerary that takes the visitor to the most important vestiges of Meso-american history

For many people the name El Salvador is still synonymous with a brutal civil war  fought throughout the 1980s in the tangle of mountains and farmlands that quilt the smallest country in Central America. The war, however, is over and the most turbulent aspect of El Salvador today is thankfully just its volcanic landscape. Unlike its neighbors, El Salvador is not geared to independent travelers. What it does offer is a whole new experience of watching a country strive to redefine itself. Organizations from the US, Europe and Australia are helping to rebuild El Salvador through programs devoted to education, agricultural reform, reforestation, human rights and health care. Participating in these developments and talking to the locals about their experiences and hopes is one of the most productive ways to visit.

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