El Salvador 3 Santa Ana

Cerro Verde is a desolate volcano with no vegetation, but offers a perfect crater. Santa Ana is the highest volcano in El Salvador at 2,381 meters. We decided to trek up Santa Ana because of its dramatic changing natural habitat as you reach different levels on the volcano. First, you walk through thick forest, then colorful flower bushes and high grasses, desert plants and finally desolate rock.
The greatest image on the volcano is when you reach the top and look down to see the nuclear green boiling sulfur Lake. The lake is believed to be 300 meters deep. The trail is medium difficulty with the most challenging section at the end. I wasn’t paying attention when we began our trek, but it must have been downhill for quite some time, because the last 45 minutes were uphill. Instinctively, I just assumed the return hike was going to be all downhill, but unfortunately it wasn’t.
Jason
(to be continued)