by Lena Johannessen and

The mountain range of La Cordillera del Bálsamo, located a few kilometers outside of the capital city of San Salvador, is the largest natural resource for the municipalities of Santa Tecla, Nueva Cuscatlán, Zaragoza and Huizucar. As the name suggests, the eastern section of La Cordillera del Bálsamo holds a rich history of the cultivation of the balsam tree.

Hikers enjoy the waterfall
El Cernido

El Salvador once exported balsam throughout the world, but the industry withered. Later the abundant coffee plantations with their shade-tree forests, together with fruit plantations, created a micro-climate and natural area that today is a green lung for the nearby communities that keep expanding toward it.

La Cordillera del Bálsamo offers visitors an attractive variety of eco-tourism activities and is easily reached due to its proximity to the capital. You can enjoy activities such as mountain biking, hiking, swimming, rappelling and the pleasure of meeting local population in a natural environment, observing their traditions and way of life.

Within its rolling hills are rivers, waterfalls and lovely forested areas with an amazing variety of trees and plants. Of particular interest is the beautiful El Cernido waterfall, located in Asuchiyo in the municipality of Zaragoza. You reach El Cernido after a one-hour hike through fee plantations, hills covered by eucalyptus and orange trees, plus an impressive view of the Pacific Ocean. El Cernido is a hidden treasure that so far only the locals enjoy.

Eco-tourism programs yield positive results for small communities such as those around El Cernido. Not only does environmental awareness and social vision grow within the community, visitors get to experience 'unexplored' sites while residents can add to their limited income.

The tours to El Cernido are among many initiatives undertaken by the Tecolote program, which strives to make both Salvadorans and foreigners aware of another side of El Salvador tourism. Founded by four friends, Tecolote promotes these little-known natural treasures that are within easy reach of the capital, which provide an interesting day-trip option other than going to the mall.

These tours support local communities that supply guides to nearby attractions and also meals for hungry visitors. All of this reinforces the idea that their environment is an attractive tourist destination, which in turn encourages them to preserve and protect it. •

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Encounter with the countryside.

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