Central America Local culture Trips

I really enjoyed the trip to El Salvador but did feel it was a bit too short, a few more days to make it up to 2 weeks would have been better. I did feel that I didn't have enough time in some of the towns and I came away with wishing I had had a bit longer. This was true in Ataco as I did the optional hot springs and didn't feel I had enough time to look around. My flight was also delayed going out so I didn't arrive on the 1st day of the trip but early on the 2nd day. The tour leader Wilman was fairly new to doing trips with Explore and I feel that he didn't always give enough information about the trip. Myself and another person had our birthdays on the trip but our tour leader didn't mention our birthdays which was different than the other trip I did on my birthday. I did get food poisoning on the trip from the last hotel we stayed at in La Libertad so would definitely not recommend this hotel. This was after the meal at the hotel restaurant. Others on the trip were also unwell and this did spoil the last few days of the trip. The turtle monitoring trip was one of the highlights of the trip and this coincided with my birthday which was memorable. Unfortunately the hotel we stayed that night didn't have much going on as the food was served early and the bar shut early. I don't think our leader did enough group meals and often we were having a very late lunch so didn't always want to eat again in the evening.

Dio the guide was brilliant , so helpful even before the trip started when our flight a day early was delayed Brian the driver was always obliging during the trip As we were Kate arriving we missed out on having extra time in San Salvador so sadly didn't get to the Botanical Gardens and museum. The tour itself only allows for a half day in the capital..a whole day would have been great. Tour very good.. my last Central American country . So a nice trip to round them all off. Pity we only go to see one waterfall, ( as Ive read there are several on the Ruta de Flores) moreso because we couldn't visit the one on the last day as it was closed off. As the last morning activity was cancelled it's a shamecwe houldnt go to La Libertad and the Malecon earlier in the day, say for lunch rather than wait until 4pm. Especially as we didn't get dinner in El Tunco as we had to rejoin the rest of the group after sunset for dinner again in the hotel. Explore office staff still aren't up to par. Before Covid everyone was really helpful enthusiastic and prompt in getting back to clients. Your add ons are overpriced and not realistic with actual costs..Flights, extra nights hotel and transfers are all way above the going rate....more than double in the case of airport pickup... you quoted me £65.. it was 33 dollars using the hotel shuttlecservice.!!!

This was a good trip. El Salvador seemed safe and welcoming. The guide Dionisio and driver Bryan were very good.

Dio our guide was great, informed, fun, and attentive. Itinerary was varied and the driver excellent.

Great trip in El Salvador. Beautiful country, amazing volcanoes, scenery and archaeological sites. Friendly people. Felt safe. Hotels were good, comfortable. Tasty food. Excellent tour leader. Dio is very knowledgeable, friendly and kind. I enjoyed the sea turtle activity even though we didn’t do anything, just watch. The hike to the volcano was great, early in the morning is best. I would have liked the hotel in Sal Salvador closer to the historical center and also a visit to the Museum of Anthropology at the end of the trip, after the archaeological sites.

An enjoyable tour around this lesser visited Central American country which is small enough to get around without really long drives but has varied lush landscape and interesting things to do and see. We used decent hotels, had a great guide and comfortable transport. The itinerary includes a walk up a volcano, colonial towns and markets, ancient ruins and a little time on the coast. Muy bueno!