The charming small town of Juayua, nestled in the Salvadoran highlands along the famed Ruta de las Flores, belongs on every Central American travel itinerary. The vibes of Juayua were immaculate, offering a perfect blend of adventure and tranquility. Although Central America may have more breathtaking or jaw-dropping destinations, Juayua is a sleeper pick for my favorite small town in Latin America. There’s just something about it that is hard to capture in words. I just felt at peace while I was here, and on those lengthy backpacking trips or short-term “go, go, go” holidays, sometimes, a little peace is all you can ask for.

You’ll find that and much more in Juayua. Here’s everything you need to know before taking on Juayua and the Ruta de las Flores.

And hey, if this post helps you out, show some love and support for the blog and help keep my adventures going by buying me a beer! My adventures are entirely self-funded, so any show of support is greatly appreciated. It allows me to keep providing free travel guides and creating travel content to help you all travel the world.

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Table of Contents

• Things To Know Before Going
• How To Get to Juayua
• Where To Stay in Juayua
• Getting Around Juayua and the Ruta de las Flores
• The Best Things To Do in Juayua
• Other Things To Do on the Ruta de las Flores
• More On Central America

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Things To Know Before Going to Juayua

Juayua sits on the Ruta de las Flores, about halfway between the larger cities of Sonsonate and Ahuachapan. The currency is the U.S. dollar and there are a few ATMs in town. The main language is Spanish, although indigenous languages are also commonly spoken in Juayua and neighboring towns. Getting by on English alone is easily doable. Not many people speak English in Juayua but it really isn’t an issue. Juayua is safe, laid-back, and very easy to travel in.

For everything to know before heading to Juayua, check out my crash course backpacker’s guide to El Salvador.

How To Get To Juayua

Getting to Juayua is straightforward enough. Depending on where you are coming from, it can be a direct bus or a short transfer in the towns of Ahuachapan or Sonsonate.

Getting to Juayua From San Salvador

The first order of business is to tackle the local transport in El Salvador. There are many different spots, both official and unofficial, to hop on the bus, but if you want to guarantee a seat and space for your luggage, head over to the Terminal de Occidente. Bus 205 will take you to Sonsonate where you will need to transfer to bus 249 to get to Juayua or elsewhere on the Ruta de las Flores. The bus fare is $1, although you can upgrade to an air-conditioned especial bus for just 30 cents more, which is what we did.

Once you reach Sonsonate, look for the lines to hop on bus 249. The lines may seem long but don’t worry, they move very quickly. The Ruta de las Flores is a popular route with many villages so the buses come frequently. From both Ahuachapan and Sonsonate, it takes about 40 minutes to reach Juayua and the fare is 60 cents.

Getting to Juayua from Santa Ana

There is a direct bus from Santa Ana to Juayua but it’s not as frequent as the Ruta de las Flores buses. From the terminal in Santa Ana, seek out bus 238. It leaves once every two hours and costs about 80 cents. Check CentroCoasting for updated bus schedules. They are an excellent resource for public transportation in El Salvador and Central America.

Getting to Juayua from Elsewhere in El Salvador

If you aren’t coming from Santa Ana or San Salvador, then the best way to reach Juayua is by heading to one of either Ahuachapan or Sonsonate. Depending on where you are coming from, you might have to transfer through San Salvador or Santa Ana anyway. For those coming from the coast, it’s possible to catch the 287 direct bus to Sonsonate from La Libertad. This bus only leaves twice a day, with a 6 AM and 1:30 PM departure. Show up early in case it fills up before then.

Where To Stay in Juayua

When traveling the Ruta de las Flores, you are met with the dilemma of where to stay. With so many villages to choose from, it can be overwhelming to decide on a home base. We visited every town along the Ruta de las Flores and without a doubt, the best spot is Juayua. It is big enough to have everything you need, from supermarkets, ATMs, tour agencies, and several hostels to choose from. However, it’s also big enough to maintain its charming, tranquil small-town vibe. We also enjoyed Ataco for this reason, but Juayua’s stunning volcano views, lush jungly setting, and proximity to the Seven Waterfalls trek skyrockets Juayua to the top.

Now, where to stay in Juayua. There are a couple of hostels in town, and a few more places that have hostel in their name but aren’t actually hostels. “Hostal” in El Salvador can sometimes simply mean a cheap lodging option, regardless of whether there are shared dormitories or not.

Hostel Samay is the OG hostel of Juayua. The rooms are fairly basic but it has everything a budget backpacker needs, including a common kitchen, reliable wifi, and assistance with booking any activity or tour in the area. On top of that, Hostel Samay boasts incredible views from its rooftop terrace.

Rick’s Hostel is a new addition to Juayua’s hostel scene, but boasts one of the best locations in town. It’s close to the central plaza, the supermarket, and the bus stops. The rooms are basic, but the staff are lovely, the garden is spacious, and for its price, you get great value.

Que Ondas Hostel is a newer, more modern hostel on the edge of Juayua town. The dorms have privacy curtains, which is the first hostel I’ve encountered in El Salvador that actually has them. For a quieter, more peaceful stay, Que Ondas is a great option for digital nomads and weary travelers.

Getting Around Juayua and the Ruta

The town of Juayua itself is small and walkable. It won’t take longer than 15 minutes to walk across town. There are a couple dozen tuk tuks that do circle around town in case you need them. Since we were staying outside of Juayua town, we usually hailed one of these down to take us home after dark. You can wait outside of the supermarket and one of them should come by before too long. The fare to take us a 5-minute drive outside of Juayua was a dollar, so anywhere within town will be the same price or less.

Getting Around the Ruta de las Flores

One of my favorite things about the Ruta de las Flores was how easy and convenient it was to get around. There was one line, bus 249, that goes up and down the entire route. There were no timetables but during the day, you could always expect one to show up every 20-30 minutes. The bus always stops on the main highway or immediately off of it. Luckily, the towns are pretty small and it takes no longer than 10 minutes to walk into the city center.

Renting a scooter or a car is also an option. I don’t know the rates for hiring a car, but motorbikes go for about $25 a day. Rick’s Hostel in Juayua also offers scooter rentals.

Before setting off to trek the waterfalls and volcanoes of Juayua, staying connected is an essential. I use Saily eSIM to keep me online during my travels, and it worked great across El Salvador, and I had internet from the moment I landed to the moment I left. Figuring out directions, making travel plans with your new hostel friends, ordering a taxi, having an eSIM makes life so much easier when you’re on the road. Data packages for El Salvador start at just $6, and you can use my code “eli5” for an additional 5% off of your first Saily eSIM.

Best Things To Do in Juayua and Ruta de las Flores

Like I said earlier, Juayua blends adventure and tranquility like nowhere else. While a lot of my time in Juayua was spent relaxing and doing nothing, here’s what I got up to when I wasn’t lazing away gazing at the volcanoes.

The Siete Cascadas Hike (Seven Waterfalls Hike)

Without a doubt, the best thing to do in Juayua is to hike the Siete Cascadas, or Seven Waterfalls. Despite the name, I really don’t know how many waterfalls you actually see. We’d pass by a trickle of water and the guide told us that was one of the seven. We’d pass by a much bigger one and he’d tell us it wasn’t a waterfall. Who knows. Maybe seven is a lucky number or just sounded better for marketing.

Anyway, you are going to see plenty of waterfalls. I was a bit reluctant to do this because I’ve seen so many freakin’ waterfalls and the pictures online didn’t really sell me. However, we snagged a good deal, paying $15 per person including transportation, entrance, and the guide. It ended up being so worth it. Some of the waterfalls are absolutely stunning, but the real draw of this is the journey. It is so much fun. You’ll be crossing rivers, skipping across stones, climbing up waterfalls, and diving into secluded natural pools.

Some stretches of the hike are steep, muddy, and tough, but overall, it’s pretty doable for anyone with decent fitness level. The harder you struggle, the nicer diving into those pools are going to feel. The route we did ended at El Chorro de Calera, a short but gorgeous waterfall with a perfect natural pool to swim in. All in all, the adventure took about 5-6 hours including transportation from Juayua. For adventurous backpackers, I’d highly recommend.

Juayua Food Festival (Feria Gastronomica)

Every weekend, Juayua hosts a food festival that attracts travelers far and wide. Most of the dishes we encountered were very meat-heavy. If I’m being honest, it didn’t feel like it offered much in the way of Salvadoran food. There were a couple of soups, the local drink ponche, but besides that, everything else was grilled meats, seafood, and traditional Salvadoran sides like rice, salad, and tortillas. Plates were around $10, which is fairly pricy by Salvadoran standards.

Regardless, the festivals injects a lot of energy into Juayua. The city feels much livelier during this time and I’d recommend visiting during the weekend. Juayua is touristy by El Salvador standards, but still very under-the-radar internationally. The extra people in town for the weekend makes for a much more energetic city, which I personally enjoy.

Feast at Pupuseria Sugey

Now, if you want some great local food for cheap, head over to Pupuseria Sugey. This is where I ate almost every night in Juayua. They’ve got several options for fillings, but if you want to go crazy like I did, just order the pupusa loca. This comes with all the fillings and is the size of a medium pizza. It was $4, making for one of the best value meals I’ve ever had across the world.

This place can get very busy so be sure to ask how long the wait time is. We sat down and waited for almost two hours for our order of pupusas the first night. By the last night, we learned our lesson and made sure to order one of the panes rellenos. There’s a lady outside the restaurant whipping up these local sandwiches, which most people order as an appetizer while waiting for their pupusa. Also, order a horchata. Dare I say it and incur the wrath of Mexico? Salvadoran horchata is the best horchata in the world.

The Santa Lucia Church and the Cristo Negro

The church sitting in the main plaza is hard-to-miss. However, make sure to go inside. Juayua’s Santa Lucia church is home to the Cristo Negro statue, a black Jesus Christ. There is a weeklong festival dedicated to the Cristo Negro that takes place every January in Juayua.

Take in the Rooftop Views from Hostal Bourbon

There are no shortage of views in Juayua, but one of the best is from the terrace of Hostal Bourbon. We stopped here for a snack and a frozen horchata at sunset. The vibe here is wonderful, and during the weekends, it can be a lively hangout spot. There aren’t too many bars in Juayua, so drinking a cocktail up here in the evenings is a great way to close out the night.

Other Things To Do on the Ruta de las Flores

While the town of Juayua itself is fairly quiet, it is an excellent kickoff point for exploring the surrounding region. Located at the midway point of the Ruta de las Flores, you are no more than 40 minutes away from the other villages. Everything is within reach as a day trip, or even just a short detour to meander the town plaza and have a coffee.

Visit the town of Apaneca and Cafe Albania Adventure Park

About twenty minutes up the highway from Juayua is another of the Ruta de las Flores’ charming towns. Apaneca is home to a beautiful church, a quaint plaza, and a lively food hall and artisan market. There are a handful of cafes and restaurants, but for the most part Apaneca is very quiet and calm. Except for one spot.

Go Thrill-Seeking At Cafe Albania Adventure Park

Across the highway about a 10-minute walk from Apaneca’s city center is one of the wildest places in El Salvador. I had no idea what to expect, but one thing’s for sure, Cafe Albania is much more than just a cafe. This adventure park is located on a coffee farm that has been absolutely transformed. With rainbow slides, zip lines, hedge mazes, bungee jumping, and whatever else you can imagine.

Seriously, I’ve never seen a hamster wheel zip line before until now. It’s the wackiest place I visited in El Salvador. We ended up just sipping on a drink and people watching. The landscapes are beautiful, but it is a bit chaotic and crowded. Cafe Albania was also disproportionately expensive for El Salvador. Considering we paid $15 for a 5-hour guided trek to the Siete Cascadas, paying a similar amount for ride on a rainbow slide or zip lining for a few seconds seemed a bit excessive. Regardless, it was a fun, if not silly, place to visit.

Nahuizalco Weekend Night Market

While I stand by my statement that Juayua is the best home base for exploring the Ruta de las Flores, Nahuizalco gave it a good run for its money. We visited during their weekend night markets and the energy was electric. It is exactly what I love about Latin American small towns. No matter how tiny a village might be, come sunset, the plazas become alive with music, street vendors, and a little tinge of chaos.

Surprisingly, Nahuizalco is not too touristy, especially compared to Juayua. During Juayua’s food festival, most tables were filled with groups of foreign travelers. During the few hours we spent at Nahuizalco’s weekend night mart, we were the only foreigners there. That being said, we didn’t see any hostels or too many hotels in Nahuizalco, so it’s best for a day trip.

I don’t think there’s much to do or see in Nahuizalco aside from its central plaza and the weekend market. The market is well worth the quick detour, though. Vendors line every corner of the plaza and surrounding streets selling candies, fruits, street food, and all sorts of things. We even saw a guy who only sold garlic and toothbrushes. Now that’s an entrepreneurial mind, if you ask me.

Although the food options were overwhelming, we ended up snacking on a yuca sancochada. This is a boiled yuca drenched in sauce and toppings. It is a bit like a baked potato but probably a little healthier. We got dried small fish on it which was an overpowering taste. I didn’t love it but I think if I got chicharron on it instead, it would have been better. Regardless of the food misadventure, just sitting here at the table and watching the world go by in Nahuizalco was such a wonderful way to close out the day.

Visit the Nearby Coffee Farms

The Ruta de las Flores is El Salvador’s premier coffee-producing region. From Juayua, one of the top day trips is a visit to a coffee farm where you can learn about its production and sip on a cup of coffee straight from the source. Unfortunately, it wasn’t in season when we were there so we passed on a visit to one of the coffee plantations.

Explore Concepcion de Ataco

After our time in Juayua, we spent a night in Ataco just for a change of scenery. This town is lovely, famous for its street art and murals, great cafes, and beautiful churches. Axul Cafe, Mama Nila, Pupuseria Bahareque, Cafe de Artista, and Primavera were some of our favorite spots to grab a coffee or grab a bite. Aside from wandering Ataco’s markets, its colorful streets, and going street art spotting, there isn’t much else to do. One can climb up to the cross for a nice viewpoint of Ataco, but that’s pretty much it.

Just eat good food and drink good coffee. What else do you need? That’s the way of life here along the Ruta de las Flores. That’s why Juayua and the Ruta de las Flores is an excellent addition to any Central American backpacking trip. It might be my favorite stop in El Salvador, simply due to its charm and easy-going approach to life. Everything felt simple here. Waking up to the birds, admiring the views of the volcanoes, and sipping on a fresh coffee made for excellent starts to the morning as we pondered what adventures El Salvador had in store for us that day.

Buy Me A Beer!

If this post helped you out, show some love and support for the blog and help keep my adventures going by buying me a beer! My adventures are entirely self-funded, so any show of support is greatly appreciated, and allows me to keep writing helpful travel guides and creating travel content to help you all travel the world on a budget.

More on Central America

• The Backpacker’s Crash Course Travel Guide to El Salvador
• Two Week El Salvador Travel Itinerary
• The Backpacker’s Guide to Flores, Guatemala