East to San Vicente Travel Guide

From San Salvador, the Carretera Interamericana edges its way through industrial units, shanty towns and the grimy suburbs on the edge of the city, before arriving at COJUTEPEQUE , 32km from the capital. There's little to see here other than the shrine of the Virgen de Fátima of Portugal, a statue which was brought here in 1949. Housed at the top of the Cerro de las Pavas, about thirty minutes' walk from the centre of town, the shrine attracts worshippers and petitioners on Sundays particularly. The summit also gives wonderful views over Lago de Ilopango.

Some 6km beyond Cojutepeque, a road branches north through beautiful rolling countryside to the small town of ILOBASCO , noted for its brightly painted earthenware decorated with animals and everyday scenes. Look out for the town speciality known as sorpresas (surprises) - detailed scenes of village life contained in small, egg-shaped shells. From here, a road runs 35km east to SENSUNTEPEQUE , a pleasant, quiet town (with a couple of hospedajes) set amid marvellous mountain scenery, though there is little actually to do unless you're here during the November fiestas. East of Cojutepeque on the Interamericana, a paved road leads off to the small village of SAN SEBASTIÁN , famous for its hammocks and patterned cloth sheets and bedspreads. Although prices here are cheaper than in San Salvador expect to bargain, especially in the market. Regular direct buses run to Sensuntepeque, San Sebastian and Ilobasco from San Salvador's Terminal de Oriente.

Further along the Carretera Interamericana, some 25km from Cojutepeque, a junction marked by ramshackle cane bus shelters gives onto the branch road for the attractive city of San Vicente , set in the Jiboa valley at the foot of Volcán Chichontepec . The approach is perhaps one of the most spectacular in the country; the road sharply descending to the valley floor on one side, while across on the other rises the conical bulk of the twin-peaked volcano, dwarfing everything in sight, including the white spires of the city nestling below.