Archaeological Sites of El Salvador: Joya de Cerén, Tazumal and San Andrés
Map
- 1 Tazumal Chalchuapa, Santa Ana Oeste; AD 100 to 1200
- 2 Casa Blanca Chalchuapa, Santa Ana Oeste; ceremonial centre and indigo
- 3 Joya de Cerén San Juan Opico, La Libertad; UNESCO World Heritage
- 4 San Andrés Ciudad Arce and San Juan Opico; regional capital AD 600 to 900
- 5 Cihuatán Aguilares, San Salvador Norte; a ceremonial centre of 42 ha
Joya de Cerén
Joya de Cerén was a pre-Hispanic farming community buried by an eruption of the Laguna Caldera volcano in the 7th century AD. The ash kept houses, tools and crops in place, which gives a rare view of the daily life of farmers in Central America at that time. UNESCO inscribed the site in 1993 under criteria (iii) and (iv).1
The Ministry of Tourism calls it the Pompeii of the Americas.2
The five parks
| Park | Location | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Joya de Cerén | San Juan Opico, La Libertad | A farming village buried by volcanic ash; UNESCO World Heritage since 1993 |
| San Andrés | Ciudad Arce and San Juan Opico, La Libertad Centro | One of the largest pre-Hispanic centres, probably a regional capital from AD 600 to 900, over 200 ha or more |
| Tazumal | Chalchuapa, Santa Ana Oeste | A Maya settlement from AD 100 to 1200, with a ball court and temples; the main structure is 24 m high |
| Casa Blanca | Km 78 of the Santa Ana to Chalchuapa road | A pre-Hispanic ceremonial centre with mounds, and traditional indigo dyeing |
| Cihuatán | Km 36½ of the Troncal del Norte, 3 km north of Aguilares | A pre-Hispanic city and ceremonial centre of 42 ha, with pyramids, platforms, walls and a palace |
Source: El Salvador Travel: archaeological parks; Ministry of Culture: museums and national archaeological parks, January 2021; El Diario de Hoy: archaeological sites of El Salvador, 20252,3,5
Opening hours and fees
| Visitor | Entry |
|---|---|
| Salvadorans | $1 |
| Central Americans and foreign residents | $3 |
| Non-resident foreigners | $5 |
| Students with a valid card, people with disabilities, older adults and children under 12 | Free |
Source: Ministry of Culture: museums and national archaeological parks, January 2021; Ministry of Culture: Tazumal archaeological park3,4
The Ministry of Culture opens Tazumal, Casa Blanca and Cihuatán from Tuesday to Sunday, 9:00 to 16:00. Check the hours and fees before you go, as they can change.3,4
Sources
- UNESCO World Heritage Centre: Joya de Cerén Archaeological Site
- El Salvador Travel: archaeological parks
- Ministry of Culture: museums and national archaeological parks, January 2021 (in Spanish)
- Ministry of Culture: Tazumal archaeological park (in Spanish)
- El Diario de Hoy: archaeological sites of El Salvador, 2025 (in Spanish)
Figures checked 9 November 2026. Prepared by InvestSalvador.com for general information. Figures come from the sources listed.