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Tall trees and rocks in the forest of El Imposible National Park

National parks

El Imposible National Park, El Salvador

El Imposible protects about 4,977 ha of tropical and subtropical forest between 250 and 1,450 m in the Apaneca range, in the far west of El Salvador. It is home to more than 279 bird species and more than 500 butterfly species. The park has received visitors since 1997; a permit from the Ministry of Environment is needed.

Updated November 2026 · Figures checked 9 November 2026

Photo: davidjoviera, CC BY 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

Approximate area
4,977 ha1
Approximate area
Bird species
279+1
Bird species
Entry for Salvadorans / foreigners
$3 / $64
Entry for Salvadorans / foreigners

El Imposible National Park, El Salvador

At a glance

At a glance
El Imposible
Department Ahuachapán
Districts Tacuba, San Francisco Menéndez and Concepción de Ataco
Altitude 250 to 1,450 m
Wildlife More than 279 bird, 30 mammal and 53 reptile and amphibian species; more than 500 butterflies
Managed by Ministry of Environment (MARN)

Source: El Diario de Hoy: the six main protected areas of El Salvador, 2025; El Salvador Travel (Ministry of Tourism): El Imposible National Park1,2

Map

El Imposible National Park 1 El Imposible National Park 2 Santa Ana volcano 3 Izalco volcano 4 Lake Coatepeque 5 Lake Ilopango 6 Lake Suchitlán 7 Los Volcanes National Park (Cerro Verde) 8 El Boquerón National Park
Volcano or national park Lake Places are approximate, from Wikidata and OpenStreetMap. Boundaries: geoBoundaries SLV ADM1 (OpenStreetMap contributors, CC BY-SA 2.0)1
  1. 1 El Imposible National Park About 4,977 ha of forest
  2. 2 Santa Ana volcano 2,381 m; last eruption 2005
  3. 3 Izalco volcano 1,950 m; last eruption 1966
  4. 4 Lake Coatepeque Caldera lake, 25.3 km²
  5. 5 Lake Ilopango Caldera lake, 72 km²
  6. 6 Lake Suchitlán Reservoir of the Cerrón Grande dam
  7. 7 Los Volcanes National Park (Cerro Verde) Cerro Verde, Santa Ana and Izalco
  8. 8 El Boquerón National Park The crater of the San Salvador volcano

The park

  • Water: the forest is an important recharge area and protects several rivers that flow to the coast and the Jaltepeque estuary.
  • Facilities: camping areas, an interpretation centre, trails, viewpoints, community guides and lodging.

Source: El Diario de Hoy: the six main protected areas of El Salvador, 2025; El Salvador Travel (Ministry of Tourism): El Imposible National Park1,2

Visiting

  • Permit: fill in the Ministry of Environment form with the list of visitors and send it before the visit.
  • Hours and fees: the Ministry announced visiting hours of 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. for 2026; entry is $3 for Salvadorans and $6 for foreigners, with lower prices for students.

Source: El Salvador.com: how to get a permit for the protected natural areas of El Salvador; El Salvador.com: El Imposible, prices, trails and what to bring, 20263,4

Hours, fees and access rules change, and areas can close for maintenance, weather or volcanic activity. Check with the park or the Ministry before you travel.

Sources

  1. El Diario de Hoy: the six main protected areas of El Salvador, 2025 (in Spanish)
  2. El Salvador Travel (Ministry of Tourism): El Imposible National Park
  3. El Salvador.com: how to get a permit for the protected natural areas of El Salvador (in Spanish)
  4. El Salvador.com: El Imposible, prices, trails and what to bring, 2026 (in Spanish)

Figures checked 9 November 2026. Prepared by InvestSalvador.com for general information. Figures come from the sources listed.

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