San Miguel Volcano (Chaparrastique), El Salvador

At a glance

Source: CIA: The World Factbook, El Salvador, December 2012 (CIA Reading Room copy at the Internet Archive); Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program: San Miguel; El Salvador.com: five volcanoes to explore in El Salvador, 1 March 2026^2,1,3

Map

The volcano

• Frequent eruptions: it is one of the most active volcanoes in the country, with eruptions recorded since the early 16th century and lava fields on its south-east side crossed by highways.
• 2013–2014: an explosive eruption that began on 29 December 2013 sent an ash plume to about 9.7 km.
• 2022–2023: from 15 November 2022 to 27 May 2023 the volcano had a smaller eruption, with 194 explosions recorded between 15 and 29 November 2022; the Ministry of Environment asked people to stay at least 3 km from the crater.

Source: Smithsonian Global Volcanism Program: San Miguel¹

Visiting

Access depends on conditions set by the civil protection and environmental authorities and can be closed because of gas or seismic activity. El Salvador.com notes that the volcano has no authorised tourist route; climbs described by local guides take 5 to 6 hours.³

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.

For investors

Volcanoes bring geothermal power, fertile coffee land and visitors, and they also bring risk. For a hotel, a farm or a home near a volcano, ask your engineer and insurer about volcanic, landslide and seismic hazards before you buy.