Apaneca means “the river of the winds” and the city holds up to its name, with constant breezes throughout the day. Many wind barriers are created using coffee bushes, making the whole region very picturesque.

There are lost of different sights to see in Apaneca, such as the Laguna Verde and the Laguna de las Ninfas, and touring a coffee plantation is a must.

While in Apaneca you should definitely plan a trip to Ataco. This small mountain town, just 5 kilometers from Apaneca, is home to Diconte Axul, one of the most famous textile and handicraft stores in El Salvador. The store is well known by everyone, and is just a couple blocks from the main park.

At many beneficios, as coffee recollection sites are called in Spanish, you can tour the premises free of charge. However, they do expect you to buy a bit of their gourmet coffee, which at between $5 and $10 per pound, is a steal!

Juayua.com has photo galleries of the city, a calendar of events, hotel listings, info on tour companies, restaurants, news, transportation and more. It is like one stop shopping for this little town that is talked about all over the internet as one of the best stops on the Route of the Flowers.

I think my favorite is the “Comida Rapida” section, which highlights the three “fast food” places in Juayua, all right by city park.

If you are practicing your Spanish in preparation for the trip, this is a good place to come and read up, in Spanish, about the town.

I think it is great to see such a small mountain town in El Salvador working to promote itself through the internet.

Go check out the helpful travel tips on www.juayua.com!

In other countries I have traveled to, I often succumb, at least once, to eating at an American style pizza joint, like Pizza Hut, and I am always incredibly disappointed. Even in countries where there are local pizza chains, it is just never as good as Hungry Howies (GO MIDWEST PIZZA!).

Pizzeria Al Forno isn’t Midwest pizza, and it’s not a New York pie either, but it does what it does well. Pizzas are baked fresh, in about 15 minutes, and they use all fresh ingredients. They aren’t greasy, and they are reasonably priced. The sauce might leave a little something to be desired, but the toppings are excellent. It is the kind of place that pleases pretty much everyone in the pizza department.

You can also try a variety of appetizers, including garlic knots and cheese covered garlic bread. If you aren’t so much of a pizza fan, try the chicken and beef lasagna.

The Pizzeria Al Forno is located one block to the east of Central Park in front of the Despensa Familiar. The phone number is (503) 2469–2608, although no reservations are needed.

The hotel is a colonial home that has been converted, and keeps a very low key, cool, cozy style. Hammocks are strung up between support beams, there is a common kitchen for guests to share, and a number of random rooms to chill in with free internet access.

The private rooms have hot water bathrooms, the dorm rooms have a shared cold-water only bathroom and three bunk beds each (6 beds per room). Single occupancy rooms start at $15.00, and go up to $45 for quadruple occupancy. Double occupancy is just $25 a night.

Hotel Anahuac is a pretty cool place to nestle yourself into in Juayua. Visit www.hotelanahuac.com for more information.

Hotel Anahuac also offers tours to Los Chorros, the geishers and hot springs, and the 7 waterfalls. Tours are reasonable, ranging between $5 and $15 dollars per person.

If you want to learn more about travel in Juayua and other parts of El Salvador, click here.

Really, if you come to Juayua during the week, you are going to want to fill your days with different hikes, bike rides, and swims in anticipation of the weekend’s Gastronomic Fair.

That’s where Juayutur fits in. Although at the moment they don’t have a web-site, you can call Edgar Antonio Alfaro at 011 503 2469 2387, or just stop by the office!

Make sure you make the time for visiting Los Chorros, exploring the underground tunnels, and if you have a chance and like coffee, don’t pass up a tour of the coffee farm and processing plant.

For connecting to the internt in Juayua try these three internet cafes:

Cyber y Equipment

1a. Av. Sur 1-2, Barrio San José
Tel.: 2452-2769

Nautilus Cyber Shop

Calle Merceditas Cáceres y 2a. Av. Norte
Tels.:2452-2343, 2226-4374
cor07_1@hotmail.com

En El Yei

Calle Merceditas Cáceres No. 13, Centro Comercial La Futurista. Tel. 2452-2214

If that happens check out Taqueria Guadalupana where you can get all the best of fajitas, pollo en mole, poblano, guacamole, nachos, and puyaso. Wash it down with mezcal, torito pinto, a nice cold beer or a margarita!

Taqueria Guadalupana does what it does well; serves decent Mexican fare in a little town in El Salvador. It is located on 2a Calle Oriente, one block from the Oriente de la Alealdia. Call 2452–2195 or email taqueriaguadalupana@juayua.com for more information.

Click here for more information here.

From Finca El Portezuelo you can take a hiking tour up through the mountains into the cloud forest, where there are amazing wild orchid gardens and other plant life. The hike takes you through coffee plantations and ravines, ending in a series of geishers. The mud from the geishers is said heal the skin, and that combined with a nice soak in the hotsprings melts away the outside world.

If you like horses Finca El Portezuelo has 17 peruvian horses used for horseback tours. In case the walking isn’t for you, the horses can take you up into the mountains to experience the true beauty of the Apaneca region.

The Finca El Portezuelo runs a nice little set-up, and they handle pretty much any tours you want up in the mountains. They also serve coffee and tea, and bring snacks along on their tours.

For more information on the tours offered at Finca El Portezuelo, click here.

Juayua in particular is popular among tourists that come to El Salvador, but honestly the amount of people who end up here are quite few. The country is still a little more rugged than other popular eco-tourism destinations, but for many, that makes it all the more fun.

In Juayua it is a good idea to ask at your hotel guest for a local guide. Sure, you can hike around yourself, but a guide brings so much more to the trip. They can provide you with a history of the area, give you an insider’s view of the region, and help you not to miss important aspects of the Salvadoran countryside. Local guides really know about their region, and the passion that they share is infectious. If you stay at Hotel El Mirador, it is possible your guide will be Juan Pablo. A bit of advice: if he tells you it is a long walk… it is a really long walk! All the more fun!

Guides are also a good idea because not all areas are 100% safe, haveing a knowledgeable, helpful, fun and friendly guide can make trekking so much more enjoyable.

As far as hikes go, make sure you head to Los Chorros, The Green Lagoon and the Lagood of the Nymphs.

Everyone pitches in to get things done, which makes staying here like being completely pampered, but in the comforts of your own home… sort of. Rooms are clean and the food at the hotel’s restaurant is great, all done by the same people! The restaurant also offers an incredible view of the city and the surrounding landscape.

Everyone is really helpful with making sure you are comfortable, and enabling you to really enjoy your stay in Juayua. If you ask at the desk, they will help you to arrange visits to must see places, set you up with an experienced and trustworthy guide, and ensure you are having the best possible time.

Accomodations are basic, but comfortable. Beds are good, cable TV is included (although I hope you don’t come all this way to stay inside and watch the boob toob!) Hot water is included.

Hotel El Mirador is locaed on calle 4a pte 4–4 in the Town Center. Visit www.elmiradorjuayua.com for more information.

Single rooms start at $17.50 and the family room is $60 a night. (There is also a dorm style room for backpackers which costs $7.00 per person per night.) And make sure and tell them if it’s your honeymoon: for $85.00 a night you get the honeymoon suite with room service, breakfast and lunch included and a free bottle of wine.

The web-site actually has a REALLY cool map on how to get there, with links to photos included, so you can really get an idea of where you are headed.