This was my first time to El Salvador and I went back in time to visit the Mayan ruins. I visited two pre-Hispanic archaeological sites. The Mayan Ruins of San Andrés and the UNESCO World Heritage Site Joya de Ceren.
We docked in Acajutla, El Salvador and drove to the archaeologically ruins of San Andrés, deep in the valley of Zapotitan. It took around one and half hours to reach the site from the port.
Mayan Ruins of San Andrés
San Andrés dates back, to 900 BC and it was an important political, cultural and religious centre. In 420 AD, it was covered in ash by the Ilopango volcano. Then between 500 – 600 AD San Andrés was recolonized.
By the years 850 – 900 AD, it is believed the Mayans abandoned the area because of the eruption of the El Boquerón volcano that covered the area with ash.
Between 600 and 900 AD, the town was an important regional Mayan capital. Many of the ruins reveal the political and ceremonial workings of this town.
In 1100 AD, the valley was reoccupied by migrant groups from Mexico known as Pipiles until the Spanish conquest in 1524.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
The site was buried under the ash of the Playón Volcano in 1658 AD until excavation work began in the 1940s.
When we arrived, we walked through the museum and saw artefacts and how the site would have looked before it was covered with ash from a volcanic eruption.
Only a few ceremonial areas have been excavated to date. Mayan lords ruled the land from the “Acropolis” which are the pyramids.
It was amazing to see the green hills with large stone bricks in the shape of pyramids. In the distance, there were views of volcanoes and on the site, there were cocoa and coffee trees.
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
Joya de Ceren
Next, we went to the UNESCO World Heritage Site Joya de Ceren, which was a Mayan farming village. It is known as the ‘Pompeii of the Americas.’
The town is believed to date back to 1200 BC and was devastated by volcanic eruptions twice. The first in 200 AD by the same eruption of the Ilopango volcano that hit San Andrés.
After it was repopulated, it thrived for a few hundred more years before another volcano, Laguna Caldera, erupted in 600 AD. It buried the village under four to eight meters of ash over a span of a few hours.
The town was perfectly preserved, but no bodies have been found. It is assumed that the villagers were evacuated in time, but they left in a hurry as they left behind half-eaten food!
This slideshow requires JavaScript.
These incredible ruins lay undisturbed until they were discovered accidentally in 1976 by a bulldozer driver who was levelling the ground to build grain storage silos. About 70 structures have been uncovered so far, including storehouses, kitchens, and living quarters.
This site was very interesting as it really has been preserved so well. The site is mainly undercover which is good as it gets hot and humid in this part of the world!
Need help packing for your next cruise? Download a free packing checking list. Click here now to get it in straight to your inbox!
Essential Info
- Weather: Average temperature all year round 30*C
- Language: Spanish
- Currency: US Dollar
- Wear lightweight clothing and hat
- Wear sunscreen and insect repellent
I hope you have enjoyed reading about El Salvador, please share on Facebook, Twitter or Pinterest so your friends and family can read too. Sharing is caring!
Have you been to El Salvador? What would you recommend doing?
Happy Travels
Love Lucy x
P.S. If you are enjoying reading my blog please subscribe to my newsletter, where you get all my latest blogs straight to your inbox and exclusive info that is not on the blog! Click here now to subscribe
(L. Williams is a participant in the Amazon EU Associates Programme, an affiliate advertising programme designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.co.uk, at no extra cost to you).
