Top 10 Things to Do with Kids in El Salvador
El Salvador is small, which is one of its best-kept secrets for families. In a single morning you can go from a volcano crater, to the beach, to a spring-fed swimming hole, to a plate of pupusas, and nobody has to sit in the car for five hours. After years of exploring with our own kids, these are the top things to do with kids in El Salvador: the places we keep going back to and the ones we recommend first to every family who asks.
1. Cerro Verde National Park
Cool air, cloud forest trails, and front-row views of the Santa Ana and Izalco volcanoes make Parque Nacional Cerro Verde feel like a different country from the hot coast. The easy loop trails are good for little legs, and older kids who are ready for a real challenge can join the guided morning hike up to the Santa Ana crater and its turquoise lagoon. There is a cute playground up there and many snack stand options, or you can eat at one of the two restaurants. Bring layers, because it gets chilly up there. For trail details and tips, read our full guide to visiting Cerro Verde with kids.
Good to know: Open daily 8am–8pm. Entry is $1.50 for nationals and $3 for foreigners, and kids under 6 get in free. Parking is $1.
2. El Boquerón National Park
This is the easiest volcano adventure in the country, just a short drive up from San Salvador. At Parque Nacional El Boquerón, a short, well-kept trail leads to lookouts over the massive crater of the San Salvador volcano, with the little Boqueroncito cone sitting inside it. There’s also a playground near the top. See our El Boquerón guide for the full walkthrough and our list of kid-friendly restaurants on El Boquerón for where to eat afterward.
Good to know: Open daily 8am–5pm. Entry is $1 for nationals and $2 for foreigners, and local kids and seniors are free. Parking is $1.
3. Jardín Botánico La Laguna
Tucked inside an ancient volcanic crater in Antiguo Cuscatlán, Jardín Botánico La Laguna is a shady, peaceful escape right in the city. Kids love feeding the fish, counting turtles in the ponds, and spotting iguanas and agoutis along the paths. There’s also a great playground, so plan to stay a while. Our Jardín Botánico guide includes a free printable scavenger hunt to bring along.
Good to know: Open Tuesday–Sunday, 9am–5:30pm (closed Mondays). Entry is $2 for adults and $1.50 for kids ages 2–12.
4. BINAES (National Library of El Salvador)
The Biblioteca Nacional de El Salvador in the Centro Histórico isn’t your average library. The first floor is made for young kids, with books, toys, reading nooks, and play spaces sorted by age, and there’s a nursing room and changing tables too. Head to the next floors for thematic setups, video game areas, robotics, sensory rooms and much more. Go to the top levels for views over downtown of the National Palace and the Cathedral. It’s our go-to for rainy afternoons, and it’s on our list of 11 free things to do with kids near San Salvador.
Good to know: Open 24/7, and entry is free.
5. MUNA (National Museum of Anthropology)
The Museo Nacional de Antropología Dr. David J. Guzmán is the best introduction to El Salvador’s history and culture for kids. The exhibits cover Indigenous peoples, archaeological finds, farming, and daily life, with signs in English and Spanish, and it’s compact enough to explore before anyone gets tired. There is a designated kids room with interactive games to learn more about the country. There are also virtual reality experiences! Visit before your archaeological site trips so the kids have more context for what they’ll see. Read our full MUNA with kids guide, and find more ideas in our roundup of the best museums in El Salvador for kids.
Good to know: Open Tuesday–Sunday, 10am–6pm (closed Mondays). Entry is $1 for Salvadorans, $3 for Central Americans and resident foreigners, and $10 for non-resident visitors.
6. San Andrés Archaeological Site
Parque Arqueológico San Andrés gives kids open lawns to explore, a small museum, and pyramid structures to see up close, all less than an hour from San Salvador.There is a nice snack area (get a fresh coconut!) and a mini pyramid with slides that kids can play on as well. It’s easy to pair with nearby Joya de Cerén, the UNESCO site nicknamed the “Pompeii of the Americas,” where a whole farming village was preserved under volcanic ash. Go early, since there’s little shade at San Andrés and it gets hot fast. If your kids are hooked, Tazumal is the next site to add to your list.
Good to know: Open Tuesday–Sunday, 9am–4pm (closed Mondays). Entry is $1 for Salvadorans, $3 for Central Americans and resident foreigners, and $5 for non-resident visitors. Salvadoran kids 12 and under are free with ID.
7. Parque Balboa + Puerta del Diablo
Parque Balboa is a classic Salvadoran family park with playgrounds, trails, and plenty of room to run and explore. There are multiple kids play areas, a maze, mechanical rides and lots of snack venders. We love to grab pupusas here after the kids have gotten to play a bit. There are a bunch of pupusa restaurants all over, we tend to go to the ones right at the park entrance where there is also a small kids playground. From there it’s an optional short drive to Puerta del Diablo, where giant rock formations frame sweeping views toward the coast and Panchimalco, it’s on the international list of the world’s top 100 geological heritage sites.
Good to know: Parque Balboa is open daily 6am–10pm, and entry is free (you only pay for parking). Puerta del Diablo is open daily 8am–10pm. Walking in is free, and the guided climb up the rock formations costs $1.50 for nationals and $3 for foreigners. Parking is about $2.
8. Atecozol (Izalco)
This is our favorite turicentro, and honestly one of our favorite places in the country. Parque Recreativo Atecozol has cool spring-fed pools surrounded by big old trees and waterfalls. The Piscina Popular is deeper and great for older kids and adults, and the family area has seven pools for little ones. We love to go from pool to pool and explore the mini waterfalls. All the water is naturally flowing spring water so some of the pools have little fish that will nibble your toes! Pack bug repellent. For more options, see our list of the best family-friendly water parks in El Salvador.
Good to know: Open daily 8am–4pm. Entry is $1.50 for nationals and $3 for foreign visitors, and kids under 6 and seniors 60+ are free. Nationals should bring their DUI to get the national rate.
9. Hotel Estero y Mar
No trip to El Salvador is complete without a beach day. Hotel Estero y Mar sits right on Playa El Pimental, where the estuary meets the ocean, only about 30 minutes from the airport. Kids get multiple pools with shallow sections, a petting zoo, resident parrots, monkeys, and turtles, and boat rides offered through the estuary. You can stay overnight or book a day pass, which makes it an easy first or last stop of a trip. Read our full Estero y Mar review, and for more coastal options, check out our family guide to El Salvador’s beaches.
Good to know: Day passes and a kids’ meal package are available. Check current rates and book on Estero y Mar’s website. Outside food and drinks aren’t allowed.
10. Museo Tin Marín
El Salvador’s only children’s museum is built entirely around learning by doing. At Museo Tin Marín, kids can explore more than 30 hands-on exhibits, climb inside a real airplane, play shopkeeper, and catch a show in the planetarium. It’s a perfect rainy-day plan, and Parque Cuscatlán is right next door if the kids still have energy to burn afterward.
Good to know: Open Tuesday–Friday 1pm–5pm and Saturday–Sunday 9am–5pm (closed Mondays). Entry is $3.50 per person, and kids under 2 are free. The museum + planetarium combo is $5. Visits are 2 hours, and you can buy tickets online ahead of time on Tin Marín’s website.
Planning Your Family Trip to El Salvador?
If you’re putting together a longer visit, our 5-day family itinerary shows how to fit many of these into one trip. If you’d rather have help with the details, we offer 1:1 trip planning consultations for families visiting El Salvador. And if you want even more things to do with kids in el Salvador, our Ultimate Family Guide to El Salvador has over 200 family-friendly spots across the country, all mapped out and ready to explore.
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