Hostels in Juayúa, El Salvador

Juayúa, a relaxing and memorable destination in small-town El Salvador, is one of the towns on El Salvador's Ruta de los Flores, the Route of Flowers. The towns are quiet and colorful, surrounded by fields of coffee. Juayúa is bigger than some of the other towns, with more services and a choice of Juayúa hostels.

Be sure to go on a weekend, when they hold their International Gastronomical Festival. Vendors set up their stalls right in the center and offer interesting fare, including local favorites and more exotic dishes, like rabbit and grilled frog. It's delicious and affordable. Buy your food and sit at big tables with the locals. They're friendly, and you can easily strike up a conversation, especially if you speak Spanish. During the festival, vendors also sell colorful local handicrafts. If you're in Juayúa during the week, you'll find plenty of little restaurants or stands where you can buy pupusas and other Salvadorian food.

Don't leave without visiting Los Chorros de Calera, a series of beautiful, jungly, manmade waterfalls within walking distance of town. Your Juayúa hostel can arrange a tour, and it's recommended, since a local guide will make the most of your trip, perhaps even preparing you a snack of machete-cut fruit served on banana leaves. The most important reason for a guide, however, is in the exploration. The falls are connected by swimmable concrete tunnels, half in water, dark and delightful, but dangerous without someone who knows them well. Even if you don't want to brave the tunnels, wear your swimsuit so you can play around in the pools and let the water cascade over you. Your hostel in Juayúa can also book you on other tours, some involving extreme adventure hiking.