Cerro Verde National Park

Cerro Verde is itself an extinct volcano whose crater has filled with cloud forest, and the park on its summit at around two thousand metres is the access point for the other two cones of the group: Santa Ana, the highest volcano in the country with a crater lake, and Izalco, the young black cone alongside. A short loop trail runs through the crater forest with viewpoints looking across at both. Ascents of Santa Ana and Izalco leave from here at fixed morning times with guides and are not permitted independently. The forest holds hummingbirds, orchids and bromeliads, and the air is cool and often in cloud.

What you actually see

• The crater forest - the cloud forest filling the Cerro Verde crater.
• The volcano views - Santa Ana and Izalco from the rim viewpoints.
• The loop trail - the short walk through the forest.
• Ascent departures - the guided groups leaving for the two cones.

When to go

November to April for the clearest views; cloud sits on the summit for much of the rainy season and often by mid-morning year round. Ascents leave early, usually around eleven, and arriving late means missing them.

Honest expectations

Volcano ascents run at a single fixed time each day with guides and cannot be done independently; arriving after departure means no climb. Cloud often removes the views. The summit is cool and wet. The road up is winding.

Nearby

Izalco and Santa Ana volcanoes rise alongside; Coatepeque lake is below.