El Imposible National Park

El Imposible takes its name from a gorge on an old mule trail where animals and drivers regularly fell to their deaths carrying coffee to the coast. The park now protects the country's largest remaining tract of tropical forest, over three thousand hectares on the ridges of the Apaneca range, and its species list is remarkable for a country as deforested as El Salvador: pumas, ocelots, king vultures, black-crested eagles, and around five hundred butterfly species. Trails climb to viewpoints over the Pacific, and rivers run down through the forest to swimming holes near Tacuba.

What you actually see

• The forest trails - guided walks through the country's largest woodland.
• Mirador El Mulo - the viewpoint over the coastal plain to the Pacific.
• Butterflies and birds - exceptional diversity for the region.
• Tacuba river canyoning - waterfall jumps and swimming below the park.

When to go

The dry season from November to April makes the trails firmer and the views clearer. The rainy season brings heavier growth, more butterflies and slippery paths. Early mornings are best for wildlife and for the ridge views before cloud builds.

Honest expectations

A guide is compulsory and arranged at the entrance or through Tacuba hostels - this is not a self-guided park. Trails are steep and hot. Access roads are rough and often need 4x4, particularly after rain. Wildlife is present but genuinely shy; expect birds and butterflies rather than cats. Facilities are basic camping and a small visitor centre.

Nearby

Tacuba, the Ruta de las Flores and the Pacific coast at Barra de Santiago.