Salto de Malacatiupan

The falls at Malacatiupan are fed by a river carrying geothermally heated water, so unlike almost any other waterfall the water is warm, around thirty-five degrees, and the pools below the drops are used as natural hot baths. The river comes down in a series of steps through a wooded gorge, with the main fall dropping several metres into a wide pool. The site is on private and community land near Atiquizaya, reached by a rough track and then a steep descent on foot, and access is arranged with local guides who collect a fee. There are no built facilities. Water flow and temperature vary with rainfall, and the pools are muddier after rain.

What you actually see

• The warm falls - the geothermally heated water dropping over rock.
• The bathing pools - the basins below the drops used as hot baths.
• The wooded gorge - the valley the river runs through.
• The descent - the steep path down from the track.

When to go

November to April in the dry season, when the water is clearest and the path safest; the rains cloud the pools and make the descent slippery. Weekdays are quieter. Mornings are best.

Honest expectations

Access is over private land with informal fees and local guides, and arrangements vary. The descent is steep and slippery with no handrails. There are no facilities, changing rooms or lifeguards. Water clarity depends on recent rain.

Nearby

Atiquizaya lies north; Ahuachapan is west.