Suchitoto

Suchitoto sits on a ridge above Lake Suchitlan with cobbled streets, single-storey colonial houses and the white church of Santa Lucia on its square, and it has become El Salvador's cultural centre - galleries, workshops, a permanent arts festival culture and a slower pace than anywhere else in the country. Indigo, which made the region wealthy in colonial times, has been revived as a craft and workshops teach the dyeing process. Boats run out onto the lake, which was created by a dam and now hosts migratory birds, and the surrounding hills carry a heavy recent history that guides discuss openly with visitors who ask.

What you actually see

• Santa Lucia church and the square - the colonial centre of town.
• Indigo workshops - learning the dyeing craft that built the region.
• Lake Suchitlan boat trips - birdlife and islands on the reservoir.
• Los Tercios waterfall - hexagonal basalt columns near town.

When to go

The dry season from November to April gives the clearest weather; the lake's bird numbers peak in the northern winter with migratory arrivals. Los Tercios waterfall only flows in the rainy season, though the columns are visible year round.

Honest expectations

The town is small and quiet - two days is plenty. Cobbles are hard going for wheels and heels. Accommodation is limited to small hotels and books out during festivals.

Nearby

Lake Suchitlan, San Salvador and the northern Cabanas department.