Montecristo National Park

Montecristo National Park

Montecristo National Park is the only cloud forest in El Salvador, it is also part of the Central American region that has little more than 7% of all the species on the planet, many of which are not found in any other part of the globe. That is why you cannot miss the opportunity to explore and get to know this wonderful and unique wild refuge.

The Montecristo National Park is located in the municipality of Metapán, department of Santa Ana, 117 km (72 miles) from San Salvador, in the place known as the trifinio, where the borders of three countries, Guatemala, Honduras and El Salvador converge .
Also in that place is the second highest point in El Salvador at 2400 masl (7874. Ft) It covers an area of ​​1973 hectares of cloud forest and is part of the Trifinio Fraternity Biosphere Reserve.
It was the first protected area declared in El Salvador in 1987. At the entrance of the park, there is a colonial house, dating from 1783, where coffee, indigo and iron were produced.

The park contains trees up to 30 meters tall, including cypress, oak and pine; and local fauna, such as black shrew, squirrel, porcupine and white-tailed deer. Another attraction that captivates the interest of tourists is the Garden of the Hundred Years, with an exhibition of more than 100 species of orchids. In addition, some 275 species of endemic birds inhabit at a given time.
There are three important hills in the area: Montecristo (2418 masl), Miramundo (2394 masl) and El Brujo (2140 masl). Temperatures range between 6 ° C and 18 ° C. 4 so it is the perfect place to enjoy hot drinks that you can prepare in the kitchens that are scattered throughout the camping area.
It is important to note that this wild refuge is one of the biological corridors that serves as a habitat for various species in strict danger of extinction, also serving as a communication bridge between the north and south of the American continent.
Exploring this important ecosystem will allow you to value and understand, how important it is not only for wildlife, but also for humans,
General guidelines for entering protected natural areas:

❖ It is mandatory to provide the tourism company, a list with the names of the people, to reserve the date, number of people, vehicles, if it is a day visit or a camping visit.
❖ To reserve your application you must make the payment online to the tour operator. subsequently you will be notified of the confirmation of your request.
❖ The tour operator or in charge of the excursion must present a list with the
names of visitors and their contacts in case of emergency in the entrance booth of the
area.
❖ The number of people who will enter is 20 per group.
❖ The groups can be family members (grandfather, uncles, cousins, etc.), they can also arrive
groups made up of people who come from different places.
❖ The distance between the people is 2 meters and the distance between the groups
is 5 meters.
❖ If a visitor has a temperature of 37.5 degrees Celsius, they will not be allowed to enter the
ANP and will retire together with their companions.
Important to take note:
➢ The visiting tourist must wear their safety equipment (masks, soap for washing hands,
alcohol solution, paper towel) and your personal utensils (cup, glasses, plates, etc.).
➢ The visiting tourist must remove their waste in plastic bags and transfer them outside the ANP,
preferably they are mobilized to their homes and to the municipal cleaning truck.
➢ Camping tents, sleeping bags, hammocks, binoculars, etc. will not be rented.
➢ The schedules established for each ANP must be respected.
➢ In the camping areas there will be a quota of people that corresponds to half of those who
they usually camp. The groups that settle in the camping area must have a
five meter distance between groups

Montecristo National experience Itinerary