Even if you just plan a quick circuit of Metapán plaza before continuing on your way, it's definitely worth your time to stop for a coffee at Balompie Café (3ra. Av. Norte, Local 17, second floor; tel. 503/2402-3567; www.balompiecafe.com), which has a beautiful arched colonial facade on one side and a full-size soccer field on the other. You can literally have one eye on a local game and the other on the pretty plaza while enjoying standard fare such as chicken, pasta, and beef. The restaurant is open from Wednesday to Sunday from 10am to 1pm. The same building runs the length of the plaza and has several casual cafes and pupuserias, but for the moment, the town lacks any choice in fine dining.
At Parque Acuático Apuzunga (Km100 Carretera de Santa Ana; tel. 503/2440-5130; www.apuzunga.com), you can zip over the river, raft the river, fish the river, and then eat the fish from the same river. This is a sprawling garden restaurant, fish farm, rafting outfitter, and pool complex located 12km (7 1/2 miles) south of Metapán. The rancho-style restaurant has a riverside setting and spacious gardens, with open air dining areas interrupted occasionally by thrill-seekers gliding by on a cable. It specializes in a local tilapia, which is farmed on-site and served with salad and rice. The owner Jesus Sanabria Zamora is a gregarious host who will take you on a tour of the property he is very proud of. Look for the entrance signs approximately 12km (7 1/2 miles) south of Metapán, on the left as you travel south. It is open every day from 7am to 6pm. Zip-lining costs $7.50 per person, or $15 including transport from Metapán. Two hours of rafting costs $30 per person, or $35 including transport. Group discounts are available.
Note: This information was accurate when it was published, but can change without notice. Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the companies in question before planning your trip.
