Getting There
The first stop on the Ruta de las Flores, Nahuizalco, is 5km (3 miles) from Sonsonate and 68km (42 miles) from San Salvador. To get there from San Salvador, take bus no. 205 to Sonsonate followed by bus no. 249, 23, or 53d. Bus nos. 249 and 23 stop about 1km (1/2 mile) from the center of Nahuizalco but continue into the heart of each of the route's other villages. Bus no. 53d travels only between Sonsonate and Nahuizalco.
Each of the buses mentioned runs daily from roughly 5am to 6pm and costs between 25¢ and $1. The 205 bus from San Salvador runs about every 30 minutes, while the local buses come along about every 10 minutes.
It's easy to drive this route: Each of the towns along the way is just a few minutes off main Hwy. CA-8 and are very well marked.
Visitor Information
A national tourist office branch is located at Km 82, Carretera CA-8, Salcoatitan (tel. 503/2401-8675; cat.rutasdelasflores@gmail.com). Tourist office staff speak only Spanish but offer some bilingual pamphlets and brochures about the area. Office hours are Monday to Friday from 8am to 4pm and Saturday and Sunday from 9am to 1pm.
Ruta de las Flores -- Make sure you stock up on cash in Juayúa, which is the only town along the Ruta de las Flores with a bank machine. Most vendors and restaurants accept only cash in all five Ruta de las Flores towns. Internet access is available in Juayúa at Nautilus Cyber (Calle Merceditas Cáceres and 2a Av. Norte; tel. 503/2452-2343) and in Ataco at Cyber Nautica (2a Calle Poniente, #5, Barrio Santa Lucia; tel. 503/2450-5719). Small pharmacies are located in Juayúa near the main square.
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.
