Private Santa Ana on an Early Permit, with a Day Pass at Cardedeu

Two things separate this one from the rest of the Santa Ana trips. The operator applies for a special permit to go up in the early hours, which is why the photographs from this trip tend to have nobody else in them. And the afternoon is spent on a day pass at Cardedeu, on the shore of Lake Coatepeque, rather than at a viewpoint above it. Santa Ana is the highest volcano in El Salvador and the crater holds an emerald green lagoon. Izalco is across the way, in full view from the top. The climb is described as easy and takes about two hours to the summit, with guides who do this for a living. At Cardedeu the pass covers the lakefront and the water activities that go with it. The tour is private, so the pace is yours to set.