Me in front of a colorful mural in Concepción de Ataco

my excursion through the flower villages of the Ruta de las Flores with their beautiful murals

One of El Salvador's main attractions is the Ruta de las Flores, the flower route. It meanders through a multitude of small colonial-style villages, characterized by flowery murals and real flowering plants (if you come at the right time).

Again an old American school bus took me through the cute villages. The bus number 249 runs regularly between Sonsonate and Ahuachapán, and stops in Juayúa, Apaneca and Ataco. The latter three were among the places I wanted to see. I started my tour from Santa Ana.

1st place: Juayúa

First I got off at Juayúa. The name derives from a red or purple flowering orchid species. Opposite the main square is an old white cathedral with a black Jesus statue. Occasionally the main square fills up with many visitors when the regular food festival takes place.

2nd place: Apaneca

Even better I liked the second village, Apaneca. Almost all of the old houses were decorated with mural paintings. These are not pointless graffiti smears, but rather motifs with a local background.

3rd place: Ataco

But the most beautiful paintings awaited me in the last village of my trip, in Concepción de Ataco (in English: A place of high springs). The many cafés with really tasty coffee are also very present here.

But even here in this little village the military patrols with thick machine guns. Nevertheless, I had no safety concerns here. Anyway, all I carried was my cell phone and some small change, just enough to pay for the bus tickets and some food.

Return to Santa Ana

In the afternoon I returned to my hostel and finished the evening in the pool. I was very taken with the colourful little villages. There were hardly any tourists, but many beautiful murals and small cafés. Only the flowers just didn't bloom so right. All in all a really beautiful day!