VOLCÁN CONCHAGUA

A breathtaking view, but one that has to be earned: to reach the Espiritu de La Montaña viewpoint at the top of the Conchagua volcano, over 1,100 metres above sea level, you first have to spend 2 hours in a large vehicle converted into a pick-up truck, which will take you up a steep and bumpy road. Departures are from La Unión. Don't look too far down! You can get there yourself with your own car, but beware: you'll need a 4x4. The climb on foot isn't really worth the effort, as there's no real path: you'll be following the same path as the vehicles. Once you've reached the top, you can take a breather and relax amidst the pine trees and facing the Gulf of Fonseca, shared by three countries: El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua. The blue of the water and sky, the green of the islands and the golden of the beaches... you'll think the climb was worth it! It's possible to camp at the summit (make arrangements with the agency that handles transport). There's even a chalet available for rent, but it's much more expensive (expect to pay several hundred euros a night). The Conchagua volcano viewpoint is undergoing a complete transformation: a small museum has just opened, and new trails and viewpoints will be created in the months and years to come. There's already a small stand where you can buy snacks, as well as sanitary facilities. For the time being, it's still fairly quiet and little frequented.