Experiences El Salvador
Ilopango Lake
Lake

Ilopango Lake

San Salvador
72 km²
Area
230 m
Depth
Volcánico
Origin

About Ilopango Lake

Located just a few kilometers from San Salvador, Lake Ilopango offers boat tours, kayaking, fishing, and diving within an expansive volcanic caldera. The visit can be complemented by dining at the restaurants around the lake, where local cuisine is paired with panoramic views.

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Explore Ilopango Lake

Activities, restaurants and stays recommended by Experiences.

Where to eat

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Las Tres Piedras
Restaurant

Las Tres Piedras

Las Tres Piedras

Restaurant and viewpoint along the Panoramic Road, on the southern edge of Lake Ilopango. The menu combines traditional Salvadoran cuisine with international dishes, served with a view of the lake.

Carretera Panorámica Km 21.5

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Kiosko San Francisco
Restaurant

Kiosko San Francisco

Kiosko San Francisco

Typical food restaurant at kilometer 24 of the Panoramic Highway, on the southern shore of the lake. The menu focuses on Salvadoran dishes and seafood, with a terrace facing the crater.

Carretera Panorámica Km 24

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Coffee Lake Restaurant & Steak House
Restaurant

Coffee Lake Restaurant & Steak House

Coffee Lake Restaurant & Steak House

Restaurant and steakhouse on the Panoramic Highway, with a view of Lake Ilopango from the southern slope. The menu includes cuts of meat, coffee, and international dishes.

Carretera Panorámica Km 19

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La Petite Chef
Restaurant

La Petite Chef

La Petite Chef

Restaurant at kilometer 22.5 of the Panoramic Highway, in the southern sector of Lake Ilopango. The offering is international cuisine served in front of the crater viewpoint.

Carretera Panorámica Km 22.5

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La Casona Café y Típicos
Restaurant

La Casona Café y Típicos

La Casona Café y Típicos

Café and traditional food restaurant on the Panoramic Highway, at kilometer 25 on the southern slope of the lake. The menu features Salvadoran dishes, coffee, and pastries, with a view of the crater.

Carretera Panorámica Km 25

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Restaurante y Mirador Los Llanitos
Restaurant

Restaurante y Mirador Los Llanitos

Restaurante y Mirador Los Llanitos

Restaurant with a viewpoint on the Panoramic Road, in the hamlet of La Montaña on the southern shore of Lake Ilopango. It offers traditional Salvadoran cuisine on terraces overlooking the crater.

Carretera Panorámica Km 24, Caserío La Montaña

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Azomalli SV
Restaurant

Azomalli SV

Azomalli SV

Restaurant at kilometer 24 of the Panoramic Road, on the southern shore of Lake Ilopango. The menu features international and local dishes served in front of the viewpoint.

Carretera Panorámica Km 24

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Típicos Lisseth Melody
Restaurant

Típicos Lisseth Melody

Típicos Lisseth Melody

Typical food diner along the Panoramic Highway, on the southern slope of Lake Ilopango. The menu consists of traditional Salvadoran dishes served with a view of the lake.

Carretera Panorámica

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Cafés & Bars

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Café Santa Cruz
Coffee shop

Café Santa Cruz

Café Santa Cruz

Café located on the Panoramic Highway, on the southern slope of Lake Ilopango, with an open view of the crater. It offers coffee, pastries, and light dishes to enjoy in front of the viewpoint.

Carretera Panorámica Km 10

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Highlights

Snapshots that tell the story of Ilopango Lake.

History of Ilopango Lake

Ilopango comes from Xilopango, a name of Nahuatl origin related to xilotes or tender corn. Around the year 431 A.D., the Tierra Blanca Joven eruption caused the most recent collapse of the caldera, covering large areas with ash and affecting numerous Maya settlements. Its last recorded eruption occurred between 1879 and 1880 and formed a lava dome, the visible parts of which are now known as Islas Quemadas or Cerros Quemados.

History of Ilopango Lake

Fun facts

1
The Ilopango caldera measures approximately 8 kilometers wide by 11 kilometers long.
2
The lake reaches a depth of about 230 meters.
3
Its waters stretch between the departments of San Salvador, Cuscatlán, and La Paz.

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