Joya de Cerén
The Pompeii of America: the Mayan village that ash left untouched.
Km. 35 on the road from San Salvador to San Juan Opico, La Libertad
About Joya de Cerén
Joya de Cerén is the only site in El Salvador declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. An eruption from the Loma Caldera volcano buried it under ash around the year 650 A.D., freezing the daily life of a Mayan village: houses, storerooms, a temazcal, utensils, and even the crops remained intact. This is why it is known as the Pompeii of the Americas.
Details
Hours
Mon closed Tue-Sun 9:00 AM-4:00 PM
Admission
$1 – $10 USD
Best time to visit
In the morning
Highlight
UNESCO World Heritage
Brief History
The site was discovered in 1976 during land leveling work for grain silos. UNESCO declared it a World Heritage Site on December 11, 1993. Unlike other Mayan sites that preserve temples and ceremonial centers, Joya de Cerén preserves what rarely survives: the everyday life of ordinary people from the Late Classic period, in the Zapotitán Valley.
Location & Map
Km. 35 on the road from San Salvador to San Juan Opico, La Libertad
Visit Tips
Entrance: $1 for Salvadorans, $3 for Central Americans, $7 for resident foreigners, and $10 for non-residents. It is the highest fee of the five parks due to being a World Heritage Site.
Open from Tuesday to Sunday, from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Closed on Mondays.
It has a café and free guide service. It is 5 km from San Andrés: both parks can be visited on the same day without rush.
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