Devil's Door (Puerta del Diablo)
Panchimalco, El Salvador
Once you’re up there, it’s easy to see why Devil's Door (Puerta del Diablo) was used as a sacred site by the Mayan Pipil people. Overlooking Los Planes de Renderos, it’s made up of massive boulders that almost feel as if they’ve parted themselves just to give way to panoramic vista views of El Salvador.
The basics
There are many ways to visit Devil's Door (Puerta del Diablo) but keep in mind most of those options involve going it alone without a guide to help. Whether you want to rock climb or hike, there are plenty of routes up to Devil's Door to choose from. For rock climbers, Devil’s Door features around 60 climbing routes spread across 13 different areas, but you can walk to most of those areas in about 5 minutes or less.
Things to know before you go
The hike to the very top is not for the faint of heart—make sure you’re in moderate. physical shape and bring good walking shoes and plenty of water.
If you’re looking to experience Devil’s Door, but not walk to the top, there are alternative, shorter walking trails to use.
Souvenir booths are near the bottom of the trails, so if you’re wanting to buy some goods, make sure to bring a little money.
How to get there
Most travelers visit Devil's Door (Puerta del Diablo) from El Salvador’s capital city center, San Salvador. If you’re driving your own vehicle to the lookout point from the city, it can take around 30 minutes to get to the starting point. Just take the main highway toward the airport and exit at Planes de Renderos and Panchimalo.
When to get there
You can visit Devil's Door (Puerta del Diablo) from the morning up until late nighttime, but the best times to go are in the morning to avoid the crowds and before the night begins as nights in El Salvador aren’t always so safe. The best months to plan a visit are March and April, so you can avoid the extreme heat but also visit before the rain comes to the area later in the year.
Make a whole day out of your outdoor adventure
Try an early morning visit to Devil's Door (Puerta del Diablo) and get there right at opening time. After a hike up to the top for stunning views of the country to the Pacific Ocean, plan to leave for El Boqueron National Park, which is about a 45-minute drive from Devil’s Door. At the national park (which only costs US$2 to enter), follow the marked road trails up to the San Salvador volcano’s crater.
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