Maria's Artisan Tour
Day 1
San Salvador
Our TTC professional staff will greet you upon your arrival at the El Salvador Comalapa International Airport and transport you in our Mercedes Benz van to your hotel. This van will provide transportation throughout the trip. You will be spending your first night in El Salvador at the 5 star Radisson Hotel that is located in the Escalon district of San Salvador. You will enjoy the view of the San Salvador Volcano from your room or from the outdoor eating venue featured at this hotel.
TTC staff will provide a welcome reception at the hotel. No worries; we will make sure you have time to relax and enjoy the many amenities your hotel offers as you anticipate your week of discovering the artistic riches throughout this country!
Our TTC staff will escort you on this evening to the plaza of 'La Gran Via' where you may choose from the many restaurants found in this area. You will have time to enjoy your meal at your leisure or grab a quick bite and spend time in your favorite store – there are many from which to choose. Enjoy! (Please note: dinner on this evening is not included in the price of the tour.)
Day 2
Suchitoto
Immediately following breakfast, you will depart for the colonial town of Suchitoto. Cobbled-stoned streets lined with galleries, restaurants, historical sites, and specialty shops await you in this quaint town. During colonial times, indigo dye was produced here and exported to Europe. After touring the town, you will delight in returning to the Hotel Los Almendros de San Lorenzo – where the common areas are filled with artwork from popular local artists. This hotel offers beautiful rooms, lovely open-air areas to lounge and an inviting swimming pool. You will dine at the hotel’s fine restaurant after which you may enjoy a glass of wine while sitting around the pool or venture out for a stroll through the town square.
Day 3
La Palma
Breakfast will be served in the open-air courtyard of the Los Almendros. Although you will want to linger a bit longer in this town, the TTC staff will encourage you to board the Mercedes Benz Van as we head out to our next exciting destination – the artisan village of La Palma that is located in a refreshingly cool mountainous area of El Salvador. Here you will visit the shop founded by world-famous Salvadoran artist Fernando Llort. His colorful designs were used in the renovation of the San Salvador Cathedral. Today his shop is a local cooperative named La Semilla de Dios (meaning God’s seed). It is here that men and women of the La Palma community work together designing, building, and painting wooden pieces of art. The town has an abundance of shops offering a variety of crafts such as embroidery, leather, and ceramics. The day is yours to browse through shops while exploring this charming town. Dinner at the La Palma Hotel restaurant will be an ideal time to compare bargains and unveil treasures.
Day 4
San Salvador
On day four, the TTC staff will escort you back to the capital city of San Salvador where you will once again check into the Radisson Hotel before you are whisked away to visit El Arbol de Dios. This is an art gallery where more fine works of Fernando Llort’s are available to view. After visiting this gallery, you will be transported to Shicalli – a very special place where a group of individuals with physical disabilities work together to create unique pieces of pottery. The workshop offers artistic training and employment involving the art of ceramics – featuring artists with little access to formal education but who have developed excellent skills creating pottery. Their work is famous throughout El Salvador and visitors seem to particularly appreciate the blue glaze technique that developed from many years of hard work. After a well-deserved lunch break, you will visit one of Maria’s favorite Artisan’s market in San Salvador. You will be free to choose how you spend your evening. After returning to the hotel to drop off your purchases, you may choose to relax in the comfortable surroundings of the Radisson. If you prefer to go out, the TTC staff will recommend some of their favorite night-spots and will accompany you to the area of your choice. (Please Note: Your dinner for this evening is not included in the price of the trip).
Day 5
Apaneca
You will leave the city and return to the rural areas of El Salvador on day five. As there is so much to do in the Apaneca area, you will not want to dally over your breakfast at the Radisson. The TTC staff will assist you in checking into the Jardin de Celeste (the Celestial Garden Hotel) that offers cabins in a beautiful setting. You will quickly be shuttled off to the Salcoatitan Las Borboletas shop filled with tie-dyed items and multitudes of crafts. After lunch at the Celestial Gardens, you will visit the shop owned by Apaneca artisit Gustavo Trigueros. Next you will visit a working Coffee Plantation in Ataco where you will enjoy a delicious cup of Salvadoran coffee. There are many other sites to see in the Apaneca area – which is part of what is referred to as the ‘Flowers Route’. It is your vacation so you can assist Maria in determining the pace at which you wish to visit the special places in this area. Who knows, you might find time to visit Nahuzalco and Juayua – or you may choose to linger on the beautiful grounds of the coffee plantation instead.
Day�
Los Cobanos
As you depart Apaneca and head for the Los Cobanos, you will completely understand why TTC staff members refer to their tours as ‘journeys of contrasts’. You have now experienced mountainous areas, driven past many splendid views of volcanoes, crossed rivers and lakes, and are now on a journey to the magnificent ocean beaches of the great Pacific Ocean. You will spend the day at the all-inclusive beach front Decameron Resort which boasts a Mayan flavored vacation experience. Read a book under a palm tree, walk for miles upon the sand of the quiet Pacific beaches, swim in the salt water filled pool, or partake in the activities offered at the resort -- you choose. It is your day to relax, unwind, and reflect upon your visit to El Salvador. In addition to enjoying unlimited beverages throughout the day, you will enjoy both lunch and dinner at your leisure at the resort.
Day 7
Departure
After breakfast our staff will deliver you back to El Salvador Comalapa International Airport for your departure.*Tour Price Includes: Fully escorted tour with English speaking/bilingual guides. All accommodations, transfers, guide services, and taxes are included, as are meals unless otherwise indicated on the itinerary. Price does not include airfare, tips for guides, alcoholic drinks, passport expenses, and the $10 entrance fee required upon arrival at the San Salvador El Comalapa International Airport.
