El Salvador - An Industrial Paradise

August 8

Hello everyone!

El Salvador’s capital has a lot going for it - new investment, lot of food choices - but it does have its drawbacks as a city. One of these is that it isn’t the prettiest to explore. Though that can change if you look hard enough…

Turtles in La Laguna Botanic Garden

I think this is a dracaena plant

San Salvador and Santa Tecla - they come as a double act, really - do have some green spaces. Bicentenario and the Ecoparque offer an escape from the noise, traffic and pollution (once you’re in them - most people drive to get to these parks).

Running in Bicentenario in 2022, having arrived
in the country for the first time 7 hours earlier

View from the Ecoparque in 2025

One place I had recently learnt about was the city’s Botanical Gardens. Up to that point, I hadn’t known such a place existed in San Salvador. Having a few free days before school’s back in session, and actually being close by when getting a dental scan, I decided to explore.

The garden is located in the crater of a
volcano that erupted 2,200 years ago

The garden was opened to the public in 1976

For quite a while, I thought the map was wrong. I was driving through what one would politely describe as ‘an industrial area’. I was weaving through large trucks, with factories flanking either side of the road.

It is in an area called Antiguo Cuscatlan

No idea what they produce, but plenty of
factories like the one at the end of this street

One final left turn took me to a small entrance to the botanical gardens. Being a nice day and the tail end of a week including a public holiday, it was pretty busy.

Not a great view...

...until you turn 180 degrees

Once the $1.75 entrance fee has been paid, you walk a few paces before being transported into a different world, far away from the factories. 

There are more than 3,500 species of plants

Red bananas - their original habitat was Southeast Asia

Well, not too far away. Depending on where you are in the gardens, you may still see or hear - definitely hear, actually - the thrum of industry happening the other side of the fences.

The tip of San Salvador's volcano, Boqueron,
is also visible behind the factories

A lot of the flora found here can actually be found in many different places around the country. The flowers below both grow in my back garden, for example. 

Heliconia plants

Zingiber spectabile is native to Southeast Asia

Other plant species come from further afield. They have a ‘diverse’ section where you can find plants from all over the world. Well, plants that can survive and thrive in El Salvador’s climate, so not many from Europe, actually.

The average temperature is 23'C with 75% humidity,
though this obviously changes through the year 

This is a Juglandaceae tree from Central
America - they are in danger of extinction

When away from the edges and nearer the industrial zone, the botanical gardens have a peaceful, tranquil air about them. Different sections have water features, a nursery and even beehives.

Honey bees beat their wings 200 times per second

A 'waterfall'

If you look carefully, you’ll be able to see fish in the picture above. Dozens of tilapia shuffle around the ponds, with other fish present but less visible.

Tilapia is the second most farmed fish in the world

Fish here ranged from goldfish to koi

They’re not the only creatures to be found here. I didn’t see many interesting birds - it may be the wrong time of year, I’m not sure - but there were plenty of turtles and a few agouti scuttling about.

Not sure what type of turtle it is

Agoutis are able to crack Brazil nuts with their teeth

There was also another animal that was well camouflaged to the point that I almost stepped on it. There are quite a few iguanas that are found in different zones in the gardens, be it on a grassy patch or nearer the ponds. Aside from the one I almost squashed, they weren’t much for moving: it was a hot day.

They can grow up to 2 metres long

Its scientific name is Iguana iguana.
So good they named it twice.

Jardín Botánico La Laguna was a very pleasant surprise. When a city can feel like a bit of a concrete jungle at times, it’s nice to know that there are still a few hidden treasures which can help you escape and feel a little bit more at peace.

A type of Ixoroideae - easier to admire than pronounce

This type of cactus can grow to be 8 metres tall

Anthurium, also known as the flamingo flower

Love you all,

Matt