The blue water
A wide lake below the walls.
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Lake Ilopango is a wide volcanic lake filling a caldera 11 km long and 8 km across, immediately east of the capital, San Salvador. It covers 70.5 square km, the second largest lake in the country, ringed by walls 100 to 500 metres high, and its calm today is at odds with its violent past. The caldera last collapsed in a huge eruption that researchers date to AD 431, among the largest on earth in the past 7,000 years. Ash covered vast areas, devastated nearby Maya cities and stopped farming for decades in the worst-hit areas. The only historical eruption lasted from 31 December 1879 to 26 March 1880 and formed the Islas Quemadas. From the surrounding hills you see the wide blue water with a distant volcanic cone beyond and buildings spreading to the rim. Small fishing boats and white sails cross the water. The last eruption left rock islets toward the middle. Divers come to Cerros Quemados, with depths of 27 to 30 metres and an underwater sand beach. The lake is 18.7 km in a straight line east of central San Salvador. Access to the water is often through clubs and restaurants, so ask about fees. Use trusted transport and keep valuables out of sight. For diving, choose a recognised centre. Bring a hat and sunscreen, ask about water conditions before swimming, and agree boat prices first.
A wide lake below the walls.
Islets from the 1880 eruption.
A sand beach underwater.
East of San Salvador, between San Salvador, La Paz and Cuscatlán departments
Yes, Cerros Quemados is well known, so choose a recognised centre.
Yes, it lies immediately east of the city.