El Imposible National Park

national park in El Salvador

El Imposible National Park is a 5,000-hectare protected natural area in western El Salvador on the border with neighboring Guatemala. It is a beautiful national park consisting of dense, dry tropical rainforest. The park is rich in biodiversity, has some excellent hiking trails, and is home to an archaeological site full of petroglyphs (stone carvings). It's popular with naturalists as well as adventurous budget travelers who love the open-air backcountry camping. What more could a person want in a national park?

Swimming in the Poza Piedra Sellada in El Imposible National Park

Understand

Petroglyphs at El Imposible

El Imposible is the largest national park in El Salvador. It was created to protect one of the world's most endangered ecosystems.

The park is best visited during the week when local families are working or in school.

History

The park was established in 1979. Its earlier history though is more interesting because it explains just why the place is "Impossible".

In the early 20th century, coffee plantations became an important part of the national economy. But a big problem for coffee growers in the mountains was how to get their coffee to the shipping ports when this huge gorge made transportation very expensive with the frequent cost of life and limb. Many just viewed the passage through the area as "impossible".

But in 1968, a caped superhero arrived on the scene! It was the government, here to build a sturdy, modern bridge that could be crossed safely no matter how many beans you had to move. Yay! Score one for the good guys who thanklessly serve the public every day!

The story you just heard is true. If the story would have had any names in it, they would be changed to protect the innocent.

Landscape

Archaeology

Eight archaeological sites have been identified in the park, but only one is accessible to visitors: Piedra Sellada, which is known for its petroglyphs...stone drawings that are thought to be more than 1,000 years old. There are more than 100 of these carved stones, some depicting natural elements like the sun or butterflies, but others that could only be explained by the imagination of a toddler.

Flora and fauna

More than 500 species of plants have been cataloged in the park, as well as hundreds of animals including more than 100 species of mammals (including big cats like pumas and jaguars), 53 species of amphibians and reptiles (including a number of venomous snakes), and 285 species of birds. The park is known for its diversity of butterflies during the day and bats that fill the night skies (including vampire bats).

A fish called the Tepemechín lives in the park's streams. The fish is said to be extremely sensitive to polluted waters so their presence in the park is a sign of clean water in the park's springs and pools.

Climate

Get in

Chicken bus route 259 (La Hachadura) leaves Sonsonate every 10 minutes for the border with Guatemala (the bus windshield will say "Frontera" as its terminal point, it may also say "Cara Sucia" lower on the windshield or in smaller letters). You want to get off when the bus passes through the town of Cara Sucia (most 259 buses will stop there anyway), which is about a 10 minute taxi ride from Parque Nacional El Imposible. The bus ride from Sonsonate to Cara Sucia takes about 90 minutes and costs less than US$2. There is allegedly a twice daily chicken bus (route 811) that goes from Cara Sucia to San Miguelito that will drop you right near the San Benito park entrance, so inquire locally if you'd rather avoid the taxi ride for the "last mile". There may be additional local chicken bus routes that could take you near alternate park entrances (there are two more besides San Benito).

Fees and permits

  • Entrance Fee: US$6 for foreign travelers or $3 for Salvadoran nationals
  • Camping Fee: Another US$6 for foreign travelers or $3 for Salvadoran nationals

Get around

Hike.

See

  • Petroglyphs at Piedras Sellada
  • Mixtepe Museum at the main park entrance (San Benito) has exhibits about the park's natural environment
  • Cascada Perol waterfall

Do

  • Rock climbing in the gorge
  • Swim in the pozas at Piedra Sellada
  • Hiking. Several well-marked trails cross the park. Most are 7-8 km in length. Popular trails include Cerro Leon, Piedra Sellada, and Los Enganches.

Buy, Eat and Drink

Bring with you anything that you will need while in the park.

Sleep

Lodging

Some cabins are available in the park. They can be reserved through the Ministeria de Ambiente via email to: visitaanp@ambiente.gob.sv

Backcountry camping

Most camping is in the backcountry with no improved campsites but plenty of privacy and seclusion.

Stay safe

Go next

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