Ruinas de San Andrés

LoginSave

In 1977 a step pyramid and a large courtyard with a subterranean section were unearthed at this site, inhabited by Maya between AD 600 and 900. Experts believe that up to 12,000 people lived here.

These peaceful ruins are 33km west of San Salvador and 300m north of the highway in the Valle de Zapotitán. Take the Santa Ana bus 201 from San Salvador’s Terminal de Occidente and get off at Km 33 at the sign for the ruins.

The city once dominated the Valle de Zapotitán and possibly the neighboring Valle de las Hamacas, where San Salvador is now situated.

If combining this with a visit to Joya de Cerén, visit Joya de Cerén first, then catch any bus on the highway for the short distance to San Andrés.

Lonely Planet's must-see attractions

  • Iglesia El Rosario's interior is a colorful celebration.

    Iglesia El Rosario

    15.18 MILES

    Designed by sculptor Ruben Martinez and completed in 1971, Iglesia El Rosario is radically beautiful. Arguably the finest church in Central America, its…

  • Tazumal

    Tazumal

    22.8 MILES

    In the K’iche’ language Tazumal means ‘pyramid where the victims were burned.’ Archaeologists estimate that the verdant 10-sq-km Tazumal area – much of…

  • Parque Nacional Los Volcanes

    Parque Nacional Los Volcanes

    15.98 MILES

    Alongside volcanoes in triplicate, Parque Nacional Los Volcanes has hectares of lush forest that provide sanctuary for hundreds of migrating bird species,…

  • Joya de Ceren is an archaeological site featuring ruins of a Mayan farming village that was buried by a volcano.

    Joya de Cerén

    2.46 MILES

    Known as the Pompeii of America, Unesco World Heritage Site Joya de Cerén was a small Maya settlement that was buried under volcanic ash when the Laguna…

  • Catedral Metropolitana in San Salvador

    Catedral Metropolitana

    14.99 MILES

    Facing the revamped Plaza Barrios, the cathedral is the most significant landmark in the city and the resting place of Archbishop Óscar A Romero. In the…

  • Centro Arte para la Paz

    Centro Arte para la Paz

    25.88 MILES

    Opened in 2000 as a charitable initiative to support victims of domestic violence, the Centro Arte para la Paz now organizes a range of cultural…

  • Jardín Botánico La Laguna

    Jardín Botánico La Laguna

    13.1 MILES

    Moss-covered bridges, pebbled paths, small waterfalls and ponds home to croaking frogs, turtles and feeding fish provide the perfect antidote to city…

  • Parque Arqueológico Cihuatán

    Parque Arqueológico Cihuatán

    19.28 MILES

    The modest ruins of Cihuatán were once an immense urban area alongside the Río Guazapa, possibly the largest pre-Columbian city between Guatemala and Peru…

View more attractions

Nearby attractions

1. Joya de Cerén

2.46 MILES

Known as the Pompeii of America, Unesco World Heritage Site Joya de Cerén was a small Maya settlement that was buried under volcanic ash when the Laguna…

2. Parque El Boquerón

8.52 MILES

El Salvador's most accessible volcano is El Boquerón (the mouth), one of Volcán San Salvador's two peaks. An easy trail leads around the crater, offering…

3. El Arbol de Dios

11.4 MILES

'God's Tree' is an institute dedicated to the work of world-famous painter Fernando Llort, with a gallery displaying sophisticated pieces that differ from…

4. Museo de Arte de El Salvador

12.32 MILES

An impressive collection of sketches, paintings and installations track the development of prominent local artists including Fernando Llort, Rosa Mena…

5. Hospital La Divina Providencia

12.69 MILES

Monseñor Romero was assassinated by government agents while giving Mass in the chapel here on March 24, 1980. You can tour his modest quarters, where his…

7. Jardín Botánico La Laguna

13.1 MILES

Moss-covered bridges, pebbled paths, small waterfalls and ponds home to croaking frogs, turtles and feeding fish provide the perfect antidote to city…

8. Centro Monseñor Romero

13.2 MILES

At Universidad Centroamericana José Simeón Cañas (La UCA), the Centro Monseñor Romero pays homage to the martyred Archbishop Oscar Romero. Highly…