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Mark Moxon's Travel Writing

El Salvador: Ruta de las Flores

The first of four chicken buses we took on the Ruta de las Flores
The first of four chicken buses we took on the Ruta de las Flores

The Ruta de las Flores is a road in eastern El Salvador that's home to pretty towns and villages, coffee plantations, volcanic scenery, lots of greenery, and some of the weirdest food that I've ever eaten. It's a delightful part of the world.

Juayúa

Frogs being barbecued in Juayúa
Frogs being barbecued in Juayúa

Juayúa is a lovely little town with a pretty main plaza and a busy market tucked away in the streets behind the church. The food fair is strung along one side of the plaza and consists of lots of different stalls selling all sorts of enticing food, from steaks and corn on the cob to more exotic fare like whole frogs, though when we asked one man about where we could buy iguana, one of the more infamous foods available at the food fair, he told us that it was no longer available as it's a protected species; they did sell fox, though, which presumably isn't.

The church in Juayúa
The church in Juayúa

Ataco

Beautiful murals in Ataco
Beautiful murals in Ataco

The real deal was further down the road in Ataco, which Carlos had recommended we spend time in as it's a more typical Salvadoran experience than the fairly touristy Juayúa. He was absolutely spot on, and it was well worth the effort of the 40-minute chicken bus ride, via the quiet town of Apaneca and past yet more coffee plantations, volcanoes and fincas.

Iguana eggs, ready to eat
Iguana eggs, ready to eat
Mark about to eat his first iguana egg
About to eat my first iguana egg
Peta enjoying some tasty iguana meat
Peta enjoying some tasty iguana meat