Welcome To Cinquera

Location:
El Salvador

Rural Eco Tourism

By Donald Lee

CINQUERA, A REMOTE PARADISE SET IN THE HEART OF EL SALVADOR

Cinquera is a small and picturesque rural community located in the Salvadorian Department of Cabañas, 47 miles or 78 kilometers northeast of the bustling capital city of San Salvador.

Upon your arrival to Cinquera you will find the local people to be very friendly and respectful, the visitor will encounter no beggars nor vendors hawking tourist souvenirs.

The Municipality of Cinquera, itself nestled in a valley, is surrounded by 14 hills that are part of a protected natural preserve, known as "The Mountain of Cinquera." The ecological biosphere of the basin, in which lies the town of Cinquera, and the entrance to the forest preserve, is classified as a 'tropical rain forest'. It lies in a hot and humid climatic zone, some 350 meters above sea level, where the average temperature year round is 28 degrees centigrade. Don't fret, trails through the park ascend to the summit of the mountain, some 1,750 meters above sea level, where the air temperature is far more pleasant, becoming downright cool and pleasant the higher one acscends toward the summit.

The Cultural Heritage of Cinquera has a strong link with the living historical memory of many residents who were involved in the armed conflict that lasted some 22 years in El Salvador from 1970 until the Peace Accords of 16 January 1992 were signed, ending the armed conflict. All of the inhabitants in Cinquera at that time were part of the social bases of the guerrillas of the Popular Liberation Forces (FPL), one of the most important forces that formed part of the Front "Farabundo Martí National Liberation (FMLN).

During the war all the residents of Cinquera and the surroundings fled, leaving the area around it deserted. Beginning in 1992, the residents of Cinquera began to return, in order to rebuild and restore their village. The vision of Cinquera's residents was to restore their town and to preserve the delicate ecology of the surrounding forested area. The natural preserve was developed with the assistance of international relief organizations to preserve and protect the delicate ecological balance, along with the historical monuments.

El Salvador is the most densely populated country  in all the Americas. 64% of the total population now resides in urban areas.

At present, the infrastructure includes the park, trails, uniformed guides and restored historical monuments, to support low-impact sustainable Eco-tourism benefiting the entire community while preserving the ambience of the village with its important links to the Historical Memory of the Armed Conflict 1970-1992

CINQUERA PHOTO GALLERY

 Check out these photos of Cinquera on flickr.com,

www.flickr.com/photos/maxgirin/sets/72157601585516225/

THE HISTORY OF CINQUERA

Cinquera chapter from Kathy's Bloq in English..long and very

informative… View: "The Story of Cinquera" click on:

www.heartlandpresbyterian.org/KathysBlog/index.php

(Story of Cinquera is graphic and not for the faint of heart)

January 18th – The Story of Cinquera

Posted by Kathy Mahler

"This is probably my longest story. And it is very ugly in parts.”

This Bloq is targeted for those wishing to visit or volunteer in El Salvador & Central America in behalf of our dear associates and friends of ARDM:

ARDM

Asociación de Reconstrucción y Desarrollo Municipal

Barrio El Centro, frente al Parque,

Cinquera, Departamento de Caba?as, El Salvador, C. A.

ARDM is a Non Profit Organization registered in El Salvador.

Our eco tourism project is now ready to accept both visitors and volunteers.

E mail or message the writer through (vivatravelguides) for more detailed information in English.

Further Information

Travel tips: Please do contact me first, very remote.

Must see/do at this place: Tour the Rain Forest and visit the monuments, view the article for complete information.

You should avoid here: Trekking at low altitudes midday, very hot and humid.