Cerro Verde, Volcanic mountain in Santa Ana Department, El Salvador

Cerro Verde is a volcanic mountain rising to 2030 meters that forms part of a volcanic chain in a national park area of western El Salvador. The mountain's geological structure creates varied terrain across its slopes and surroundings.

Cerro Verde, also called Cuntetepeque, is an extinct volcano in the Apaneca range of Santa Ana Department. Its last eruption is estimated at around 25,000 BC, and its crater is now eroded and filled with cloud forest. It lies within Los Volcanes National Park, managed by the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources.

The name Cuntetepeque is the mountain's indigenous name, still used alongside Cerro Verde. The summit area holds an orchid garden, and the park's three short trails are named Las Flores Misteriosas, Ventana a la Naturaleza and Antiguo Hotel de Montaña. Local guides lead the walks to the Izalco and Santa Ana summits.

Visitors should bring sturdy shoes and plenty of water when hiking the mountain trails, which are open during daylight throughout the year. Trail conditions can vary depending on elevation and weather, so preparation helps ensure a safe visit.

The crater of this extinct volcano is filled with humus washed in by erosion and covered by cloud forest. Around 134 hectares of cypress were planted here by former landowners, alongside native palo de cera, pinabete and sapuyulo trees.