Coatepeque Caldera, Volcanic lake in Izalco, El Salvador
Lake Coatepeque spans 26 square kilometers within a caldera, reaching depths of 115 meters and displaying varying shades of blue throughout its waters.
The caldera formed through intense volcanic activity between 72,000 and 57,000 years ago, resulting from a series of rhyolitic eruptions in the region.
The name Coatepeque derives from Nawat language meaning 'at the snake hill', while the island of Teopan contains significant Mayan archaeological remains.
Visitors can access the lake via established roads from Santa Ana Department, with multiple accommodations and restaurants available along the shoreline.
The lake experiences periodic color changes from blue to turquoise, a natural phenomenon documented in 1998, 2006, and 2019.
Location: Santa Ana Department
Elevation above the sea: 746 m
GPS coordinates: 13.87000,-89.55000
Latest update: May 27, 2025 06:59
Architectural, natural, and historical sites in El Salvador including its volcanoes, lakes, Mayan sites, and colonial towns. The country features pre-Columbian temples like Tazumal and Joya de Cerén, natural areas such as Los Volcanes National Park and Lake Coatepeque, beaches along the Pacific coast like El Tunco, as well as historical urban centers such as San Salvador and Suchitoto. Visitors can explore waterfalls, hot springs, museums, and religious buildings scattered across the region.
Tazumal
18.2 km
Joya de Cerén
21.1 km
San Andrés, El Salvador
19 km
San Salvador Volcano
31.6 km
Izalco
10.9 km
Santa Ana Volcano
8.8 km
Santa Ana Cathedral, El Salvador
13.9 km
El Boqueron National Park
32.6 km
Casa Blanca, El Salvador
18.7 km
Chingo
33.6 km
Los Volcanes National Park
9.2 km
National Theatre of Santa Ana
14 km
Estadio Óscar Quiteño
12 km
Parque Libertad
13.9 km
El Trapiche
19.1 km
Santa Teresa Hot Springs.
29.3 km
Iglesia del Carmen
35.6 km
Salto Malacatiupán
30.4 km
Teatro Nacional de Santa Ana
14 km
Casa Blanca Archaeological Site
18.5 km
Museo del Ferrocarril
25.4 km
Trips & Tours Cascadas Tamanique
33.8 km
Cerro Singüil
22.2 km
Railway Museum Plaza
24.9 km
Centro para la Cultura y las Artes "Dr. Alfredo Espino"
32.7 km
Sonsonate Cemetery
25.2 km
Iglesia Juayua
21.2 km
Los Volcanes Sector Los Andes National Park
7.6 kmReviews
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