National park · El Salvador
El Imposible National ParkParque Nacional El Imposible
Enter El Imposible for $5 USD per person, hike Cerro León (≈7 km (4.3 mi), moderate) in the dry season (Nov–Apr), and stay in nearby cabins; avoid weekends.Enter El Imposible for $5 USD per person, hike Cerro León (≈4.3 mi (7 km), moderate) in the dry season (Nov–Apr), and stay in nearby cabins; avoid weekends.
- Source checked
- A source and a date are on record: we read it from an official or published page. Not yet confirmed on the ground.
- Field checked
- Someone checked it on the ground, with the date shown.
- Plan calculated
- Worked out by Voykit from its own data (times, distances, budgets). A calculation, not a measurement.
Unknown times stay unknown. How we verify
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Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
50 km² (19 sq mi)19 sq mi (50 km²)
approximate
Established
1979
Best months
Jan–Apr
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 8Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua (CA-4) giv…
- Central America ↗Guatemala, El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua (CA-4) give one shared entry allowance, usually 90 days in total; leaving for Belize, Costa Rica or Mexico and coming back does not always reset it — check with immigration before a long stay.
- Central America ↗Cross land borders in daylight and early in the day; many posts close or empty of transport by late afternoon, and the approaches are where robberies happen.
- Central America ↗Several borders charge entry, exit or municipal fees in US dollars (Belize exit, Nicaragua entry and exit, Honduras entry); carry small, clean US notes and ask for a receipt.
- El Salvador ↗Check entry rules for your passport with El Salvador's migration authority or a Salvadoran consulate; the CA-4 agreement with Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua can make your permitted stay count across all four.
- El Salvador ↗A state of exception has been in force since 2022, suspending some legal protections: carry your passport or a copy, cooperate at checkpoints and avoid photographing police, military or prisons.
- El Salvador ↗Carry US dollars in small notes; bitcoin acceptance has been voluntary since 2025 and few businesses take it.
- Western El Salvador ↗US dollars are the currency; small notes and coins help in villages and at markets.
- Western El Salvador ↗Santa Ana volcano access is with an official guide and police escort at set departure times; check the day before.
At a glance
- Country
- El Salvador
- Area
- 50 km² (19 sq mi)19 sq mi (50 km²)
- Park covers about 5,000 ha (≈50 km²); some sources round to 55 km² (check).
- Established
- 1979
- Best months
- Jan–Apr
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Sonsonate
El Imposible protects a rare dry‑tropical forest on the El Salvador‑Guatemala border, offering marked hikes, petroglyphs and diverse wildlife, with basic cabins at the San Benito entrance.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1979.
Size and age
50 km² (19 sq mi)19 sq mi (50 km²) · national park since 1979
Park covers about 5,000 ha (≈50 km²); some sources round to 55 km² (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Sonsonate.
Why go
- Dense dry tropical rainforest with high biodiversity.
- Petroglyphs at Piedra Sellada and waterfalls.
- Several well‑marked trails of 7–8 km (4.3–5 mi), e.g., Cerro León.Several well‑marked trails of 4.3–5 mi (7–8 km), e.g., Cerro León.
When to go
- JanBest
- FebBest
- MarBest
- AprBest
- MayCaution
- JunCaution
- JulCaution
- AugCaution
- SepCaution
- OctGo
- NovGo
- DecGo
- JanDry, cool.
- FebDry, cool.
- MarDry, warming.
- AprEnd of dry season.
- MayStart of rains.
- JunRainy, trails muddy.
- JulRainy, possible storms.
- AugRainy, high humidity.
- SepRainy, occasional dry spells.
- OctTransition to dry.
- NovDry begins.
- DecDry, cooler.
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Butterflies (day) and bats (night)All year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
| Jaguar, puma, other mammalsAll year | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes | yes |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
Show 3 sectionsHideHow to get there, Zones and sectors, Sketch map
How to get there
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| San Benito entrance | Gate, visitor centre, Mixtepe Museum, trailheads. | Open with entry ticket. |
| Cerro León trail | 7 km (4.3 mi) moderate hike to summit with views.4.3 mi (7 km) moderate hike to summit with views. | Open to hikers. |
| Piedra Sellada | Petroglyph site and swimming pozas. | Open, limited signage. |
Sketch map
Take the points offline
3 points as a GPX waypoint file, plus a plain-text list of coordinates. Save it while you have signal: maps apps show the points without a connection.
Coordinates approximate, based on park centre.
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Show Top experiencesHide
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Show 8 sectionsHideEntry fees and permits, Park rules, Where to stay, Safety, Accessibility, Visiting lightly, Questions people ask, Related
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Park entry | US$5 | person | check |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Park entry permit or guide
Park rules
- Guides
- Not required for main trails but recommended for remote sections.
- Camping
- Backcountry camping allowed; no facilities, pack out all waste.
- Fires
- Open fires prohibited.
Where to stay
In the park
San Benito cabins
Basic cabins, book via Ministerio de Ambiente.
Near the park
Nearby towns
Hostels and guesthouses in Sonsonate and Ahuachapán.
Safety
Steep sections on Cerro León medium
Wildlife (jaguars, snakes) low
How much daylight do you have?
Time out
Finding the local time zone…
Times are local to the spot (zone loading). The half-hour margin is our rule of thumb, not an official figure; light fades earlier in forest or under cloud. Carry a headlamp on any route that could run late.
Accessibility
- Entrance and main trailheads reachable by car.
- Trails are uneven; not suitable for limited mobility.
Visiting lightly
- Use cabins or local guesthouses to support community.
- Carry out all litter; avoid firewood collection.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter El Imposible National Park?
The entry fee is about $5 USD per person at the San Benito gate (check for latest price).
What are the best hikes in El Imposible National Park?
Cerro León (≈7 km, moderate) and the Piedra Sellada loop (≈8 km, easy) are the most popular and well marked.
When is the best time to visit El Imposible National Park?
The dry season from November to April offers the best trail conditions and wildlife viewing.
Can I camp inside the park?
Backcountry camping is allowed but there are no facilities; bring all gear and pack out waste.
Are guides required?
Guides are not mandatory for the main trails but are recommended for remote sections or if you want detailed wildlife info.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go
Show the detailsHide
Ask about El Imposible National Park
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