Sprawling across the Valle de las Hamacas at the foot of the mighty Volcán San Salvador is the urban melee of SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador's mercurial capital. Founded in 1545, it remained a pretty minor place until 1785, when it was named the first intendencia within the Reino de Guatemala. Father José Delgado first made the call for independence here, and the city was the only capital of the Central American Federation, before being named capital of El Salvador when the federation dissolved in 1840. Not much remains of this illustrious history today, though: a series of earthquakes throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, and bombings when the FMLN seized portions of the city in 1989, have levelled most of the centre. Little you can see predates the nineteenth century.

Flights to San Salvador

The atmosphere of the place is quite different, however; after two progressive mayor ships and a more proactive chief of police, the city is going through something of a renaissance. Pleasant suburbs, great little parks, genuinely interesting museums, a bustling centre and thriving commercial zone make for an exciting place to explore, while a bohemian arts scene, good bars and safe clubs provide fun night-time distractions.

Flights to San Salvador with Copa Airlines

Comalapa International Airport, commonly known as Cuscatlán International Airport, is located about 50 km (30 miles) from San Salvador in El Salvador. It was built in the late 1970s to replace its predecessor, Ilopango International Airport, which is now used for military and charter aviation, but will be rehabilitated as a commercial airport by 2009. There are also plans to build a new airport on the Salvadoran coast of El Tamarindo, La Unión, along with tourist facilities on the beach or near to La Unión according to the demand that will be presented by the new modern port. With 2,076,258 passengers in 2008, it was the fourth busiest airport by passenger traffic in Central America.

Copa Airlines is operating flights to San Salvador, Managua and Panama City.

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