Joya de CerenThe Pompeii of the AmericasJoya de Ceren is one of the most amazing sites to visit in El Salvador. I never was so interested in archaeological ruins until I saw this beauty! Located in the valley of Sapotitán – one of the most fertile valleys in 
Joya de Ceren is a unique site found in Mesoamerica; it was suddenly buried in ashes by a volcanic eruption. And in recognition of its archeological importance, in 1993 it was listed as a World Heritage Site by UNESCO. This site has been compared to Pompeii and Herculaneum for its superb level of preservation and has been referred to as the Pompeii of the Americas.According to archaeologists, this is what happened... Around the year 640 CE when the Loma Caldera volcano erupted in hot ashes and volcanic "bombs" that were as big as 1 meter in diameter. The inhabitants of this small farming village lived a mere 600 meters from the volcano. Needless to say, they had to flee immediately leaving everything behind. The eruption buried the site in layers of ashes that were between 4 to 8 meters thick. Interestingly, unlike Pompeii, no human remains have been found in the site which has lead scientists to believe that everyone in the village was able to escape. Joya de Ceren is really one of my favourite sites in El Salvador. It is because of its great level of preservation that today we are able to see how the people of this farming community lived. Amazingly enough, walking into one of the houses, it was found that shelves were still stocked with food items like beans, corn and cacao. 
This is a look into one of the houses at Joya de Ceren, pretty nice. You see that structure on the back of the house? It’s a dome that received a volcanic “bomb” and created a big hole on the top of it. This dome structure was actually a “sauna” bath (Temezcales in the Nahuatl language). These sauna baths were part of the Mesoamerican homes but this one in Joya de Cerén is the best preserved one that has been found so far. These Temezcales or saunas had a low a entrance, apparently to keep the heat inside, so people would have to crawl into it. How to get there
Located on Km 35 on the highway to San Juan Opico in La Libertad, here is a small map for a general idea of the location. The site is visible from the highway.Bus service is available to this area, but the buses can get pretty crowded, so my recommendation would be to either arrange a tour there or a taxi. Hotels usually offer to either get a taxi or arrange tours for their guests. But if you prefer to take public transit, it is available and with easy access there. Hours of operation:
Amenities:
Joya de Cerén is a work in progress. The Salvadorean organization responsible for these archaeological sites, FUNDAR, is diligently working to help protect these ancient structures from the elements. At Joya de Cerén for example, new roofs have been installed and old leaks repaired, signs have been put up among many other things that have been done there. Joya de Cerén is part of the recommended Ruta Maya (Mayan route) which is a series of archaeological sites recommended for tourists. All those who come to visit this ancient site, are amazed, just like I was to see how well this village was preserved. But there are more sites worth a visit in El Salvador like Tazumal or San Andres which is very close to Joya de Cerén, so a trip to both of them is doable in one day. This is just of the many great sites to explore in El Salvador, I know you’ll like it too! Credits: Photos by FUNDAR - www.fundar.org.sv Return from Joya de Ceren to Mayan Ruins
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