The following are important things to know about the Gulf of Fonseca. The Gulf is located in the eastern part of El Salvador, in the department of La Union. We also arranged an excursion by boat with the local guide we contacted through the touist office. long and 3om. long and 3om. The major islands belonging to El Salvador are Meanguera, Conchagüita, Zacatillo, Conchagua, and Martin Perez. [6], The amplitude of tides is 2.3 m (7.5 ft) on average per day in the Gulf. There are extensive views over the wild volcanic landscape, and plenty of bird species, migratory and waterfowl, can be spotted. The paths might not be as attractive as the ones located at Cerro Verde National Park; nonetheless, they are great for exploring. /* TheSwimBay.com - Top */ From there you have great views of the Pacific (El Salvador, Honduras and Nicaragua). The experience was unforgettable- great views, real life people, no tourists. I will suggest a couple: a) la familia park in La Union city is a nice place to take pictures and look around at sea level b) Beaches: (Las tunas or Playas negras) You can go to a restaurant or hotel and enjoy the sunbathing or the sea. Travel Consultants. [3] The dry season occurs between December and May and contributes to an annual evaporation rate of 2,800 mm (110 in). A stay on the island of Meanguera. A boat ride along the gulf and round a couple of islands. The largest islands in the bay itself are Sacate Grande, 7x4m., and El Tigre, on which the Pacific port of Honduras, Amapala (q.v.) It is about 5om. In addition to epic beaches, Isla El Tigre is home to a single town called Ampala. To get more information about these cookies and the processing of your personal data see our Cookie Policy. For instance, at the volcano, you can go hiking one of the trails, spend the night camping, and enjoy the views. These departments in each country that share the Gulf are, Choluteca and Valle in Honduras, La Union in El Salvador, and Chinandega in Nicaragua. Fast and beautiful - the best connection - highly recommended. The country has numerous cays and islands in the Caribbean Sea, including Isla de la Bahia (Bay Islands), the tiny Cayos Cocinos (Hog Islands), and the remote Swan Islands. It arose out of a controversy between El Salvador and Nicaragua. The bay is also known, locally, as the Gulf of Ama pala or the Bay of Conchagua. It's packed with insider travel tips, Top5s, competitions, events, recipes and holiday ideas for Central and South America sure to whet your travel appetite. The long neglected islands host modest sandy coves and small fishing communities. Taking a boat ride deep into the ocean is another fun activity that can be done. The Gulf of Fonseca, a sheltered inlet of the Pacific Ocean, is a gulf in Central America that is bounded in the northwest by El Salvador, the northeast by Honduras and the southeast by Nicaragua. A local man from La Union operated the lancha we took from the coast. Explorer Gil Gonzales, in 1522, discovered the Gulf. Gulf of Fonseca, including Tigre and Zacate. You can delete or restrict cookies via your web browser. This is a spot you don’t wanna miss while in La Union. Small community of people live on this island complete with a little. Sign up to our twice monthly newsletter and be the first to know about our latest news, offer and competitions. Review tags are currently only available for English language reviews. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. google_ad_slot = "5948867044"; Nevertheless, you can take boat rides and go fishing or visit one of the many islands in the gulf. google_ad_height = 90; In 1992, a chamber of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) decided the Land, Island and Maritime Frontier Dispute, of which the Gulf dispute was a part. in a volcanic cone. Under the Bryan-Chamorro treaty of 1916, between the United States and Nicaragua, by the terms of which the United States acquired a perpetual option to the site of an interoceanic canal in Nicaraguan territory, Nicaragua also granted the United States the right to establish a naval base in Nicaraguan territory on Fonseca bay. The islands are green and some of them cultivated, and the distant volcanoes include Conchagua (3,800ft.) El Salvador was awarded the islands of Meanguera and Meanguerita, while Honduras was awarded El Tigre Island. wide, and forms one of the finest natural harbours in the world. Discovering history of civil unrest at the moving Muséo de la Revolución Salvadoreña in Perquín, the former headquarters of the FMLN rebels. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. To sum up, you can visit the Gulf of Fonseca and see beautiful views from the Conchagua volcano, go fishing, explore the islands, or just relax at the beach; it is all up to you on what to do! Mainly because they are not located near larger populated areas and are not that easy to get to. Do you accept these cookies and the processing of personal data involved? ), Copyright © 2011 VinDaj, Inc. – All Rights Reserved, Encyclopedia-britannica-volume-9-part-1-extraction-gambrinus. Notable among the islands in the gulf are Zacate Grande, El Tigre, and Meanguera. People come to this Gulf to see the views from the Conchagua volcano, take boat rides into the Gulf, or to enjoy the pristine beaches. Most famous landmarks in El Salvador. google_ad_client = "ca-pub-4644418844631480"; more, Would you recommend this place or activity to a friend looking for an, Is this a must-do if you are traveling with a, Are the prices for this place or activity, Is this a place or activity you would suggest for, Is this a romantic place or activity that you would suggest for, Is this a place or activity you would go to on a. These beaches are ideal for all types of visitors to enjoy and relax. You can unsubscribe at any time or update your preferences at preference centre. Some of the country’s best beaches are in the area, and, in the little-visited east, Perquín is great mountain-hiking and bird watching territory with important revolutionary significance. Undoubtedly, the Gulf of Fonseca has plenty of activities for visitors to enjoy and experience. Gulf Of Fonseca: Nice way to experience coast and the islands - See 23 traveler reviews, 30 candid photos, and great deals for La Union, El Salvador, at Tripadvisor. The 261km of Pacific coastline and the islands of the Gulf of Fonseca are shared by El Salvador, Nicaragua and Honduras. Browse our inspiration area of the site. For example, you can take a boat ride that lasts about an hour, just to go sightseeing. Fonseca bay was discovered in 1522 by Gil Gonzales de Avila and was named by him after his patron, that Archbishop Juan Fonseca who was the persecutor of Columbus. As previously mentioned, this fantastic body of water is located in the eastern part of El Salvador; in the department of La Union. There are options available on what type of boat ride to take and for how long. This is the version of our website addressed to speakers of English in the United States. First stop was Meanguera del Golfo. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Tasty food originated in El Salvador. The Gulf of Fonseca (Spanish: Golfo de Fonseca; pronounced [ˈɡol.fo ðe fonˈse.ka]), a part of the Pacific Ocean, is a gulf in Central America, bordering El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua. Read our full privacy policy. c). Shortly thereafter, however, Squier demanded the British leave, since he had anticipated the occupation and negotiated the island's temporary cession to the United States. There is a market near the pier with local vendors selling everything from hammocks to plants. Fonseca Gulf’s body of water is fed by the Estero Real River of Nicaragua and by the Goascoran, Choluteca, and Negro rivers of Honduras. It’s a hot, steamy place: the vegetation is predominately mangrove, with tangled wetland forests stifling the shore, beyond which are rugged volcanic hills. El Salvador landmarks. is situated, and which rises to a height of 2,5ooft. The court sided with El Salvador, but the US decided to ignore the decision.[2]. The ICJ determined that El Salvador, Honduras, and Nicaragua were to share control of the Gulf of Fonseca. The Gulf of Fonseca El Salvador or Golfo de Fonseca in Spanish is an astonishing tri-national body of water shared between Nicaragua, Honduras, and El Salvador. If you plan to travel from El Salvador to Nicaragua you can book a boat tour and cross the Gulf of Fonseca from La Union to Potosi with bus connection to Leon/San Salvador. (W. Share. During the high tide, the mangrove forests serve as a feeding ground and habitat for fish, shrimp, and other species, as the root structure of mangroves provides a refuge from larger predators.[7]. The Gulf receives nearly 80% of its total yearly rainfall of 1,400–1,600 mm (55–63 in) during the rainy season from May to November. We crossed the border from Nicaragua to San Salvador (potosi to la Union) on a small boat through gulf of fonesca. e 261km of Pacific coastline and the islands of the Gulf of Fonseca are shared by El Salvador, Nicaragua and Honduras. Undoubtedly, the Conchagua volcano is one of the main attractions at the Gulf of Fonseca. See the latest poll results. Our specialists have been expertly crafting award-winning tailor-made holidays to Latin America for over 37 years. 10 popular Salvadoran drinks you definitely need to try. Fonseca Bay was discovered for Europeans in 1522 by Gil González de Ávila, and named by him after his patron, Archbishop Juan Fonseca, the implacable enemy of Columbus. La Unión, the main port of entry from Nicaragua and ferry port for the islands, is also having a revival. This body of water reaches inland for about 65 kilometers and covers an area of about 1,800 square kilometers. Salvadoran Pupusas. The climate in the Gulf is typical of tropical and subtropical regions, with two distinct seasons, the rainy and the dry. It is about 5om. By all means, El Salvador disputed the ownership of Tiger Tiger Island; nevertheless, the International Court of Justice or ICJ, gave ownership of the island to Honduras.