Morazan is one of the fourteen departments (sometimes translated as "provinces") of El Salvador. It is located in the northeastern part of the country, and its departmental seat is San Francisco Gotera. Much of the area is mountainous and cool most of the year, but downhill in Gotera, the temperature can reach into and beyond the upper 90s (Fahrenheit). During the civil war of the 80s, this department saw much of the heaviest fighting, including the famed El Mozote massacre. Fifteen years after the peace accords, the area is recovering and rebuilding.
Get in
Get around
You can find buses running to Gotera, Sociedad, Corinto and other towns in the department, as well as to San Miguel or La Union. The "Kilometer 18" stop is a major center for changing routes. Outside the towns, if you have not brought transport of your own, such as a bike or car, and do not care to walk, you'll need to depend on local pickups that carry large numbers of hitchhikers from place to place; expect to ride in the truck bed, often standing up. Presuming that you speak Spanish, it's not a bad idea to check with other riders to find out what they paid; those who don't appear to be Salvadoran have sometimes been greatly overcharged, on the assumption they can and will pay without question. These days one occasionally finds someone who will provide a free ride if it's on the way, but most locals have little steady income, and it's appropriate at least to ask, "?Cuanto le debo?" (How much do I owe you?).
See
'''Museum Winakirika''' - This museum — whose name in the Kakawira language means "that of our people" (or "our town") — contains exhibits on the traditions of the Cacaopera people, via cultural and religious objects, photographs, and crafts.
'''Church of Cacaopera''' - The main plaza includes a colonial church, contructed in 1660 and restored at various times. Its structure is surprising, with very thick walls. Next to this building is a bell tower with three bronze bells dating back to 1721. There are dance groups that perform upon the sound of the bells, such dances as "The feathered ones" and "The 'negritos'," both within and outside the church walls as well as in private homes and on festival occasions.
'''Museum of the Revolution''' - This Perquin-based museum houses a collection of objects, images, information and testimonies of historic moments related to the Salvadoran Civil War that took place during the 1980s and early 1990s.
'''Holy Spirit Cave''' (La Gruta del Espiritu Santo) - This cave area contains ancient paintings and etchings that archaeologists date back to the pre-Classic period of Mesoamerican culture. The site is part of the "Peace Route" (Ruta de la Paz) tourism program. There is a Concultura guide on site, though you generally are let to explore the site on your own. Presumably if you were to ask the guide to show you around, your request would be granted.
Do
'''Rio Sapo''' - Entre los municipios de Arambala y Joateca se encuentra una amplia zona silvestre, caracterizada por sus bosques de chaparro, roble negro, roble y pino, que protegen la cuenca del rio Sapo, que tiene un impresionante cauce de limpias aguas color turquesa.
Aqui se disfruta del esplendor de los paisajes, de la frescura de las aguas, del trinar de una enorme variedad de aves o de la fugaz vista de un venado
Buy
Morazan is an especially rural part of a developing country. In the whole northeastern region of La Union-Morazan, it's hopeless to expect recognition of the same world-famous travelers' checks that are a recommended part of travel in even the most remote parts of, say, Mexico. There is now a bank in Corinto, which would suggest that larger cities such as Gotera likely have at least one bank, possibly more. However, inquiries at the bank in Corinto suggested that traveler's checks still are unlikely to work there.
Western Union offices are available for money transfers, but their policy for identification varies from the policy stated on the forms used by U.S. senders. While Western Union forms indicate that the recipient must provide photo identification, the actual practice in Morazan is that this photo ID is not sufficient; the recipient must be able to provide the identification code provided on the sender's receipt. Therefore, when wiring or being wired money, it is important that the sender contact the recipient to communicate this code.
Do not expect most places to accept credit or debit cards; the rare shops that do often will add a 7% convenience fee to recoup the card companies' processing charges, and not all shops adding this charge will have a posted policy, though they generally will mention it when you offer a card for payment. Shops accepting cards increasingly accept cards that historically were hard to use outside of North America, such as Discover; however, transactions involving cards had a spotty record of success that was unrelated to the amount being charged.
When paying with cash — which is the usual mode in Morazan — be aware that many shops cannot or will not handle bills larger than USD$20, and occasionally may ask if you have something even smaller if your purchase is inexpensive.
Eat
Drink
Sleep
Perkin Lenca - Located one kilometer away from historic Perquin, along the Nahuaterique range. It is a mountain hotel that has seven air-conditioned cabanas, all hygienic and finely decorated. It offers restaurant service and a pleasant atmosphere.
Get out