El Salvador Arts and Crafts: The Craftsmanship of Salvadoran Artisans

By Eddie Galdamez  |  Dec 11th, 2022
El Salvador CraftsSalvadoran handcrafts.

The El Salvador traditional crafts are made in small colorful towns that aim to show and keep alive Salvadoran culture and religion. El Salvador arts and crafts are well known all over Central America and in many other countries.

Making El Salvador arts and crafts is a tradition that many Salvadoran families have been pass on for generations since colonial times.

Viewing and understanding El Salvador’s handicrafts is a colorful way of knowing about the country’s customs, culture, and history.

El Salvador crafts are produced in different towns all over the territory. However, the most attractive places that create Salvadoran handicrafts are located in the artisan route or handicrafts route in El Salvador.

SEE ALSO: El Salvador Tourism: A Journey Through Pristine Beaches, Colorful Towns, and Enchanting Parks

This touristic route is ideal for those looking to explore, appreciate, and buy local Salvadoran traditional crafts.

The El Salvador arts and craft route include six small colorful towns, Ilobasco San Ignacio, La Palma, Suchitoto, Citala, and San Sebastian.

El Salvador arts and crafts
El Salvador arts and crafts in the city of Ilobasco.

These towns produce fantastic El Salvador handicrafts made out of clay, wood, tule, and other materials.

El Salvador Arts and Crafts Route

The artisan route focuses on pottery, handmade crafts, and other local arts. Nonetheless, every town on this route has plenty of additional tourist activities for visitors to enjoy and appreciate.

1. Ilobasco. El Salvador Traditional Craft Made Out of Clay

The colorful town of Ilobasco is in the country’s central region, in the department of Cabañas, about 42 kilometers from San Salvador.

Ilobasco produces arts and crafts made out of clay, a unique skill that is well-known all over the country. This town is recognized locally and internationally for its artistic crafts; especially, the colorful miniature crafts.

Ilobasco El Salvador
Catholic church in the city of Ilobasco

2. The Town of San Ignacio

The town of San Ignacio is in the department of Chalatenago, near the border with Honduras. In addition to its unique handicrafts, this town is also near El Pital National Park, the highest point in El Salvador. Another top reason to visit this town is because of its fantastic mountain weather.

3. The City of La Palma in Chalatenango

The city of La Palma in Chalatenago is the birthplace of painter Fernando Llort, a Salvadoran artist who created Naift Art.

This art form is a technique that consists of representing events of everyday Salvadoran rural life and typical flora and fauna into Copinol Seeds or wood.

La Palma art and crafts
Salvadoran arts and craft store in the city of La Palma

La Palma is famous for its arts and crafts made out of wood or Copinol Seeds. These crafts are made in various stores all over town and sold all over the country.

4. The Colonial Town of Suchitoto

The famous town on Suchitoto has plenty to offer visitors other than handicrafts made locally.

Suchitoto has lovely cobblestone streets, beautiful colonial houses, an iconic church, and magnificent panoramic views of Lake Suchitlan. Also, this small colonial town is regularly mentioned as the cultural center of the country.

5. Citala

Citala is a town of Mayan origin; it is in the department of Chalatenango near the border with Honduras. The town located at an altitude of about 715 meters above sea level enjoys a fantastic colder climate.

The town of Citala is an impressive beautiful natural viewpoint situated high in the mountains that produce excellent handicrafts.

6. San Sebastian

The beautiful town of San Sebastian is famous for its textiles that focuses on the art of looms. The handicrafts of San Sebastian are unique, that you will not be able to find them anywhere else in the country. Working on looms has become a way of life for many of those who live in this beautiful town.

El Salvador handicrafts
Arts and crafts of San Sebastian

The El Salvador arts and craft route is an attractive tourist tour that includes towns with different attractions, such as high altitude mountains, artisanal villages, ecotourism, gastronomy, and much more.

Most of these towns are decorated attractively with murals that display Salvadoran life. Additionally, in these towns, you will find a wide range of tourist services such as hotels and restaurants.

The towns on the handicrafts route in El Salvador are not the only ones that produce El Salvador crafts.

Other colorful cities, such as Nahuizalco, Salcoatitan, Juayua, Apaneca, Concepción de Ataco, and Ahuachapan, also create wonderful Salvadoran crafts.

In any of these colorful towns, the local handicrafts are visible all over. El Salvador’s traditional crafts are great to give as gifts or for decorating your own home.

Salvadoran crafts
Salvadoran crafts.

El Salvador Arts and Crafts

El Salvador traditional crafts are created as a unique way of displaying local life, culture, traditions, and much more.

If you ever get the chance, travel to any of these towns El Salvador arts and crafts route. I am sure you will enjoy touring any of them!