After pouring over dozens of travel blogs and forums, in anticipation of a rough crossing into El Salvador, we made it through without incident. The advice we heeded by crossing on Saturday and using the shoulder to bypass the trucks in queue was of great help. Our first stop in El Salvador: Parque Nacional El Imposible.

We found the park entrance without much trouble despite the fact that the access road was displayed differently on each of our three maps of El Salvador. The dirt road turnoff is just east of the town Cara Sucia. Tickets can be purchased within the park from a guide or official. The north entrance has been closed for some time.

We set up base camp for a few nights and hiked out to explore the park during daylight. Our guide pointed out fascinating plants and animals that seemed to seamlessly blend into the landscape to our untrained eye. To top it off, each sunset we would retreat to the park’s lookout tower for a sundowner and were treated to mystical sounds from the bugs and birds of the rain forest.