Juayua Food Festival Guide (by a Food-Obsessed Traveler)

Cat is Out of the Office contains affiliate links and is a member of the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program. If you make a purchase using one of these Amazon links, I may receive compensation at no extra cost to you. See my Disclosure Policy for more information.

Essential Information: Juayua Food Festival, El Salvador

When: Every Saturday and Sunday afternoon, rain or shine!

Where: The Feria Gastronomica de Juayua sets up in Juayua, one of the most popular towns along the famous Ruta de las Flores (Flowers Route) in El Salvador, near the town’s Central Park (you can’t miss it, follow your nose and music).

Cost: Most dishes range between $1-5 USD. Bring cash!

Popular Dishes: Grilled meats, seafood, sausage, Salvadorean beverages, and desserts

Vegan/Vegetarian Friendly?: Most dishes at the Food Festival in Juayua include meat or seafood. I’m sure you can find something – like some delicious fresh fruit – but there won’t be too much.

Ruta de las Flores Overview: Juayua is one of the towns along the Ruta de las Flores (Flowers Route) in El Salvador. The Ruta is your scenic shortcut through some of El Salvador’s coolest spots. Think charming towns, eye-popping flowers everywhere (if you’re lucky), coffee that’ll spoil you for anything else, and markets where artisans are doing their thing. 

When to Go: Feria Gastronomica de Juayua Hours

A town that celebrates food every weekend of the year? That’s my kind of place! 

The Juayua Food Festival runs every weekend, Saturday and Sunday. This is when Juayua truly comes alive. 

The Feria Gastronomica de Juayua generally kicks off around 11 am and wraps up by 5 pm, though you’ll catch some vendors setting up shop in the morning and a few sticking around a bit longer. If you haven’t figured it out by now, schedules in Central America are never set in stone.

The food festival in Juayua was one of my first stops in El Salvador – I basically beelined here from my hostel in Santa Ana as soon as I arrived. The chicken bus from Santa Ana to Juayua took a little longer than expected due to rain, but I arrived just in time.

My friend and I arrived a little before noon, beating the crowds, which meant we got first dibs on some seriously tasty eats. The rain also helped keep the usual crowds away.

If you only have one day to spend in Juayua, make a day of it – tackle the Seven Waterfalls Hike in the morning, then head straight to the festival.

Juayua celebrates the Christo Negro festival in January, with the biggest celebrations happening on January 15th. This is a fun time to head to the Juayua Food Festival. Just be prepared for extra people and partying!

What to Eat: Juayua Food Festival Foods

I teamed up with a buddy from my hostel in Santa Ana. Sharing dishes meant we could try twice as much—crucial because flying solo means missing out on half the menu!

Pro tip: Do a quick walk-through first. Vendors display sample plates with prices so you can spot what you fancy before diving in. You’ll see everything from fresh fruits and beers to cocktails and desserts laid out.

Contrary to some old tales, I didn’t find iguana or frog, just rabbit meat. 

And while there aren’t pupusas at the festival, don’t miss Juayua’s top pupuserias: Pupusería Y Taquería Doña Cony and Pupusería Esmeralda.

Now for the Feria food you’ve got to try:

• Grilled Meats with Rice and Beans: The stars of the show. Expect everything from succulent chicken to juicy beef, all marinated in garlic and salt and then grilled to perfection. The rice and beans on the side? Just the cherry on top.

• Fresh Seafood: Given El Salvador’s coast is just a couple of hours away, the seafood at the Juayua Food Festival is unbeatable. The giant grilled shrimp are a crowd-pleaser, seasoned and cooked just right.

• Local Soup with Beans and Pork Skin: Dive into the depths of Salvadoran flavors with this robust soup, combining the heartiness of beans with the rich texture of pork skin.

• Chorilonzo: This local sausage is a flavor bomb, merging the best of chorizo and longaniza into one spiced masterpiece.

• Grilled Rabbit (Conejo): Not your everyday meat, grilled rabbit is a local favorite known for its tender, flavorful meat.

• Rigua: Experience the joy of Salvadoran street food with these griddled, half-moon-shaped corn pancakes cooked inside banana leaves and served with a side of queso fresco.

• Tortitas de Elote & Tamalito de Elote: Sweet lovers, rejoice! These treats made from corn flour (Tortitas) and sweet corn tamales (Tamalitos) are like biting into a piece of Salvadoran sunshine.

• Chilate: This traditional Salvadoran drink is a unique blend of hot water thickened with corn flour, flavored with ginger, allspice, and sugar, often accompanied by sweet fried plantains.

Drinks to Wash It All Down:

• “Piña Loca” (Crazy Pineapple): This isn’t your average smoothie – it’s a tropical explosion of pineapple blended with optional rum, served in its own shell. Perfect for a refreshing treat. (And yes, I’m all about that eco-friendly reusable straw life!)

• Cold Beer & Michelada: Whether you’re in the mood for a simple cold beer or a michelada (a zesty beer cocktail mixed with lime, chili, spices, and flavored juice), there’s no better way to complement your meal.

• Chicha: A potent local beverage made from fermented corn, pineapple skin, and panela (unrefined sugar cane). It’s strong, unique, and a true taste of local tradition.

• Ponche: This traditional Salvadoran punch is a must-try, served hot from giant cauldrons. It’s a milky, spiced drink sweetened with sugar and often spiked with rum or your choice of alcohol, perfect for sipping on a cool evening.

How Much Does the Juayua Food Festival Cost?

Budgeting for the Juayua Food Festival? Good news: entry is free, and you only pay for what you eat. 

Prices are set by each vendor and clearly displayed alongside sample plates—no surprises here.

Cash is king, and smaller bills are your best friend for smooth transactions. 

Expect generous portions that give you a real bang for your buck. 

To give you an idea: a cup of spiked ponche goes for $1, the boozy pineapple cocktail is $3, a hearty soup sets you back $4, and a full plate of grilled meat or seafood with sides ranges from $6 to $9.

How to Get to Juayua Food Festival in Ruta de las Flores

Getting to the Juayua Food Festival is part of the adventure, and luckily, you’ve got options.

This Ruta de las Flores tour includes a visit to four towns and a coffee farm tour – if you book the tour for a weekend, the guide will make sure you get a taste of the weekend food festivals in Ruta de las Flores. 

I’m a big fan of day tours for people who have limited time to explore Ruta de las Flores or who don’t want to deal with logistics.

Renting a car in El Salvador is also an option for travelers who don’t mind driving in a foreign country. 

I made friends with a few guys in my hostel, and we rented a car for my second visit to Ruta de las Flores when we conquered the crazy Seven Waterfalls Hike in Juayua.

Most backpackers in El Salvador opt to take the local chicken buses – here are the bus directions to Juayua from Santa Ana, San Salvador, and El Tunco. 

From Santa Ana: Jump on bus #238 direct to Juayua. It’s a bargain at $0.80 and takes about an hour and a half, departing every two hours. Missed it? No stress. Take bus #210 to Ahuachapan for $0.90, then hop on bus #249 towards Sonsonate, which stops in Juayua ($0.60, 40 minutes). That’s what I did, and it was a breeze.

From San Salvador: Head to Terminal de Occidente and catch bus #205 to Sonsonate. It takes two hours and costs $1.50. From Sonsonate, bus #249 will get you to Juayua, adding another piece to your journey ($0.60, 40 minutes).

From the Beach Towns: El Tunco or El Zonte beach-goers can take bus #287 to Sonsonate (twice daily, $1.50, about two hours). Then, it’s the #249 bus again, taking you up the Ruta de las Flores to Juayua ($0.60, 40 minutes).

Around Ruta de las Flores: Already in the area? Buses like #249 connect towns along the route, including Juayua, running frequently (every half-hour or so) throughout the day for less than a dollar. The last bus leaves Juayua at 6:10pm so plan accordingly.

🚙 Thinking about renting a car in Central America? I rented a car in El Salvador and was able to see so much more than if I only traveled by bus. I recommend using Discover Cars to compare costs and get the best deal.

Where to Stay near the Feria Gastronomica in Juayua

I opted to visit the Juayua Food Festival as a half-day trip from Santa Ana for convenience (I needed a break from lugging my backpack around El Salvador).

If you have the time in your El Salvador itinerary, I recommend spending a night or two in the Ruta de las Flores region. 

Juayua and Ataco towns are popular choices for accommodations, serving as excellent bases to explore the area further. 

Other Things to Do in Juayua, El Salvador

Start with the Seven Waterfalls Hike in Juayua, a must-do for adventurers. 

If you’re not up for a big hike, visit the last waterfall of the trek, Los Chorros de Calera waterfall. It’s within walking distance of town and a great place to take a dip. 

Don’t miss Juayua’s main market for local crafts and produce and a visit to Iglesia Santa Lucia to see the Christo Negro, a Black Jesus statue dating back to the 1500s.

The adventure doesn’t stop in Juayua. The surrounding towns along Ruta de las Flores are brimming with activities—soak in hot springs, chase more waterfalls, tour a coffee farm, or get your adrenaline pumping with a bike zipline ride. 

To seamlessly experience the diversity of this region, consider joining a tour. It’s the most convenient way to explore the best of Ruta de las Flores.

👉 My top pick for the best Ruta de las Flores small group tour is the  Thermal Tour: Café Albania + Hot Springs + Ataco + Lunch, with a near-perfect 5-star rating. You’ll visit Salto de Malacatiupan waterfalls, Santa Teresa Hot Springs, hop a bike zipline, and more!