San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador, is nicknamed 'El Valle de las Hamacas' (The Valley of Hammocks) not because of a laid-back lifestyle, but because of the frequent seismic activity that causes the ground to 'sway' like a hammock. As the capital of the smallest and most densely populated country in Central America, San Salvador is a bustling hive of activity nestled at the foot of the San Salvador Volcano (Quezaltepeque). The city has been rebuilt multiple times following major earthquakes and volcanic eruptions, which has resulted in a skyline that blends surviving colonial structures with earthquake-resistant modern architecture. San Salvador is the political and financial heart of the country and was the first city in the world to adopt Bitcoin as legal tender alongside the US Dollar in 2021. The city serves as a gateway to the 'Ruta de las Flores' and is famous for its proximity to world-class surfing beaches and crater lakes like Lake Ilopango, which was formed by one of the largest volcanic eruptions in human history around 1,500 years ago.