Santa Teresa Hot Springs — Attraction in Departamento de Ahuachapán

I don’t have to tell you why a place like this is needed after a year in a pandemic, and a 14 hour travel day with an infant.... so we drove the gorgeous drive from the airport, pulled up and immediately felt rejuvenated and in awe of the steam illuminated behind the tropical forest trees and plants. We drove in past the gorgeous pools and bars, got our bags and walked up the stairs to our beautiful room! We stayed in Japan, which had its own pools— one cool and fresh, the other perfectly warm. We got in our suits and headed down to the pool. What makes this place so special is (besides the GORGEOUS landscaping and natural beauty everywhere) is that the pools start with the hottest up top, then get cooler as the water flows down to the other pools so you can Goldilocks yourself to find the pool that is just right! They brought us our dinner to our patio table. We had steak and fried fish! They opened our bottle of wine and we could not stop smiling and voicing our gratitude! The pools are open late (midnight) so you really get to enjoy! The next day we went down to the natural sauna and clay spa which was AMAZING! We sat in the sauna that is naturally heated from being atop the hot spring pool, with eucalyptus leaves all over the floor. Once our pours were wide open, we covered ourselves with two different clays from the hot spring then went back in the sauna to soak in the clay. We rinsed then did a Japanese foot massage by walking on rocks that are on top of the natural hot spring water. The woman at the spa is so lovely and kind and accommodating! After that we got two 30 minute messages for $35!! Extremely relaxing and rejuvenating! Another perk is this place is super family friendly (babies allowed and no “shush” vibes). As we left we had a flat tire and couldn’t even be fazed because of how relaxed and grateful we were from our stay at Santa Teresa! I’m coming back and bringing my family and friends. I highly recommend coming here and enjoying time in Ahuachapan...

Can’t say many good things about this place other than the pools were nice and clean.

The service was non existent. The employee that first served us was nasty and wasn’t interested in answering any of our questions. We tried to hire towels, none available (for a place that is all about hot springs this was a little unexpected). We tried another employee, who was nice initially when I asked where the spa was and pointed where to go. However when we returned she completely ignored us and couldn’t order something as simple as a coffee.

We went on a quiet day, and thank goodness we did as there seems to be only 2 changing rooms for everyone. No lockers available, seems there is only one masseur for the whole place. We didn’t even try the mud bath.

The website is poorly designed as well.

We left disappointed. My father who had been there a while back said that this time the place didn’t seem like it had been maintained well, the gardens weren’t maintained the buildings looked tired. The only nice thing was the main area where we gathered was nice and pleasant.

There was also no info on how to hire rooms for the day, no interest in proving you a pleasant stay. We stayed for 1.5hrs and left.

The pools are nice and clean. Lots to choose from, lots of temps to choose from too. The floors a little slippery so be careful.

I took my kids aged 12 and 6 and were bored quickly. I wouldn’t recommend it for families with...

We stayed at Termales de Santa Teresa for three days and had the chance to really experience everything the place offers at a slower, more relaxed pace. It’s tucked into a quiet natural area, and the entire property is centered around geothermal energy—from the pools to the sauna to the mud treatment.

One of the things we appreciated most was the variety of pools. Each one had a noticeably different temperature, so we moved between them depending on the time of day and how long we wanted to soak. Some were warm and calming, others noticeably hotter, perfect for a short sit before cooling off. The water is naturally heated and slightly mineralized, which added to the restorative feel.

We also tried the volcanic mud experience. After covering ourselves completely in warm mud, we let it dry in the sun before heading into the sauna, which has a strong sulfur smell due to the natural gases—it’s intense but part of the process. After sweating it out there, we rinsed everything off in a small sulfur pond, which also had that distinct scent. It’s not luxurious, but it felt like a full cycle—heat, rest, cleanse.

Spending multiple days let us appreciate the rhythm of the place: quiet mornings, slow afternoons, and evenings under the trees. It’s not a resort, but the setting and the natural experience are what make it memorable. We left feeling lighter, relaxed, and more connected to the...