Volcán Chaparrastique — officially the San Miguel Volcano — rises to 2,130 m west of the city and is one of the most active volcanoes in El Salvador. The near-perfect cone is visible from virtually everywhere in San Miguel and gives the city its most distinctive feature. It last erupted in December 2013, sending an ash plume over the city, and remains closely monitored.
The volcano can be hiked, though the trail begins from the village of El Pacayal on its western flank. The climb takes four to five hours return and is strenuous — the upper slopes are steep loose ash and scoria. Crater access is sometimes restricted when activity increases; ask at the Casa de la Cultura in San Miguel or check with local guides before heading up. The view from the rim on a clear morning takes in the Pacific coast, the Gulf of Fonseca, and the mountains of Honduras.
There is no formal visitor centre. Arrange a local guide in San Miguel if you are unfamiliar with the terrain — the upper section has no marked trail and conditions can change quickly.