Devil's Door

San Salvador · El Salvador · Natural site

The rock above Panchimalco is said to have split when the Devil himself fled the village — and the gate he left bears his name.

The two massive crags on El Chulo mountain form a dramatic gateway overlooking half of El Salvador. According to legend, the Devil fell in love with Panchimalco's most beautiful daughter and demanded to marry her, but the villagers, led by their priest, drove him out — and in his flight he smashed through the mountain, splitting the rock in two. Historians more prosaically date the collapse to a violent storm in October 1762, but the name, coined by the poet Raúl Contreras, has stuck. The site's dark reputation deepened during the civil war, when the cliffs were used as an execution ground, and visitors still speak of wailing sounds carried on the wind.

FAQ

Where is Devil's Door located?

Devil's Door is in San Salvador, El Salvador.