Heading to El Salvador? Bring an extra bag and take yourself shopping on the El Salvador Artisan Route through the six charming towns of San Sebastián, Ilobasco, Suchitoto, La Palma, San Ignasio and Citalá. Learn about each area’s handicraft traditions, including the use of indigo crops to create murals, pottery and cloth. Once used by the ancient Maya people, it’s still a popular fabric dye for scarves and bags. If the production process is of interest, visits to an organic indigo farm can be arranged.

Watch skilled artisans work on wooden looms to create beautiful patterned textiles including blankets, hammocks and mats, then participate in a workshop and operate the loom yourself. Or try your hand at creating a mud sculpture from the red mud popular for the tiny human figures, town miniatures and small egg-shaped ceramics known as sorpresas.

Inspired by Mayan culture, the practice of Arte Naif drawing can be seen on the walls, homes and businesses of La Palma. The mural format can be viewed at around 100 artisanal shops, and visitors can explore it at a workshop offered at Taller Paty where they can paint a wooden box or a giant seed from the Copinol fruit.