
Planes de Renderos is an area located in San Salvador, characterized by its considerable elevation. One of the most iconic sites in this small yet popular area is the lookout, or as it is commonly referred to by those who do not live there: the Lookout of the Planes de Renderos.
Where is it?
The Lookout of the Planes de Renderos is located in the department of San Salvador. The department of San Salvador is one of the 14 departments into which El Salvador is divided. Departments are equivalent to states in some countries.
The lookout is situated in the district of Panchimalco, which belongs to the municipality of South San Salvador (San Salvador Sur).
Although the main lookout of Los Planes is located in Panchimalco, the entire area of the Planes de Renderos is not confined to Panchimalco alone. Part of Los Planes is also in the district of San Marcos (which also belongs to the municipality of South San Salvador).
Another part of Los Planes is in the district of San Salvador, which belongs to the municipality of Central San Salvador (San Salvador Centro).
The Popularity of Los Planes
Los Planes (the entire area) is famous for the Lookout, the “Puerta del Diablo,” Balboa Park, and the Family Park. Not to mention, there are several pupuserÃas and a pupusodrome (a place where multiple pupusa vendors gather).
What perhaps makes it truly special is that “Los Planes” is situated at a high elevation, providing the perfect setting for a lookout, in this case, the “Lookout of the Planes de Renderos.”
Its climate and elevation are the reasons why we consider it one of the best places to live in El Salvador.
The Lookout
The Lookout of the Planes de Renderos is a simple place, with no entrance fee, and is located right next to the street.
We must mention that in Los Planes, there are additional lookouts located within the restaurants in the area.
However, the main lookout is the public one, which is very well located and offers captivating views of San Salvador and beyond.

The Lookout of Los Planes is situated atop a fairly large house, so it essentially serves as the house’s roof, with a safety wall built around the edges.
The place is relatively safe, although you should always be cautious not to leave valuables inside your car, just in case.

Entrance Fee
As for the entrance to this lookout with views of San Salvador and Santa Tecla, we can tell you that the entrance has always been free. In other words, admission is free.
It is a lookout that is located right next to the street, making it very easy to access. However, if it is a highly visited day (such as a holiday or vacation period), it might be challenging to find a parking spot.
But if you visit the place using a transportation service like Uber, you won’t have to worry about finding a parking space.
How to Get to the Lookout of the Planes de Renderos?
By Bus
If you are traveling by public transportation, the routes that go to the lookout are Route 17 bus, Route 17 microbus, and Route 12. These can be boarded in downtown San Salvador by the central market (Mercado Central).
Always remember to ask the driver if they are heading to Los Planes and also inquire about how close the stop is to the lookout.
Or if you want to keep it simple, just ask these two questions:
“¿Va a Los Planes?“/”Are you going to Los Planes?”… if the answer is “Si/Yes” then ask “¿pasa por el mirador?“/”Do you pass by the lookout?” The driver will then tell you how close the stop is to the lookout.
By Car
To get there by car, it will depend on where you are coming from, but as a point of reference, at the beginning of the Comalapa Highway, where it connects with the Boulevard de Los Héroes; you should follow the Comalapa Highway.
You will pass underneath the overpass and roundabout called “El Paso del Jaguar,” near the area known as Rancho Navarra. After passing through there, just under two kilometers on the right-hand side, you will find the turnoff towards “Los Planes.”
Upon taking the aforementioned turnoff, you will encounter a fork with one road leading to the right and another going straight or veering left.
If you take the right exit, you’ll end up in the opposite lane, meaning you’ll be heading towards San Jacinto, but you want to go to “Los Planes,” not San Jacinto.
Therefore, when you take this turnoff, you should take the road that veers to the left, as this is the one that connects with the road ascending towards Los Planes.
By choosing the correct exit at the fork, you will already be on RN 6S or Calle Antigua a Planes de Renderos, commonly known as the “calle de Los Planes” (Los Planes road).
Continue on this road, which goes uphill, and about 14 minutes later (approximately 6.8 km), you will find the Lookout of Los Planes de Renderos on your left.
You also have the option of traveling using an app-based transportation service like Uber.
Tips
If you are heading to “Los Planes” by car, make sure your brakes are in good condition, as they will be essential on the descent. Check them before leaving home. If you are traveling using a service like Uber, the driver, being local, will already be well aware of this.
The road has several curves, but personally, I don’t consider it high-risk as long as you drive at a moderate speed and have a good braking system.
Other Nearby Places
In the area, there are other places that may stand out for various reasons or be of interest. For example, there are several pupuserÃas, and along the road you take to go up, there are some restaurants that usually offer good views.