About San Diego
San Diego is a volcanic field rising to 781 meters (2,562 feet) in El Salvador's Middle America-Caribbean Volcanic Regions. No historical eruptions have been recorded, though the volcano is classified based on geological evidence of past activity.
Geography & Climate
San Diego is located in El Salvador, within the Central America Volcanic Arc of the broader Middle America-Caribbean Volcanic Regions. Situated at 14.27° N, 89.48° W in the Northern Hemisphere, the volcano lies within a tropical climate zone. With a summit elevation of 781 meters above sea level, San Diego is a moderately sized peak that remains accessible to hikers and researchers for much of the year. The volcanic landform is characterized as a cluster, which describes the physical shape and structure of the volcanic edifice as observed from the surface.
GVP Reference Summary
Basaltic cinder cones and forested lava flows along the east side of Lake Güija, which straddles the border between El Salvador and Guatemala, is named after its largest feature, Volcán de San Diego. A large basaltic lava flow from the San Diego cinder cone dammed the drainage and was responsible for the formation of Lake Güija. Although Williams and McBirney (1955) estimated that the latest eruption occurred within the past few thousand years, none of the eruptions have been dated.
— Smithsonian Institution, Global Volcanism Program
0 Recorded Eruptions
No eruption records available for San Diego.
Real-Time Data
USGS Alert Level
Thermal Anomalies
Frequently Asked Questions About San Diego
Is San Diego an active volcano?+
San Diego is not currently classified as active. Its activity evidence is listed as "unknown." No recorded eruptions have been documented. However, no volcano is ever considered permanently extinct.
How high is San Diego?+
San Diego has a summit elevation of 781 meters (2,562 feet) above sea level. At 781 meters, it is a relatively low-elevation volcano.
What type of volcano is San Diego?+
San Diego is classified as a Volcanic field. Volcanic fields consist of clusters of small volcanic vents and cinder cones spread across a region. Rather than a single central vent, eruptions can occur at many points across the field.
Where is San Diego located?+
San Diego is located in El Salvador, in the Middle America-Caribbean Volcanic Regions. More specifically, it lies within the Central America Volcanic Arc. Its exact coordinates are 14.270° latitude, -89.480° longitude.
Is it safe to visit San Diego?+
San Diego can generally be visited, but as with any volcano, visitors should check local conditions and any advisory notices before traveling. El Salvador may have specific regulations for accessing volcanic areas. Guided tours are often the safest and most informative way to experience a volcano.
