The tiny mountain town of Juayua (pronounced hoo-wah-YOO-wah… kind of like Al Pacino in Scent of a Woman) has a little something for everyone. There’s the mountain town itself which has a perfect climate, never too hot or too cold. The mountain air is cool and crisp at night and far from sweltering during the day.
Every weekend the town hosts the Fiesta de Gastronomia (Food Festival) with a lovely selection of sausages, steak, seafood, and treats available for very reasonable prices. I had the steak and shrimp platter for $5. El Impossible National Park, Santa Anna Volcano, and quite a few waterfalls are all in the area, making this town a perfect base for exploring, hiking, and other adventures. You might find yourself staying longer than planned. Luckily the town has a wonderful hostel: Hostal Casa Mazeta on 2nd Ave N has charming hand crafted wooden furnishings, a budget dorm room, lovely double rooms, as well as Darren the every helpful British owner.
Just down the road from the hostel is the massage clinic titled “Spa Massage” located on Calle Merseditas near the Super Selectos Market. They offer relaxational massage, shiatsu, or weight loss massage (they swear it works) for $10 for an hour. They also offer foot reflexology for $6 for a half hour.
I was treated by Anna Maria Lopez who gave me a 1 hour relaxational massage. The massage was given in complete privacy, but without any drapings or coverings. Anna Maria used a rose essential oil which offered lots of glide, but left me feeling a bit greasy after. Definitely plan on having a shower after the massage. Her pressure was moderate and never too much. All in all it was a nice massage that treated the full body, starting with foot reflexology.
Anna Maria is blind and studied in a one year program offered by the Red Cross in San Salvador that teaches blind people massage in a one year program. She has been massaging for over 3 years. When I asked her if she liked her work, she answered “Gracias a dios que si” (Thank God I do). I couldn’t have said it better myself.