Do you remember the beloved book The Little Prince, written by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry? After the Bible, it’s the most widely read and translated book of all time.
In its pages, we read the story of a pilot lost in the desert, who meets a little boy from the Asteroid B-612. Through their conversations, the pilot discovers the Little Prince—a sensitive soul who, on his tiny planet, lovingly cares for a very special flower: a rose. He also lives among three volcanoes, two active and one already dorm.
That rose—beautiful and unique—was also vain, impulsive, fragile, and deeply complex. The Little Prince loved her with all his heart. Yet, she was also the reason for his journey across the universe.
The Salvadoran Rose
That rose had a name and a homeland: Consuelo Suncín, a Salvadoran woman who became the wife and muse of the author, and to whom he dedicated his most universal work.
Consuelo’s story is told in The Rose That Captivated the Little Prince, written by her niece Abigail Suncín. The book reveals the life of a woman who not only inspired the Little Prince but also left a lasting impression on everyone she met.
Through Abigail’s writings, we also discover a touching letter that the Count wrote to his Rose, in which he said:
“Consuelo, you are my Rose, you are the love of my life. I promise to write for you the second part of The Little Prince as soon as this war ends—in which the Little Prince’s Rose will become the princess of my dreams.”
But the war didn’t allow it. Antoine was shot down during a flight mission, leaving Consuelo in grief… until their souls reunited beyond the stars.
Eco Mayan proudly shares stories of remarkable Salvadoran woman—Consuelo Suncín, who became the Countess of Saint-Exupéry. A brave and determined soul, she left a small town and went on to captivate the world with her intelligence, charisma, and passion for life.
The Three Volcanoes
From Armenia, her hometown in El Salvador, one can see one of the country’s most awe-inspiring natural wonders: the Los Volcanes Complex, made up of two active volcanoes and one extinct. Do you notice the resemblance to the descriptions in the book?
One of them is Izalco Volcano, whose eruptions in that era reached such heights they could be seen from far out at sea. That’s why it became known as “The Lighthouse of the Pacific”, as its glowing flames guided sailors along our shores.
Interestingly, the volcano drawn by Antoine in The Little Prince bears a strong resemblance to this very Salvadoran colossus—a natural spectacle during that time. It’s a connection that sparks the imagination and makes us believe that, among love and memories, our volcanoes may have inspired world literature.
The second is Lamatepec or Santa Ana Volcano, the highest in El Salvador. Grand and mysterious, it stands right next to the extinct Cuntetepeque Volcano, now known as Cerro Verde.
Eco Mayan invites you to explore these cool, mist-covered trails, where it feels like you can stretch your hand out and touch the crater of Izalco. Here, one breathes pure nature, walks among orchids and birds, and enjoys unforgettable views of the other two volcanoes—which, by the way, we can also take you to hike.
The surrounding countryside features hotels, restaurants, and glamping spots, as well as a stunning body of water that shines under the sun by day and reflects the moon and stars by night. This volcanic crater lake, matchless in beauty and nestled among mountains, can also be admired from Cerro Verde. It is Coatepeque Lake, another gem of El Salvador’s tourism.
Undoubtedly, Antoine—with imagination in his soul—and Consuelo—with nostalgia in her heart—thought of these volcanoes when writing about the Little Prince’s world. And as he himself wrote, his Rose was not only an inspiration for love, but for landscapes, for homeland, and for poetry.
And so, between volcanoes and clouds, between letters and memories, the story of The Little Prince also has Salvadoran roots.
