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Visit Escuintla

Escuintla

The department of Escuintla has a lot of rivers and is the gate to the Pacific Ocean, where the sun and the water mixes in magic scenery. Escuintla is the place many people visit for relaxing, but it is also a department with a growing economy. Its commercial development is mainly based on sugar and livestock production, as well as coffee and cardamom, without forgetting to include port commercial activities.

It is also important to point out that Escuintla has a large variety of informal economy, mainly sales of fruit at the edge of the different roads.

Escuintla is an ideal place to achieve various entertainment activities from a pleasant resting to active ones, like horse riding, sailing, fishing, taking pictures, bird watching, swimming, walking at the shores, and climbing. “La Ciudad de las Palmeras” as Escuintla is known, is famous because of its many beaches visited by local and foreign visitors.

This department is the perfect amalgam of ecology, landscapes, and cultures in all their expressions. Nature and infrastructure offers a perfect frame to enjoy along this coastal territory. A sample of the above mentioned is the Prehispanic culture located at the La Democracia museum, and the stone sculptured faces which correspond to a more antique stage of the Mayan culture. In the municipiums of Santa Lucia Cotzumalguapa we can visit the El Baul and Las Ilusiones archaeological sites. Also some colonial constructions can be found in this area, which are evidence of the greatness of past civilizations.

Travelers can go from cloud forest to a black sand beach on the Pacific Coast in just a few minutes. There are also many protected areas which range from mangroves to coastal ones. In addition, Escuintla is an unequalled destination for birdwatchers. The climate and the widespread green area practically guarantee a wide variety of birds of different species. Guatemala is especially exciting to birdwatchers because it is on the North-South migratory path of birds from South and North America, the two coasts of the United States, and Canada. Birds of different feathers do flock together in Guatemala, Lachua Lake, the northern transversal road in Verapaz, Yaxha, Cerro Gil, Quetzal Tiotope, Cerro Alux, Cayala Park, and of course, Monterrico.

Guatemala's Pacific coast is a paradise for fishers. If there is an entry in the record books for salt water fishing, Guatemala’s Pacific Coast has it. Anglers enjoyed a recent 240 billfish catch, and that was in a single day. Guatemala also holds the record for the most billfish caught and released in one championship day, by one boat in one day, by one person in one day, and by one boat in a year. The near-inshore waters of Guatemala’s Pacific Coast teem with maritime food as several current meet just offshore. Paddling turtles, breaching humpback whales and spinning dolphins join the lunch line and are an attraction even for the non-angler.

Diving is another activity that you can have at the sea, you will be sure to find what you are looking for.

From the artisan point of view, we can mention wood work, metals, baskets, leather, ceramics, and recently, some other creative expressions have arisen, like it is the case of Santa Lucia Cotzumalguapa weavers, a group of artists which have established a school leaded by Mr. Ramiro Galvez, and who contribute to preserve the importance of silver and gold weaving.

Another important aspect in Escuintla are the local fairs of the different municipiums, since a lot of activities are carried out during those celebrations, like floral games, literary contests, social dances, and sport activities. However, religious celebrations constitute the main activity, which includes colorful processions and indigenous dances; among we them we can mention the Baile de Moros, La Conquista, Rey Azarias, Rey David, Don Fernando, and Napoleon.

The department of Escuintla, located in the southern part of the country, shows the transformation of the mountains in valleys, a slow process which is present in all continents, but that in this department in addition of showing clear vestiges of these types of transformations, constitutes a singular unique landscape.

At the northern side of the department the volcanoes are located, and the department reaches al altitude up to 3,763 and 2,522 meters at the tops of the Fuego and Pacaya volcanoes. The territorial limit is also located at these volcanoes and far away, the coastal side is located which ends at the sea line.

The main city, Escuintla, facilitates local road communication since the department is relatively close to Guatemala City. The department has excellent communication channels, both at aquatic and roads, which reaches every place located in this department. Weather is hot and humid. It not weird that most of the region's tourist attractions are sun and water. Most of tourist places to visit are beaches and swimming pools, some of the latest with thermal waters.

The only thing you need to do is to schedule your itinerary. The places we will mention are only some of the places you can visit, but there are many, many more. They are:

Pacaya Vulcano, a natural monument
This volcano is shared with the department of Guatemala. The volcano shows the most amazing characteristics in the towns of San Vicente Pacaya, Bejucal, El Cedro, El Patrocinio, Los Chagüites, and San Francisco de Sales. This is an ideal place to walk at the mountain, learn about geology and natural history, taking pictures, or just a place to enjoy.

San Pedro Martir, a cave and waterfall
This is a place located at the slope of El Peñon Mountain, just a few miles away from Escuintla city. Vehicle access is available. The place combines a natural cave with a waterfall of almost 65 meters high. The cave is of volcanic origin and it is one of the few of this type located in Guatemala. It has a shell form and has many small caves.

The waterfall is formed by the Michatoya river, has it has four small waterfalls which are separated by rocks cover with plants. Fresh baths can be taken in this beautiful place.

Sea Beaches
Escuintla’s oceanic littoral is very uniform and has many beaches and swimming places. The most accesible and visited ones include El Semillero, Tecojate, San Jose, Rama Blanca, La Empalizada, Rancho Carrillo, El Paredon, Buena Vista, La Barrita, Chulamar, Likin, Lindamar, and Conacaste.

The Palin Canyon, and tourist centers
The Rio Michatoya valley cuts the volcanic mountain between the Amatitlan town, belonging to the departament of Guatemala, with the municipium of Palin, in Escuintla. This is an area with an intense volcanic activity from the Pacaya volcano. In this place we can find many thermal water fountains and swimming places.

Other places to visit
Iztapa, La Democracia, Las Ilusiones Museum at the municipium of Santa Lucia Cotzumalguapa; San Jose Beach; Sipacate Beach; El Baul Archaeological Site; and the Pacaya Volcano (2,552 meters of altitude).

With no doubt, Escuintla is a place which offers a large variety of beautiful places to visit.

Local Fairs
Escuintla, December 8; Guanagazapa, February 15; Iztapa, October 24; La Democracia, December 31; La Gomera, November 12; Palin, July 30; San Jose, March 19; Santa Lucia Cotzumalguapa, December 25; San Vicente Pacaya, January 22; Siquinala, November 25; Tiquisate, December 24.

Guatemala Departments:

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