Retalhuleu
| Retalhuleu | ||
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Coordinates: 14 ° 32 ′ N , 91 ° 41 ′ W Retalhuleu on the map of Guatemala
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| Basic data | ||
| Country | Guatemala | |
| Department | Retalhuleu | |
| Residents | 77,000 (2003) | |
| - in the metropolitan area | 40,000 | |
| Detailed data | ||
| surface | 796 km 2 | |
| Population density | 97 inhabitants / km 2 | |
| height | 239 m | |
| Waters | Río Bolas | |
| Time zone | UTC −6 | |
Retalhuleu ( popularly Re-u ) is a city in Guatemala . It is the administrative seat of the Retalhuleu department and the municipality of the same name ( Municipio ), which covers 796 km² and has around 77,000 inhabitants.
Location and climate
The city is located 186 km west of Guatemala City and 52 km south of Quetzaltenango between the Sierra Madre and the Pacific coast at an altitude of 239 m. Retalhuleu can be reached from the capital via the modern CA 9 motorway and the CA 2 Pacific highway that branches off at Escuintla in around three hours.
Retalhuleu is located in the Pacific lowland region ( Costa Cuca ). The climate is tropical and hot. The rainy season lasts from May to October.
Economy and tourism
Retalhuleu is the capital of one of the wealthiest and most productive departments in Guatemala . The most important branch of the economy is agriculture and especially the cultivation and processing of sugar cane . The city is strategically located near the intersection of the Pacific Highway CA 2 ( Mexico - El Salvador ) and the National Road 9, which connects the Pacific port of Champerico, 38 km away, via Retalhuleu with Quetzaltenango in the highlands. The railway line that connects Retalhuleu in the lowlands with Champerico, Mexico and via Escuintla (Guatemala) with Guatemala City is no longer in operation. At Retalhuleu is the Retalhuleu airfield , which is used for general aviation . The armed forces of Guatemala run a flight school on the military part .
The city has a well-preserved center built in the colonial style. In the Museo de Arqueología y Etnología numerous archaeological finds are exhibited. There are several archaeological sites in the area, including the Mayan ruins of Takalik Abaj and San Juan Noj .
A water park ( Parque Acuatico Xocomil ) located a little further north, near San Martín Zapotitlán, and the neighboring amusement park Xetulul are of supraregional importance . Both are maintained by the Guatemalan workers' welfare organization IRTRA .
Retalhuleu has numerous hotels and is a suitable starting point for excursions in the area.
history
Even before the arrival of the Spaniards, the area of Retalhuleu was disputed between the rival Mam and Quiché . The Conquistador Pedro de Alvarado is said to have drawn a boundary line in the ground between the two warring parties with the sword at Retalhuleu. The name of the city, which means something like "signs on the ground", is derived from this incident. The city was founded in 1825 by merging the two neighboring towns of San Antonio Retalhuleu and Santa Catarina Sacatepéquez. In 1877 Retalhuleu was made the administrative seat of the newly created department of the same name. The area had previously belonged to Suchitepéquez .