Retalhuleu
Retalhuleu on the map of Guatemala
Retalhuleu (popularly re- u) is a city in Guatemala. It is the administrative center of the department of Retalhuleu and the greater community of the same name (Municipio ), which comprises 796 km ² and 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 to 239 m altitude. From the capital to reach Retalhuleu on the modern highway CA 9 and the branching in Escuintla Pacific Highway CA 2 in about three hours.
Retalhuleu is located in the Pacific lowlands 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 industry 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 Highway 9, which connects the Pacific port, 38 km away Champerico about Retalhuleu with Quetzaltenango in the highlands. The railway line, the Retalhuleu in the lowlands with Champerico, Mexico and connects via Escuintla (Guatemala ) to Guatemala City is no longer in operation. In Retalhuleu is an airfield for general aviation. On the military part of the Guatemalan armed forces maintain a flight school.
The town has a built in colonial style well-preserved center. The Museo de Arqueología y etnologia numerous archaeological finds are on display. There are several archaeological sites, including the Mayan ruins Takalik Abaj and San Juan Noj in the surrounding area.
Of national importance is a little further north, situated at San Martín Zapotitlán Water Park ( Parque Acuatico Xocomil ) and the adjacent amusement park Xetulul. Both are maintained by the Guatemalan workers welfare organization IRTRA.
Retalhuleu has numerous hotels and is an ideal starting point for excursions in the surrounding area.
History
Even before the arrival of the Spaniards, the area of Retalhuleu between the rival Mam and K'iche ' was controversial. The Conquistador Pedro de Alvarado said to have drawn between the two warring parties with the sword in Retalhuleu a boundary line in the ground. From this incident, the city's name derives from that means " sign on the ground." The city was founded in 1825 by adding up put the two neighboring towns of San Antonio Retalhuleu and Santa Catarina Sacatepéquez. 1877 rose to Retalhuleu to the administrative seat of the newly created departments of the same name. Previously the area had been part of Suchitepéquez.