Escuintla, the capital and the administrative seat of department of Escuintla lies in the south- central part of Guatemala. It is located on the border of the central highlands and the Pacific coastal plains. It is about 45 km away from the Guatemala City. It was one of the largest Guatemala cities famous for being political and trading centre for indigo during the 17th and 18TH century.
Escuintla is one of the major industrialized cities in Guatemala. It is a region on Mesoamerica with less unemployment and extreme poverty. This really contrasts with the economic and social reality of Guatemala. The most important agricultural product grown here is sugarcane. Other agricultural products grown here are cotton, coffee, coconuts, pineapples, and mangoes. The city has some noted cotton ginning and meat-packing plants. You will also find sugar refineries in the surrounding areas. It is also an important winter resort known for its mineral baths.
Being the largest city in the Pacific Coast and a major crossroads, Escuintla is also famous for its excellent transport links running form 6 AM to 6 PM. This hot bustling city is mostly famous for bus triangle from where you will find bus service for all directions.
4 Avenue – The main hub of Escuintla
The main spot of Escuintla is 4 Avenue. This place is near to all the hotels. The main market, and also the police station are located here on this avenue. You will find plenty of pizza corners and street stalls in and around the 4 Avenue. There is also a restaurant, named Café Jardin at the corner of 3 Avenue and 5 Calle where you can enjoy delicious traditional food. This beautiful restaurant turns into a jazzy disco on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays after 8PM. Café Jardin is the best place to chill out if you do not want to get trapped in the traffic.
Places nearby Escuintla
- Pacaya Volcano National Park
If you are visiting Escuintla, and want a unique adventure, do not forget to visit Pacaya Volcano National Park. Hiking the volcano is something which you will enjoy on your trip. It will be a memorable experience for you. Pacaya Volcano was also declared a National Park on July 20, 1963. The park covers a total area of 2,065 hectares, and in this park you will find the lake Laguna de Calderas. Pacaya Volcano is one of the most hiked and visited volcano in the country. Initially during your hiking journey, you will be taken into humid forests in gentle stroll. As you will go higher the climbing will become steep for you. Once you reach the volcano summit, you might see lava flowing, and also clouds of smoke. You can take a guide along with you when you are here. A trip to Pacaya volcano will let you learn about natural history and geology.
- Auto Safari Chapin
Auto Safari Chapin is a unique animal park. Founded in 1980 as a natural reserve area, it is one among the largest animal parks in Guatemala. The park has many interesting and recreational spots. You can refresh yourself by soaking in swimming pool, and enjoy mouth-watering snacks and traditional food in the restaurants located in the recreation area. Auto Safari Chapin houses more than 96 different animal species and 70 plant species. It is the first zoo in Central America where you can drive through in a car.
- Lago de Amatitlán
You can plan a day trip to Lago de Amatitlán, a beautiful destination for tourists. You cannot enjoy swimming in the lake because it is too polluted, but can navigate it on a pedal boat. You can enjoy a chairlift up to a pretty viewpoint on the hillside. The lake is easy to reach as buses from Escuintla pass every 5 minutes. You will find small stores here where you can do some shopping.Hope you enjoyed reading and learning about Escuintla. It is a beautiful city with much to see and explore. The magic scenery of the city invites many to relax and enjoy the beauty here. You can come to know more about Escuintla by exploring various websites on the Internet with information about Escuintla city and also the department of Escuintla.
