Esquipulas

Esquipulas is a small city in Eastern Guatemala with a population of about 18,000 residents. It is a popular destination for religious pilgrims who come to visit the Basilica of Esquipulas, a beautiful colonial church that is home to a mystical relic called the Cristo Negro (Black Christ) which is purported to have miraculous healing powers and definitely has the power to draw celebrity pilgrims like Pope John Paul II and Sister Teresa of Calcutta. The city is Guatemala's second-most visited destination, drawing an estimated 4-5 million visitors annually.

The city is just 9 km from the border with Honduras but over 220 km from Guatemala City . Driving from Guate will take about 4-1/2 hours. It's a bit shorter to drive from San Salvador (about 4 hours).

Esquipulas is compact enough to explore on foot, with most points of interest within walking distance of the town centre. Mototaxis and tuk-tuks are available for trips to outlying areas or neighbouring villages. Local transport options are affordable and widely used by residents.

🌍

Basilica of Esquipulas ,

11 Calle .

Daily 06:00 - 18:00 .

Beautiful colonial era church built between 1735 and 1759 with baroque style architecture. The interior is relatively unadorned with a small number of artworks, including some very modern works from the past century. The star of the church is the Black Christ figure in a glass case hanging over the main altar.

( updated Sep 2024 )

🌍

Finca los Girasoles

( Sunflower Ranch ),

Condado Tierra Colorada ,

☏

+502 4596 6869 .

Daily 07:30 - 17:00 .

Fields of sunflowers begging for some Instagram-worthy selfies. Farm animals including cows and goats are often curious about visitors.

( updated Sep 2024 )

🌍

Aquaduct

( Acueducto los Arcos ),

1a Calle Z.3 .

Colonial-era waterworks from the 18th century designed to bring drinki

Rivers : Several rivers run through Esquipulas and fishing, boating, and tubing are all wet and fun things to do. The largest river is Rio Lempe, but others are the Rio Tepoctum, Rio Chacalapa, Rio Espinos, and Rio de Olopita.

🌍

Parque Chatun

( Chatun Park ),

Km. 226 Carretera a Honduras ,

☏

+502 7873 0909 .

Tu-Su 09:00 - 18:00, closed M .

Water park with natural, spring fed pools. Several swimming pools with water slides, picnic area, changing rooms, gift shop, snacks and drinks. Fun place to spend a day with the kids.

US$7 .

🌍

Cueva de las Minas

( Mining Cave ),

Cueva de las Min

🌍

Red Dragon ,

5 calle 8-23 ,

☏

+502 7943 4019 .

Daily 09:00 - 21:30 .

Modern restaurant serving sushi and Chinese food. Generous portions.

Q 100 .

( updated Sep 2024 )

🌍

Rous Café Parroquia ,

2a calle A 5-20 ,

☏

+502 7943 1196 .

Tu-Su 16:00 - 22:00, closed M .

Cozy, quiet, clean restaurant serving coffee, cocktails, and homecooked Central American food.

( updated Sep 2024 )

🌍

La Rotonda ,

Blvd. Quirio Cataño 1 ,

☏

+502 7943 4470 .

Daily 10:00 - 21:00 .

Family-friendly pizza and pasta restaurant with an indoor kids playground.

( updated Sep 2024 )

🌍

Stuart Restaurant ,

3 av 3-00 Zona 1 Bajada del Parque Plaza de La Marimba ,

☏

+502 7943 5952 .

Tu-Su 12:00 - 22:00, closed M .

Casually elegant Italian restaurant with a full-bar serving well-made cocktails, a go

Local cafes and comedores in Esquipulas serve coffee, soft drinks, and fruit juices throughout the day. Nicaraguan coffee is renowned, and a cup of locally grown brew is a must-try. Toña and Victoria are the most popular local beers. Fresh cacao beverages are also a highlight. Bottled water is recommended for visitors.

🌍

Hotel El Gran Chorti ,

Km. 222 Entrada a Esquipulas, CA-10 ,

☏

+502 7884 0200 .

Check-in: 15:00 , check-out: 12:00 .

Moderate hotel with an attractive setting and clean, spacious rooms. On-site swimming pool is large and kid friendly with slides etc. On-site restaurant with full breakfast menu at reasonable prices.

( updated Sep 2024 )

🌍

Hotel Legendario ,

3a Ave 9-00 Zona 1 ,

☏

+502 3309 5823 .

Check-in: 15:00 , check-out: 12:00 .

Moderate hotel with spacious, comfortable rooms, beautiful garden courtyard with outdoor swimming pool. On-site restaurant serves a full breakfast menu (not included in room rate).

( updated Sep 2024 )

🌍

San Judas Hotel ,

6a Avenida 8-65 ,

☏

+502 7943 2232 .

Check-in: 15:00 , check-out: 12:00 .

Moderate hotel with clean, comfortable rooms

Local shops and markets in Esquipulas sell everyday goods, fresh produce, and handicrafts. The weekly market day is the best time to shop for fresh fruits, vegetables, and household items. Basic supplies and locally produced goods are available from small family-run stores throughout the town.

Copán

Jutiapa

Chiquimula

Quirigua

This article is issued from Wikivoyage . The text is available under Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 unless otherwise noted. Additional terms may apply for the media files.