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.
Understand
[edit]Get in
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Map of Esquipulas
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).
By bus
[edit]- 1 Terminal de Autobuses (Bus terminal), Calle 10. Daily 05:00 - 18:00. Small stop for rural buses to destinations throughout the region.
Get around
[edit]See
[edit]- 1 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.
- 2 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.
- 3 Aquaduct (Acueducto los Arcos), 1a Calle Z.3. Colonial-era waterworks from the 18th century designed to bring drinking water into the city center. Poorly maintained but still of interest to history buffs.
Do
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- 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.
- 1 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.
- 2 Cueva de las Minas (Mining Cave), Cueva de las Minas. Daily 09:00 - 18:00. Park with picnic area, petting zoo, and the namesake cave (which isn't really worth a trip).
Buy
[edit]Eat
[edit]- 1 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.
- 2 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.
- 3 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.
- 4 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 good wine list, and serving artesanal craft beers. Tranquil outdoor patio dining area.
Drink
[edit]Sleep
[edit]- 1 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.
- 2 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).
- 3 San Judas Hotel, 6a Avenida 8-65, ☏ +502 7943 2232. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Moderate hotel with clean, comfortable rooms, with cable TV and WiFi, some with air conditioning but some rooms have no a/c. Large outdoor swimming pool. Off-street parking available. On-site restaurant with reasonable prices.
- 4 Posada Mama Chilita, 10a 55, 1. Calle, ☏ +502 7943 4770. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Moderate hotel with comfortable, clean rooms with air conditioning and cable TV. Jacuzzi available. On-site restaurant.
- 5 Hotel Payaqui, 2a. Av, ☏ +502 7943 4124. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Moderate hotel directly across the street from the Basilica. Rooms are clean and quiet. Outdoor swimming pool with small wading pool for kids. On-site restaurant with outdoor terrace dining available.
- 6 Hacienda Jose, ☏ +502 7943 2925. Check-in: 15:00, check-out: 12:00. Moderate hotel with clean, spacious rooms. Extra charge for a room with air conditioning (worth it!) Outdoor swimming pool. Off-site parking (about 2 blocks).