Mazatenango, Suchitepéquez
Encyclopedia
Mazatenango is a municipality
in the Suchitepéquez department
of Guatemala
. It is the capital of Suchitepéquez department and is located 165 km from Guatemala City
.
Mazatenango lies significantly lower in elevation than Guatemala City
or Quetzaltenango
. In fact it sits on the coastal plain leading to the Pacific Ocean
. Therefore, the climate is somewhat hotter and definitely more humid than that of the other cities in the upper elevations. However, it is usually no warmer than the southern region of Florida in the United States. Though it lies only 100 miles from Guatemala City as you look at it on a map, the mountainous terrain makes the trip much longer. In fact, the trip can take anywhere from three to five hours depending on traffic and travel conditions. The scenery along the way couldn’t be more beautiful however. With volcanoes, mountains, ravines, etc. The eye never is without something to behold in awe.
in southwestern Guatemala, it is a major commercial center for the economy. From this region come many of the products tourists by at the markets they visit. Goods are shipped to other cities via the Pacific Coast Highway which runs through and is the lifeblood for this city.
football side CD Suchitepéquez
. They play at the Estadio Carlos Salazar Hijo
in the Santa Cristina neighbourhood.
Municipality
A municipality is essentially an urban administrative division having corporate status and usually powers of self-government. It can also be used to mean the governing body of a municipality. A municipality is a general-purpose administrative subdivision, as opposed to a special-purpose district...
in the Suchitepéquez department
Departments of Guatemala
||Guatemala is divided into 22 departments :#Alta Verapaz#Baja Verapaz#Chimaltenango#Chiquimula#Petén#El Progreso#El Quiché#Escuintla#Guatemala#Huehuetenango#Izabal#Jalapa#Jutiapa#Quetzaltenango#Retalhuleu#Sacatepéquez...
of Guatemala
Guatemala
Guatemala is a country in Central America bordered by Mexico to the north and west, the Pacific Ocean to the southwest, Belize to the northeast, the Caribbean to the east, and Honduras and El Salvador to the southeast...
. It is the capital of Suchitepéquez department and is located 165 km from Guatemala City
Guatemala City
Guatemala City , is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Guatemala and Central America...
.
Mazatenango lies significantly lower in elevation than Guatemala City
Guatemala City
Guatemala City , is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Guatemala and Central America...
or Quetzaltenango
Quetzaltenango
Quetzaltenango, also commonly known by its indigenous name, Xelajú , or more commonly, Xela , is the second largest city of Guatemala. It is both the capital of Quetzaltenango Department and the municipal seat of Quetzaltenango municipality....
. In fact it sits on the coastal plain leading to the Pacific Ocean
Pacific Ocean
The Pacific Ocean is the largest of the Earth's oceanic divisions. It extends from the Arctic in the north to the Southern Ocean in the south, bounded by Asia and Australia in the west, and the Americas in the east.At 165.2 million square kilometres in area, this largest division of the World...
. Therefore, the climate is somewhat hotter and definitely more humid than that of the other cities in the upper elevations. However, it is usually no warmer than the southern region of Florida in the United States. Though it lies only 100 miles from Guatemala City as you look at it on a map, the mountainous terrain makes the trip much longer. In fact, the trip can take anywhere from three to five hours depending on traffic and travel conditions. The scenery along the way couldn’t be more beautiful however. With volcanoes, mountains, ravines, etc. The eye never is without something to behold in awe.
Carnival
During the month of February, Mazatenango is famous for its eight day Carnival Feast. Locals and visitors alike look forward to the days of food, music, parades, games, etc. that bring the streets of the capital city to life. As one Guatemalan website states, “To mention the carnival of Mazatenango is to bring to mind moments of a happy and cordial party. In the eight days of this celebration's duration the local residents have kept alive the traditions of the Department.”Arts & crafts
Whether gold, silver, tile, fabric, and even furniture, is what a visitor is looking for, Mazatenango is a major producer of all these things. Though it is remotely located on the Sís RiverSís River
The Río Sis is a river in Southwest Guatemala. Its sources are located in the Sierra Madre range, on the slopes of the Santo Tomás and Zunil volcanoes in the department of Suchitepéquez...
in southwestern Guatemala, it is a major commercial center for the economy. From this region come many of the products tourists by at the markets they visit. Goods are shipped to other cities via the Pacific Coast Highway which runs through and is the lifeblood for this city.
Sports
Mazatenango is home to Guatemala's top divisionLiga Nacional de Guatemala
Liga Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala , formerly known as Liga Mayor "A" is a professional football division in Guatemala, the highest one in the country. It is sanctioned by the Federación Nacional de Fútbol de Guatemala...
football side CD Suchitepéquez
CD Suchitepéquez
Club Deportivo Suchitepéquez are a Guatemalan professional football club that competes in the Liga Nacional, the top division in the nation. They are based in Mazatenango, Department of Suchitepéquez, and their home stadium is the Estadio Carlos Salazar Hijo...
. They play at the Estadio Carlos Salazar Hijo
Estadio Carlos Salazar Hijo
Estadio Carlos Salazar Hijo is a football stadium in Mazatenango, Guatemala, home to one of the most traditional first division clubs in the country, Deportivo Suchitepéquez . It has a capacity of approximately 12,000. It is situated in the neighbourhood of Santa Cristina...
in the Santa Cristina neighbourhood.