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Just 28 miles southwest of Guatemala lies the town of Escuintla. The capitol city of the department bearing the same name, Escuintla has been and continues to be an important city in the “Land of Eternal Spring.” It still is one of the larger cities in the country with the population estimated somewhere from 70,000 to 90,000.
Though Escuintla is not far from Guatemala City in distance, everything from the culture to the climate make it feel much farther. The drive to Escuintla takes about an hour if not a little longer when the roads are full of trucks. The descent from the mountains to the plains is more than just noticeable as you drive. Guatemala City lies at 4900 feet above sea level whereas Escuintla is only at 1109 feet. Escuintla is located between the Pacific plains and the central highlands. All of these factors combine to give Escuintla a very warm climate. he temperature on any given day could be anywhere from 10 to 20 degrees hotter in Escuintla than in Guatemala City. Throughout Escuintla, there are palm trees lining the streets. 
Escuintla is known as the “City of the Palms.”
Escuintla was a major influence in the indigo trade in the late 17th and early 18th century. Today, just as in many of the cities around the country, the business and social life is quite diverse. The areas surrounding the city in the department of Escuintla are known for their sugar-cane production, their livestock, the port traffic, and even the large amount of tourism that passes through. Heavy industry included a small steel mill located in Escuintla, and an oil refinery that had a capacity of 16,000 barrels per day. There is very little artisan craftmanship in the town of Escuintla or in the surrounding countryside because of the industrial development, the farming, and other commercial investments in the area. Craftmanship that is found for sale is usually created in the smaller villages throughout the department of Escuintla.
Although the department of Escuintla has one of the largest tourist industries in the nation, the city of Escuintla does not see a majority of this business. Most of the tourism is centered around the Pacific Coast ports and the natural features to the north. Escuintla remains an important link between Guatemala City and the ports to the south (San Jose and Quetzal).
The people of Escuintla are extremely family oriented and very friendly. The region is known for their hard work ethic and their industry. Religion is an important part of the life of those from Escuintla. Some interesting facts about Escuintla are first that at one time Escuintla was actually spelled Esquintla. From time to time this spelling appears today but it should not be confused as referring to another city or town. People from Escuintla sometimes refer to themselves as Escuintlecos.
Cities Highlighted on The Blog:
Escuintla, Escuintla
Mazatenango, Suchitepéquez
Guatemala City, Guatemala
