Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
The annual
Cristo de Esquipulas festival
(January 15) sees mobs of devout pilgrims coming
from all over the region to worship at the altar of El Cristo Negro.
Cruising the religious kitsch sold by the throngs of vendors around the basilica is an en-
tertaining diversion. When you leave the church and descend the steps through the park
and exit right to the market, notice the vendors selling straw hats that are decorated with
artificial flowers and stitched with the name 'Esquipulas' - perfect for pilgrims who want
everyone to know they've made the trip. These are very popular rearview mirror novelties
for chicken-bus drivers countrywide.
CAVE
Centro Turístico Cueva de las Minas
(admission Q15; 8am-4pm)
This has a 50m-deep cave (bring your own light), grassy picnic
areas and the Río El Milagro, where people come for a dip and say it's miraculous. The
cave and river are half a kilometer from the entrance, which is behind the basilica's
cemetery, 300m south of the turnoff into town on the road to Honduras. Refreshments are
available.
Parque Chatún
( 7873-0909;
www.parquechatun.com
; adult/child from Q65/55 incl lunch; 9am-6pm Tue-Sat)
If you've
got kids along (or even if you don't), this fun park 3km out of town should provide some
light relief from all the religious business. There are swimming pools, a climbing wall,
campgrounds, a petting zoo, a canopy tour and a mini bungee jump. Entry includes the
use of all these except the canopy tour
If you don't have a vehicle, look for the minibus doing rounds of the town, or get your
hotel to call it - it will take you out there for Q5.
AMUSEMENT PARK
Sleeping
Esquipulas has an abundance of places to stay. On holidays and during the annual festival,
every hotel in town is filled, whatever the price; weekends are super-busy as well, with
prices substantially higher. The rates given below are weekend prices. On weekdays (ex-
cluding the festival period), there are
descuentos
(discounts). For cheap rooms, look in the
streets immediately north of the towering basilica.
HOTEL
Hotel Monte Cristo $$
