Escuintla

Guatemala's sugar-agribusiness capital, Escuintla sits where the central highlands meet the Pacific coastal plain, a position that puts both mountain terrain and the Pacific lowlands within easy reach. Founded as a municipality in 1835 — though its colonial history under Dominican friars stretches back much further — the city is popularly known as Ciudad de las Palmeras. Its name derives from a Nahuatl word meaning "place where dogs abound." The region is ringed by UNESCO World Heritage sites, and a local fair runs each December in honor of the Immaculate Conception.

• Population156,313
• Nearest water from center 0.7 km0.4 mi
• Nearest mountain from center 6.7 km4.2 mi