Retalhuleu

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Retalhuleu
Municipality and city
Departmental palace
Departmental palace
Retalhuleu is located in Guatemala
Retalhuleu
Retalhuleu
Location in Guatemala
Coordinates: 14°32′N 91°41′W / 14.533°N 91.683°W / 14.533; -91.683
Country Guatemala
Department Retalhuleu
Area
 • Municipality and city
791 km2 (305 sq mi)
Elevation
232 m (761 ft)
Population
 (2018 census)
 • Municipality and city
90,505
 • Density110/km2 (300/sq mi)
 • Urban
90,505
ClimateAm
Websitemunireu.gob.gt

Retalhuleu (Spanish pronunciation: [re.ta.luˈlew]) is a city in south-western Guatemala, about 55 kilometres (34 mi) by road southwest of Quetzaltenango. It is the departmental seat of Retalhuleu Department as well as the municipal seat of Retalhuleu Municipality. Locally it is nicknamed "Reu."[1]

The city had a population of 90,505 at the time of the 2018 census.[2]

History

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Retalhuleu was established in 1877.[1] The city played a role in the Bay of Pigs Invasion. For a number of recruits, infantry training was carried out at a CIA-run base code-named JMTrax. The base was on the Pacific coast of Guatemala between Quetzaltenango and Retalhuleu, in the Helvetia coffee plantation.[3] In summer 1960, an airfield (code-named JMadd, aka Rayo Base) was constructed near Retalhuleu, Guatemala.[3][4] In November 1960, the Retalhuleu recruits also took part in quelling an officers' rebellion in Guatemala, in addition to the intervention of the U.S. Navy.[5]

On August 7 and 8, 2021, Retalhuleu was severely affected by rain, which lasted for 36 hours and caused landslides, floods and other damages to Retalhuleu and other Guatemalan cities.[6]

Geography and climate

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Retalhuleu lies in south-western Guatemala, approximately 55 kilometres (34 mi) by road southwest of Quetzaltenango, 27 kilometres (17 mi) west of Mazatenango and about 37 kilometres (23 mi) northeast of the coastal town of Champerico along Route 95.[7]

Retalhuleu has a tropical monsoon climate (Köppen: Am) with a very rainy wet season from April to November, and a dry season from December to March.[8]

Climate data for Retalhuleu (1991–2020)
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Record high °C (°F) 35.8
(96.4) 		37.4
(99.3) 		36.6
(97.9) 		38.0
(100.4) 		37.0
(98.6) 		35.6
(96.1) 		35.8
(96.4) 		36.0
(96.8) 		35.0
(95.0) 		34.3
(93.7) 		36.4
(97.5) 		35.0
(95.0) 		38.0
(100.4)
Mean daily maximum °C (°F) 33.3
(91.9) 		33.5
(92.3) 		33.8
(92.8) 		34.0
(93.2) 		33.2
(91.8) 		32.5
(90.5) 		32.8
(91.0) 		32.9
(91.2) 		32.5
(90.5) 		32.3
(90.1) 		32.8
(91.0) 		33.2
(91.8) 		33.1
(91.6)
Daily mean °C (°F) 27.1
(80.8) 		27.7
(81.9) 		28.3
(82.9) 		28.7
(83.7) 		28.0
(82.4) 		27.2
(81.0) 		27.3
(81.1) 		27.3
(81.1) 		26.6
(79.9) 		26.6
(79.9) 		27.0
(80.6) 		27.0
(80.6) 		27.4
(81.3)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F) 20.7
(69.3) 		21.0
(69.8) 		21.6
(70.9) 		22.4
(72.3) 		22.5
(72.5) 		22.3
(72.1) 		22.0
(71.6) 		22.1
(71.8) 		22.0
(71.6) 		21.9
(71.4) 		21.5
(70.7) 		21.0
(69.8) 		21.8
(71.2)
Record low °C (°F) 18.0
(64.4) 		18.3
(64.9) 		18.0
(64.4) 		19.9
(67.8) 		19.6
(67.3) 		20.0
(68.0) 		19.0
(66.2) 		18.5
(65.3) 		20.4
(68.7) 		19.6
(67.3) 		18.9
(66.0) 		17.7
(63.9) 		17.7
(63.9)
Average rainfall mm (inches) 11.4
(0.45) 		11.0
(0.43) 		38.8
(1.53) 		143.0
(5.63) 		452.6
(17.82) 		476.4
(18.76) 		343.5
(13.52) 		395.9
(15.59) 		527.0
(20.75) 		503.3
(19.81) 		144.4
(5.69) 		37.9
(1.49) 		3,085.2
(121.46)
Average rainy days (≥ 1.0 mm) 1.2 1.1 3.4 8.4 18.8 20.1 19.3 20.0 22.9 20.8 8.1 2.2 146.3
Source: NOAA[8]

Sports

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The local football club is Deportivo Reu which was founded in 2013 after Juventud Retalteca became defunct.[9] Deportivo Reu play their local games at the Estadio Dr. Óscar Monterroso Izaguirre in the Primera División de Ascenso.[10]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Retalhuleu". Frommer's. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  2. ^ "Population of cities & towns in Guatemala". Citypopulation.de. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  3. ^ a b Quesada, Alejandro de (2011). The Bay of Pigs: Cuba 1961. Bloomsbury Publishing. ISBN 978-1846038198.
  4. ^ Wise, David; Ross, Thomas (1964). The Invisible Government. New York: Random House. pp. 23-50
  5. ^ Castro, Daniel (1999). Revolution and revolutionaries: Guerrilla movements in Latin America. SR Books. pp. 97–99. ISBN 978-0842026260.
  6. ^ "Lluvia de 36 horas deja daños: Retalhuleu y Zacapa son de los más afectados" (in Spanish). Prensa Libre. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  7. ^ "Retalhuleu" (Map). Google Maps. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  8. ^ a b "World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991-2020 — Retalhuleu". National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. Retrieved February 1, 2024.
  9. ^ "Retalhuleu". Playmakerstats.com. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
  10. ^ "Resultados y posiciones en la jornada 1 de la Primera División en Guatemala" (in Spanish). Stereo100.com. 13 January 2019. Retrieved 15 July 2025.
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