Retalhuleu Department

Retalhuleu (Spanish pronunciation: [re.tal.uˈlew], Retalhuléu) is a department located in the south-west of Guatemala, extending from the mountains to the Pacific Ocean coast. It has an area of 1856 km². In 2018, the population of the Department of Retalhuleu was 326,828.^[1] Its capital, Retalhuleu City, mixes ancient and modern architecture, and it is also known for being a commercial city.

Retalhuleu Department Departmento de Retalhuleu
Department of Guatemala
Counterclockwise from top: Palacio Departamental Retalhuleu, Retalhuleu Central Park, Xetulul, Takalik Abaj, Xocomil & rubber farms
Flag Seal
Retalhuleu
Country	Guatemala
Capital	Retalhuleu
Municipalities	9
Government
• Type	Departmental
Area
• Department of Guatemala	1,856 km2 (717 sq mi)
Population  (2018)[1]
• Department of Guatemala	326,828
• Density	180/km2 (460/sq mi)
• Urban	187,401
• Religions	Roman Catholicism Evangelicalism Maya
Time zone	UTC-6
Website	gobernacionretalhuleu.gob.gt (in Spanish)

The largest Native American group in the state is the K'iche' (Quiché) Maya people. The department contains a number of Pre-Columbian ruins, including Takalik Abaj, and it also contains numerous amusement parks, the most important and known are Xetulul and Xocomil.

Municipalities

The department is divided into nine municipalities:

1. Champerico
2. El Asintal
3. Nuevo San Carlos
4. Retalhuleu
5. San Andrés Villa Seca
6. San Felipe
7. San Martín Zapotitlán
8. San Sebastián
9. Santa Cruz Muluá

Geography

Tropical savanna climates have monthly mean temperature above 18 °C (64 °F) in every month of the year and typically a pronounced dry season, with the driest month having precipitation less than 60mm (2.36 in) of precipitation. The Köppen Climate Classification subtype for this climate is "Aw". (Tropical Savanna Climate).^[2]

Climate

Climate data for Retalhuleu
Month	Jan	Feb	Mar	Apr	May	Jun	Jul	Aug	Sep	Oct	Nov	Dec	Year
Mean daily maximum °C (°F)	31 (87)	31 (87)	31 (88)	32 (89)	30 (86)	30 (86)	29 (85)	30 (86)	29 (85)	29 (85)	31 (87)	31 (87)	31 (87)
Mean daily minimum °C (°F)	24 (75)	24 (76)	26 (78)	26 (78)	25 (77)	25 (77)	25 (77)	24 (76)	24 (75)	24 (76)	24 (76)	24 (76)	24 (76)
Average precipitation cm (inches)	5.1 (2)	2.5 (1)	5.1 (2)	7.6 (3)	20 (8)	36 (14)	38 (15)	36 (14)	46 (18)	36 (14)	15 (6)	5.1 (2)	250 (99)
Source: Weatherbase [3]

Languages

The official language of Retalhuleu is Spanish, but the indigenous languages of K’iche’ and Mam are still spoken in the municipalities of San Felipe Retalhuleu, San Martín Zapotitlán, San Sebastián and Champerico.