San Andrés Itzapa


San Andrés Itzapa is a town, with a population of 24,992, and a municipality of Chimaltenango, Guatemala. San Andrés Itzapa is in the eastern region of Chimaltenango, while the district capital lies to the north, Acatenango lies to the south and to the east is Parramos. The municipality cover an area of 63.7 km2, with a total population of 32,083.

Origin of the name

San Andrés Itzapa is an ancient town. The village is mentioned in the Annals of the Cakchiquels, written in 1571. The Spanish named the area "Itzapa y de San Andrés" in honor of their patron saint, the apostle San Andrés. The Spanish also called the area "Valle del Durazno", as the prickly pears common in this area resembled the orchards of home.

Organization

SubdivisionNameDistance to
municipal
capital
VillagesChicazanga5.4
VillagesChimachoy10.5
VillagesPanimaquin7
VillagesSan José Calderas16.5
VillagesHierba Buena7
VillagesEl AguacateN/A
VillagesSan José Los Corrales7
VillagesXeparquiy5
VillagesSan José Cajahualten9
VillagesSan Rafael12.5
NeighborhoodsSan CristóbalN/A
Located
within the
municipal capital
NeighborhoodsSan Pedro y San PabloN/A
Located
within the
municipal capital
NeighborhoodsSantísima TrinidadN/A
Located
within the
municipal capital
NeighborhoodsSan AntonioN/A
Located
within the
municipal capital
NeighborhoodsSan Lorenzo NorteN/A
Located
within the
municipal capital
NeighborhoodsSan Lorenzo SurN/A
Located
within the
municipal capital
Residential
communities		El EdénN/A
Located
within the
municipal capital
Residential
communities		La PrimaveraN/A
Located
within the
municipal capital
Residential
communities		Las ConchitasN/A
Located
within the
municipal capital
Residential
communities		Colinas de San AndrésN/A
Located
within the
municipal capital
Residential
communities		CanadáN/A
Located
within the
municipal capital
Residential
communities		NavideñaN/A
Located
within the
municipal capital
Residential
communities		La CuchillaN/A
Located
within the
municipal capital
Residential
communities		La PinadaN/A
Located
within the
municipal capital
Residential
communities		Los EncinosN/A
Located
within the
municipal capital
Residential
communities		San FranciscoN/A
Located
within the
municipal capital
Residential
communities		El StanN/A
Located
within the
municipal capital

Languages

Both Spanish and Kaqchiquel are spoken, although migration from other regions has brought an influx of other languages, such as K'iché and Tz'utujil.

Flora and fauna

San Andrés Itzapa has several heavily forested areas, which include eucalyptus, poplars, pines, holly, oaks, cypress and other evergreen and deciduous species.
Plants found in San Andrés Itzapa include canaque, casuarina, conacaste, hormigo, grabilea and palo blanco, as well as varieties of aloe.
Animals include coyote, armadillos, mountain lions, tisote, lynxes, goyoy, kinkajou, squirrels, racoons, wild boars, dove, cayayes, pajuil, and pheasant.

Agricultural products

Wheat, cotton, corn, beans, avocado, chayote, beet, radish, squash, carrot, broccoli, cabbage, coffee and guaque Chile peppers are grown.

Crafts

The municipality is rich in the craftsmanship of leather goods such as knife and machete sheaths, sandals, articles of jade, tables and chairs, ropemaking, and others.

Celebrations

San Andrés Itzapa has a subtropical highland climate.

Geographic location

San Andrés Itzapa is surrounded by Chimaltenango Department municipalities: