Municipality of La Iguala
La Iguala is a municipality in the Department of Lempira in Honduras.
It is a very old town formed by indigenous Lenca populations. Its first municipality was established on May 1st, 1556, and was called «Santiago de La Iguala.» Over time, it was simply referred to as La Iguala and is mentioned in the first population census of 1791. La Iguala had already been established when the Spaniards founded Gracias.
Geography
It is located in a depression between several densely forested hills where two rivers also converge. The surrounding hills are large and steep.
Limits
La Iguala is bordered by the municipality of La Unión and the department of Santa Bárbara to the north, and by Belén to the south. To the east, it borders the municipality of San Rafael and the department of Intibucá, and to the west, it borders the municipality of Lepaera.
- Land area: 349 km²
Access to this town can be tedious. There are two routes to get there, which will be described below. The first route is by taking a detour located 7 km before reaching Gracias, which leads to the municipalities of San Rafael and La Unión. Many communities are crossed as you progress on this road, and after 30 km, at a place called «El Matazano,» you must turn right and travel another 15 km to reach «La Iguala Centro.» The journey takes about 1.5 hours.
The section starting at El Matazano is the most difficult to travel as its maintenance is not as regular. The second route is by heading towards the municipality of Belén, 12 km from Gracias, and taking a detour at the community of «Los Siles.» This route is only recommended for 4-wheel drive vehicles and takes about 30 minutes. It is much more advisable than the first route.
Resources
Due to its geography and elevation, coffee has become the number one product in the municipality, particularly in the higher areas. In the town center, the predominant crops are corn and beans. Small quantities of bananas and pineapples can also be found.
Livestock and dairy products are for local consumption. Forest resources are utilized in a rational manner due to the availability of electricity and mobile telecommunication services in the area.
Population
Passing through the communities to reach «La Iguala Centro,» it can be observed that about three-quarters of the population are descendants of indigenous people from the area. The remaining population consists of mestizo individuals.
- Population: The population was 18,043 in 2001 and is expected to reach 21,045 in 2008.
- Villages: 26
- Hamlets: 86
Tourism
La Iguala Centro has attractions to offer tourists. These include a colonial-era church. In the local office of the National Registry of Persons (RNP), there are handwritten registration manuscripts dating back to 1883. And let’s not forget the tranquility of the rural areas and two rivers that flow near the town center.
There are three beautiful natural waterfalls, and for tourists or visitors, there is a hotel equipped with everything necessary for an adventurous visit. For those seeking something more extreme, there are staircases that allow you to climb up the waterfalls.
