Municipality of Mapulaca
Mapulaca is a municipality in the department of Lempira in Honduras.
It was founded on October 30, 1692. In the 1791 population census, it was part of the curate of Cerquin. It has a title of communal lands granted by the convent of Gracias a Dios on March 10, 1817. The title was signed in Madrid by His Majesty Felipe IV, the King of Spain. In the territorial division of 1889, it was one of the municipalities in the Candelaria district.
Geography
It is located at approximately 300 meters above sea level, after descending the entire «Congolón» mountain. The town is surrounded by many dry subtropical forests and some relatively large hills. Generally, the entire municipality has the same characteristics. It also has several plains suitable for cultivation, which have recently been used for population growth.
Boundaries
Mapulaca has the following boundaries: to the north with the municipality of Gualcince; to the south with El Salvador. To the east with the municipalities of Candelaria and Virginia; to the west with the municipality of La Virtud. * Territorial extension: 32 km²
Resources
Mapulaca primarily sustains itself through trade, taking advantage of its proximity to El Salvador. The cultivation of corn and beans is carried out on a smaller scale to meet local consumption, as is livestock farming and dairy products. It has had electricity for 18 years and mobile communication coverage.
Water is obtained from several drilled wells, but the demand is not fully met. Efforts are being made to help the people in this regard.
There are several hardware stores and commercial shops. There are also Savings and Loan Cooperatives that promote production in the municipality. In certain private homes, fossil fuels can be obtained. There is a newly built hotel. Mapulaca is a town that has been growing as a municipality over the years.
Population
In this town, mestizo individuals predominate, but the characteristics of the indigenous people are more pronounced.
- Population: The population in 2015 was 1,866 people. According to projections by the National Institute of Statistics (INE), it is expected to reach 3,276 people by 2017.
- Villages: 5
- Hamlets: 35
Tourism
Its well-kept park is a tourist attraction. It is close to the Mocal and Lempa rivers, which are used for bathing and spending quality time with family. The recommended route is through Santa Rosa de Copán – San Marcos (Ocotepeque) – Cololaca – Valladolid – La Virtud – Mapulaca.
If coming from La Esperanza, Intibucá, it is more practical to pass through Santa Cruz – San Andrés – Candelaria – Mapulaca. The concrete road is better maintained on this second route. The journey can take approximately 5 to 6 hours.
There is a well-known border point called «El Puente,» which connects with the municipality of Cabañas in the Republic of El Salvador. There is another border point near the town center, approximately 3 km away.
The hammock bridge is a great adventure. It was built by a Swiss man known as Tony El Suizo, who also helped with other projects after Hurricane Mitch in 1998. Swimming in the Lempa River is possible, but extreme caution must be exercised due to strong currents. It is not advisable to try to cross it from one side to the other.
There are other rivers that are tributaries of the Lempa River, which also provide refreshing spots. A variety of Salvadoran products have influenced this town. There is a new bridge that separates El Salvador and Honduras, called «Puente Integración,» which was recently built.
Patron Saint Festival: «San Juan de Dios» is celebrated on March 8.
