Municipality of Ocotepeque
Ocotepeque is the departmental capital of Ocotepeque Department in Honduras.
It is a border city and is home to one of the most important biological reserves in Central America, the «Güisayote» Reserve.
Geography
The municipality of Ocotepeque is the capital of Ocotepeque Department, located in western Honduras. The department covers an area of 1630 km2 and has a current population of 111,474 inhabitants. Its main agricultural products include coffee, maize, cabbage, sugarcane, and onions (UNDP, 2006).
The municipality borders the municipalities of Sinuapa and Concepción to the north, the Republic of El Salvador to the south, Sinuapa municipality to the east, and Santa Fe municipality to the west.
Ocotepeque is considered a converging center for business due to its proximity to both the El Poy border with the Republic of El Salvador and the Agua Caliente border with the Republic of Guatemala.
As the departmental capital, it attracts people from surrounding municipalities who come for business transactions or educational purposes.
Historical Facts
Ocotepeque dates back to pre-Columbian times. It was conquered in 1526 by Francisco de las Casas and Gil González Dávila, who named it «El Asistente». In 1532, it was mentioned as a population belonging to the Alcaldía Mayor of San Salvador in the letter of relation from the first bishop of Guatemala to Francisco Marroquín. Later, at the end of 1530, it was integrated into the Alcaldía Mayor of Comayagua and renamed «Nueva Ocotepeque».
In the population census of 1769, it appeared as the head of a curate. In the first Political Territorial Division in 1825, it was part of the Santa Rosa party in the Department of Gracias. It was granted the title of Villa on April 13, 1843. In July 1870, it received the title of city. Until February 1969, it was a municipality of Copán (The National Constituent Assembly by Decree No. 106 on February 20, 1869, created this department, with General Manuel Bonilla Chirinos as the President of the Republic and Dr. Fausto Dávila as the President of the National Assembly).
Until February 1906, it was a municipality of Copán. In the Department Division of 1926, it appeared as a district, formed by the municipalities of Sinuapa, Concepción, and Santa Fe, similar to the Political Division of 1896.
On June 7, 1934, the city was destroyed by the floods of the Marchala River, leading to the decree that Sinuapa would be the provisional capital of the district. After a year of reconstruction, on September 17, 1935, the foundation of «Nueva Ocotepeque» was decreed, and it became the departmental capital. In 1958, the name «Nueva Ocotepeque» was dropped, and it was officially named Ocotepeque.
In 1969, the «Soccer War» with the Republic of El Salvador occurred, during which El Salvador invaded and forced some of its residents to flee to the interior of Honduras. The Salvadoran army took over the city.
During this historical period, El Salvador had one of the most prepared military governments, making it easy for El Salvador to break through the Honduran defense lines and advance rapidly, as many Honduran soldiers fled. The displaced residents returned to their homes after the Organization of American States (OAS) intervened in the conflict and forced the Salvadorans to withdraw from the country.
Curiosities
It is one of the best topographically designed cities in the country.
It is the only place in Honduras (celebrated throughout the department) where the «Day of Casiano» is celebrated. Children from different neighborhoods go from house to house asking for money or «ayote en miel» (a traditional candy made from squash) while carrying a large doll resembling a scarecrow and shouting «ayote pa’ casiano». It is celebrated on November 1st, prior to the Day of the Dead (November 2nd).
This tradition has been gradually declining over the years, but there are still groups of children and young people who continue to keep the tradition alive.
Villages
- Ocotepeque
- Antigua Ocotepeque
- El Barreal
- Cayaguanca
- El Volcán
- La Comunidad
- Pie del Cerro
- San José de La Reunión
- Vega Grande
- San Rafael
- Azacualpa
- San Miguel
- Los Planes
- El Salitre
- El Junquillo
Tourist Attractions
Piedra Cayahuanca: A stone that protrudes from a mountain in Ocotepeque. Half of the stone belongs to El Salvador. – San Miguel Hot Springs: A series of hot water wells. – Cuevas de Piñuelas: Caves located on the banks of the Lempa River.
Antigua Ocotepeque: A colonial city declared a World Heritage Site. The ruins can be seen where the Ocotepeque residents used to live before their houses were swept away by the flooding of the Marchala River. The city’s citizens used to dress in Casimir fabric from head to toe.
The church had altars adorned with gold and precious stones (all disappeared after the 1969 war between El Salvador and Honduras). One can still observe remnants of the city’s culture and heritage, including the Moros dance performed by the Chorti ethnic group.
