Travel Guide Citalá

Located 95 km north of the capital, at an altitude of 715 metres, the village of Citalá is the last of Ruta Fresca. It is located next to the border crossing of El Poy. The name of the village comes from the Mayan-chortís language, kujkaija meaning "when the stars abound" or "rivière d'étoiles". The population is of pre-Columbian origin, Citalá was a crossroads between Maya-chortís and Toltecas. According to some sources, the site was the last refuge of the Lord of Hedmann (ancient Maya city whose ruins can be visited in Honduras) before the invasions of the Spanish conquistadors. In 1740, its population was estimated at 110. In 1855, the village reached the province of Chalatenango and in 1890 its population reached 1 850 inhabitants. Festivities take place in December in honour of the Immaculate Conception. Coffee production, livestock, dairy products are the main sectors of activity. A beautiful church, a pleasant small central park between two fig trees, from streets to colonial buildings, is a beautiful village where you can walk. The surroundings of Citalá are slowly opening up to ecotourism. Cycling and rafting should be the program in the next few years.