Acajutla, El Salvador

Playa Los Cóbanos, Acajutla
Source: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Playa_Los_C%C3%B3banos,_El_Salvador_000_0025.jpg
Author: Metztli


Acajutla is a seaport in southwestern El Salvador. It has a population of about 20,000 people within a municipality area of 50,000 people. The city is the main outlet for El Salvador's export of coffee, sugar and balsam. The city also has an oil refinery where it refines petroleum imported from Venezuela.

The Acajutla area was conquered by Spanish conquistador Pedro de Alvarado, under the command of Hernan Cortés in 1524. Once the victory was secured, he established a settlement that grew into a colonial port for the Spanish Empire.

The 19th century saw tremendous growth for Acajutla due to prosperity from cash crops, much of which were exported via the seaport. From 1838, the economy of El Salvador became increasingly dependent on the export of coffee. The completion of the Panama Railway in 1855 fueled Acajutla's port activity, as cargo can now be transported between the Caribbean and Pacific coasts.

Places of Interest in Acajutla

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