# San Rafael Petzal Municipality, Huehuetenango Department

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/guatemala/huehuetenango/san-rafael-petzal/

Municipality · Huehuetenango Department 

# San Rafael Petzal

San Rafael Petzal is a municipality of Guatemala in Huehuetenango Department. It had an estimated **13,231 people** in 2024 on 36 km² (about 365 per km²). Its main town is San Rafael Petzal. 19 named villages and localities are recorded here.

- 13,231people (2024)
- 36.2km²
- 1,808 mtypical elevation

## How many people live in San Rafael Petzal?

San Rafael Petzal had an estimated **13,231 people** in 2024 — 0.9% of Huehuetenango Department, 292nd of 340 municipalities. There are 1,003 women for every 1,000 men (below the Huehuetenango Department figure of 1,025). Spread over 36 km², that is about **365 people per km²**, 118th of 340 municipalities.

37.0% of people are children under 15 and 5.2% are 65 or older; the median age is about 21 years (it is 21 across Huehuetenango Department). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 73 children and older people.

0–4 ****1,545**

5–9 ****1,683**

10–14 ****1,665**

15–19 ****1,417**

20–24 ****1,305**

25–29 ****1,144**

30–34 ****1,010**

35–39 ****811**

40–44 ****630**

45–49 ****459**

50–54 ****371**

55–59 ****262**

60–64 ****241**

65–69 ****200**

70+ ****488**

Source: [Instituto Nacional de Estadística (INE) via OCHA HDX, population 2024 (COD-PS, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ps-gtm).

## Where is San Rafael Petzal?

San Rafael Petzal lies in [Huehuetenango Department](https://wherepedia.org/guatemala/huehuetenango/), [Guatemala](https://wherepedia.org/guatemala/). It borders 5 other municipalities: [Colotenango](https://wherepedia.org/guatemala/huehuetenango/colotenango/), [San Gaspar Ixchil](https://wherepedia.org/guatemala/huehuetenango/san-gaspar-ixchil/), [San Juan Atitán](https://wherepedia.org/guatemala/huehuetenango/san-juan-atitan/), [Santa Bárbara](https://wherepedia.org/guatemala/huehuetenango/santa-barbara/) and [Santiago Chimaltenango](https://wherepedia.org/guatemala/huehuetenango/santiago-chimaltenango/). By area it is the 290th largest of 342 municipalities in Guatemala. It covers 0.5% of [Huehuetenango Department](https://wherepedia.org/guatemala/huehuetenango/). The centre of San Rafael Petzal is about 151 km in a straight line from Guatemala City, the capital. It is about 24 km from Huehuetenango, the main town of Huehuetenango Department. The centre point is at 15.4108° N, 91.6714° W.

Source: [Coordinadora Nacional Para La Reducción De Desastres via OCHA HDX, administrative boundaries (COD-AB, CC BY-IGO)](https://data.humdata.org/dataset/cod-ab-gtm).

## Things to see in and around San Rafael Petzal

### Nearby, outside San Rafael Petzal

- Parque Regional Municipal Twi A´lj Witz · nature reserve, San Juan Atitán7.2 km
- Parque Regional Municipal Twi´B´a´tx · nature reserve, San Juan Atitán7.6 km
- Parque Regional Municipal K'ojlab'l Tze'te Tnom Todos Santos Cuchumatán · nature reserve, San Juan Atitán11 km
- Parque Regional Municipal La Montañita · nature reserve, San Pedro Necta13 km
- Sitio Archeologico Ruinas Tucumanchum · monument, San Juan Atitán13 km
- Parque Central · viewpoint, Todos Santos Cuchumatán13 km
- Museo Balam · museum, Todos Santos Cuchumatán13 km
- Parque Regional Municipal K'ojlab'l Tze'te Tnom Todos Santos Cuchumatán · nature reserve, Todos Santos Cuchumatán16 km
- La Torre · attraction, Todos Santos Cuchumatán16 km
- Laguna Seca de Ordoñez · attraction, Todos Santos Cuchumatán17 km
- Monumento conmemorativo a la Comunidad de Zaculeu · memorial, Malacatancito19 km
- Parque Regional Montaña Negra · nature reserve, Unión Cantinil19 km

Source: [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright).

Named attractions, museums, viewpoints, historic sites and natural features mapped in OpenStreetMap. Places of worship are not listed.

## Know before you go: San Rafael Petzal

- Time zoneUTC−6, no daylight saving · America/Guatemala
- CurrencyQuetzal (GTQ)
- Country calling code+502
- LanguagesSpanish
- Plug typesType A, B · 120 V
- Driving sideRight
- Postcode format5 digits (#####)

### Nearest airports

- Huehuetenango Airport (HUG) · Huehuetenango21 km
- Retalhuleu Airport (RER) · Retalhuleu99 km

### Daylight

Days are longest in Jun (about 13.0 hours, sunrise around 05:35) and shortest in Dec (about 11.2 hours, sunrise around 06:25, sunset around 17:38).

Source: [GeoNames country and time-zone files (CC BY 4.0)](https://www.geonames.org/); [Wikidata (CC0) — plug types, mains voltage, driving side; retrieved 2026-11-02](https://www.wikidata.org/); [OurAirports (public domain)](https://ourairports.com/data/).

Airports with scheduled passenger flights; straight-line distances. Daylight is calculated for the 15th of each month in local standard time. Check entry and visa rules with official government sources before travelling.

## Villages and localities in San Rafael Petzal

Open gazetteers list **19 villages, towns and localities** in San Rafael Petzal. The largest with a recorded population: San Rafael Petzal (1,525). Settlements here lie between about 1,570 m and 2,600 m above sea level (median 1,808 m).

- Canjá
- Centro Tuitzxalaj
- Cruz Chiquita
- Cuate
- El Centro
- El Chorro
- El Oratorio
- Ixquichbé
- Ixquilam
- Río San Juan
- San Rafael Petzal
- San Rafael Pétzal
- Tierra Colorada
- Tuismache
- Tuisnainá
- Tuitjatzichín
- Tuitzxalaj
- Twi Pic
- Xemal

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/); [© OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL), Geofabrik extract — named settlements](https://www.openstreetmap.org/copyright).

## Landscape and landmarks of San Rafael Petzal

Named natural and historic features inside San Rafael Petzal, from the GeoNames gazetteer.

### Water

4 rivers and streams.

- Arroyo Grande
- Arroyo Talcuil
- Arroyo de La Cruz
- Riachuelo Xémal

### Hills and mountains

3 mountains.

- Cerro Tuismache · 2,908 m
- Cerro Tuichigu · 2,563 m
- Cerro Tojpán · 2,030 m

Source: [GeoNames (CC BY 4.0) — settlements, natural and historic features](https://www.geonames.org/).

Places of worship are not listed. Elevations are from the GeoNames terrain model and are approximate.

## Weather in San Rafael Petzal and the best time to visit

In San Rafael Petzal, the warmest month is Apr (average 20 °C) and the coolest is Jan (15 °C). About 1,685 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Sep (338 mm) and the driest Feb (7 mm). The most comfortable months for a visit are **November to April**.

- Jan
- Feb
- Mar
- Apr
- May
- Jun
- Jul
- Aug
- Sep
- Oct
- Nov
- Dec

Month Average °C Rain mm 

Jan 15 8 

Feb 16 7 

Mar 18 20 

Apr 20 51 

May 19 187 

Jun 18 292 

Jul 18 203 

Aug 18 272 

Sep 17 338 

Oct 17 241 

Nov 15 52 

Dec 15 12 

Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/).

## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from San Rafael Petzal

Need Nearest mapped Distance 

Hospital Centro Médico de Occidente de Colotenango · San Gaspar Ixchil 4.9 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=15.40313&mlon=-91.71613#map=17/15.40313/-91.71613) 

Bank Banrural · Malacatancito 22 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=15.31009&mlon=-91.49296#map=17/15.31009/-91.49296) 

Petrol pump Shell · Colotenango 3.7 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=15.40753&mlon=-91.70547#map=17/15.40753/-91.70547) 

Hotel Grand Copal · Ixtahuacán 11 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=15.41636&mlon=-91.77084#map=17/15.41636/-91.77084) 

Mall Plaza Agape · Malacatancito 21 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=15.32068&mlon=-91.49460#map=17/15.32068/-91.49460) 

School EORM. Canton CHIPOCLAJ, Todos Santos Cuchumatan, Huehuetenango · San Juan Atitán 12 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=15.49951&mlon=-91.60608#map=17/15.49951/-91.60608) 

College INED Todosantero · Todos Santos Cuchumatán 13 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=15.50785&mlon=-91.60150#map=17/15.50785/-91.60150) 

Police station Comisaria 43 Huehuetenango · Huehuetenango 24 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=15.32116&mlon=-91.46956#map=17/15.32116/-91.46956) 

Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/).

Straight-line distance from the centre of the division, within 40 km.

## Other municipalities in Huehuetenango Department

- Aguacatán
- Barillas
- Chiantla
- Colotenango
- Concepción Huista
- Cuilco
- Huehuetenango
- Ixtahuacán
- Jacaltenango
- La Democracia
- La Libertad
- Malacatancito
- Nentón
- Petatán
- San Antonio Huista
- San Gaspar Ixchil
- San Juan Atitán
- San Juan Ixcoy
- San Mateo Ixtatán
- San Miguel Acatán
- San Pedro Necta
- San Rafael La Independencia
- San Sebastián Coatán
- San Sebastián Huehuetenango
- Santa Ana Huista
- Santa Bárbara
- Santa Eulalia
- Santiago Chimaltenango
- Soloma
- Tectitán
- Todos Santos Cuchumatán
- Unión Cantinil

## Quick answers

- Where is San Rafael Petzal?In Huehuetenango Department, Guatemala
- What is the population of San Rafael Petzal?13,231 (2024 estimate)
- What is the median age in San Rafael Petzal?About 21 years (2024 estimate)
- What is the population density of San Rafael Petzal?About 365 people per km²
- What borders San Rafael Petzal?Colotenango, San Gaspar Ixchil, San Juan Atitán, Santa Bárbara and Santiago Chimaltenango
- What is there to see in San Rafael Petzal?Parque Regional Municipal Twi A´lj Witz, Parque Regional Municipal Twi´B´a´tx, Parque Regional Municipal K'ojlab'l Tze'te Tnom Todos Santos Cuchumatán, Parque Regional Municipal La Montañita
- What time zone is San Rafael Petzal in?UTC−6
- What currency is used in San Rafael Petzal?Quetzal (GTQ)
- What language is spoken in San Rafael Petzal?Spanish (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in San Rafael Petzal?19 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of San Rafael Petzal?Settlements lie between 1,570 m and 2,600 m
- What is the highest point in San Rafael Petzal?Cerro Tuismache (2,908 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit San Rafael Petzal?November to April
- Where is the nearest hospital to San Rafael Petzal?Centro Médico de Occidente de Colotenango, about 4.9 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest bank to San Rafael Petzal?Banrural, about 22 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest petrol pump to San Rafael Petzal?Shell, about 3.7 km from the centre
- What is the P-code of San Rafael Petzal?GT1328 (OCHA common operational dataset)