# San Carlos Sija Municipality, Quetzaltenango Department > Source: https://wherepedia.org/guatemala/quetzaltenango/san-carlos-sija/ Municipality · Quetzaltenango Department # San Carlos Sija San Carlos Sija is a municipality of Guatemala in Quetzaltenango Department. It had an estimated **37,097 people** in 2024 on 227 km² (about 164 per km²). Its main town is San Carlos Sija. 76 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 11 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools. - 37,097people (2024) - 227km² - 11mapped services - 2,693 mtypical elevation ## How many people live in San Carlos Sija? San Carlos Sija had an estimated **37,097 people** in 2024 — 3.9% of Quetzaltenango Department, 158th of 340 municipalities. There are 1,143 women for every 1,000 men (above the Quetzaltenango Department figure of 1,128). Spread over 227 km², that is about **164 people per km²**, 225th of 340 municipalities. 31.2% of people are children under 15 and 8.6% are 65 or older; the median age is about 25 years (it is 25 across Quetzaltenango Department). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 66 children and older people. 0–4 ****3,753** 5–9 ****3,962** 10–14 ****3,850** 15–19 ****3,428** 20–24 ****3,524** 25–29 ****3,030** 30–34 ****2,691** 35–39 ****2,142** 40–44 ****1,718** 45–49 ****1,662** 50–54 ****1,659** 55–59 ****1,360** 60–64 ****1,133** 65–69 ****967** 70+ ****2,218** 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 Carlos Sija? San Carlos Sija lies in [Quetzaltenango Department](https://wherepedia.org/guatemala/quetzaltenango/), [Guatemala](https://wherepedia.org/guatemala/). It borders 11 other municipalities: [Cabricán](https://wherepedia.org/guatemala/quetzaltenango/cabrican/), [Cajolá](https://wherepedia.org/guatemala/quetzaltenango/cajola/), [Huitán](https://wherepedia.org/guatemala/quetzaltenango/huitan/), [Malacatancito](https://wherepedia.org/guatemala/huehuetenango/malacatancito/), [Momostenango](https://wherepedia.org/guatemala/totonicapan/momostenango/), [San Bartolo](https://wherepedia.org/guatemala/totonicapan/san-bartolo/), [San Cristóbal Totonicapán](https://wherepedia.org/guatemala/totonicapan/san-cristobal-totonicapan/), [San Francisco El Alto](https://wherepedia.org/guatemala/totonicapan/san-francisco-el-alto/), [San Francisco La Unión](https://wherepedia.org/guatemala/quetzaltenango/san-francisco-la-union/), [Sibilia](https://wherepedia.org/guatemala/quetzaltenango/sibilia/) and [Sipacapa](https://wherepedia.org/guatemala/san-marcos/sipacapa/). By area it is the 106th largest of 342 municipalities in Guatemala. It covers 10.6% of [Quetzaltenango Department](https://wherepedia.org/guatemala/quetzaltenango/). The centre of San Carlos Sija is about 123 km in a straight line from Guatemala City, the capital. It is about 27 km from Quetzaltenango, the main town of Quetzaltenango Department. The centre point is at 15.0791° N, 91.5677° 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 Carlos Sija OpenStreetMap lists 2 named sights in San Carlos Sija: 1 attraction; 1 nature reserve. - Parque Regional Municipal Cerro Mano de León (Cerro Sija) · nature reserve - Aguas calientes · attraction ### Nearby, outside San Carlos Sija - Parque Ecológico 'Pilares de Piedra Kiej', Pologuá · nature reserve, Momostenango8.3 km - Municipalidad de Momostenango · attraction, Momostenango17 km - Parque nacional Riscos de Momostenango · attraction, Momostenango18 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 Carlos Sija - 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 - Quezaltenango Airport (AAZ) · Quezaltenango25 km - Retalhuleu Airport (RER) · Retalhuleu64 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 06:24, 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 Carlos Sija Open gazetteers list **76 villages, towns and localities** in San Carlos Sija. The largest with a recorded population: San Carlos Sija (6,831). Settlements here lie between about 1,939 m and 2,993 m above sea level (median 2,693 m). - Agua Caliente - Agua Tibia - Barranca Grande - Buena Vista - Buena Vista Las Cruces - Cajolá Chiquito - Calel - Caquixá - Chipuerta - Chiquibal - Chiquibal Viejo - Chiquisis - Chisec - Chuatuj - Chubalcón - Chuichuitán - Cifuentes - Cipresales - Cuesta del Aire - Cúcal - El Cebollín - El Mirador - El Progreso - El Rodeo - El Rodeo Paniyá - El Tulupe - Esquipulas Sequé - Estancia de La Virgen - La Cieneguita - La Fuente - La Libertad - La Unión - Laguna Seca - Las Cabezas - Las Cruces - Las Delicias - Las Manzanas - Las Pozas - Leña Vieja - Llano Grande - Loma Grande - Loma Pareja - Loma de la Guitarra - Los Encuentros - Los Leones - Los Mosquitos - Los Pocitos - Matasano - Mogotillos - Monte Bella - Pachuté - Pacoj - Paloma - Panorama - Pasac - Paso Hondo - Paso Rojo - Plan de Flores - Plan de Los López - Pologuá - Rancho Alegre - Recuerdo a Barrios - San Antonio Buenabaj - San Carlos Sija - San José - San José Chicalquix - San Vicente Buenabaj - Santa Elena - Santa Lucía - Saquicol - Saquicol Chiquito - Tierra Negra - Xejuyup - Xepopabaj - Xetená - Yoglín 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 Carlos Sija Named natural and historic features inside San Carlos Sija, from the GeoNames gazetteer. ### Water 26 rivers and streams. - Arroyo El Naranjo - Quebrada Agua Tibia - Quebrada El Chorro - Quebrada La Campana - Quebrada La Estancia - Quebrada Palá - Quebrada Paraljuyup - Quebrada Patucar - Quebrada Popabaj - Quebrada Xemuj - Riachuelo San Diego - Río Agua Caliente - Río Aguacate - Río Barranca Grande - Río Calel - Río Chacap - Río Chibé - Río El Zanjón - Río Jolompar - Río La Cueva - Río La Junta - Río Las Barranquillas - Río Los Caballitos - Río San Jorge …and 2 more. ### Hills and mountains 14 mountains. - Cerro Patená · 3,295 m - Cerro Mumus · 3,193 m - Cerro Chuituctuc · 3,188 m - Cerro Tená · 3,141 m - Cerro Chuicacá · 3,138 m - Cerro Popabaj · 3,069 m - Cerro Chuibuenabaj · 2,963 m - Cerro Xolbolol · 2,960 m - Cerro Pache · 2,947 m - Cerro Chucalté · 2,887 m - Cerro San Pedro · 2,886 m - Cerro Chuisaccoligabaj · 2,857 m - Cerro San Antonio · 2,807 m - Cerro Queseros · 2,481 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 Carlos Sija and the best time to visit In San Carlos Sija, the warmest month is Apr (average 20 °C) and the coolest is Jan (17 °C). About 2,012 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Sep (380 mm) and the driest Jan (5 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 17 5 Feb 18 6 Mar 19 24 Apr 20 71 May 20 248 Jun 19 332 Jul 19 246 Aug 19 308 Sep 19 380 Oct 19 312 Nov 18 68 Dec 17 10 Source: [NASA POWER climatology, retrieved 2026-10-29](https://power.larc.nasa.gov/). ## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from San Carlos Sija Need Nearest mapped Distance Hospital Centro Médico Huitán · Huitán 8.4 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=15.05164&mlon=-91.64034#map=17/15.05164/-91.64034) Bank Cope Mi Tesoro R.L · San Carlos Sija 5.8 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=15.02872&mlon=-91.58044#map=17/15.02872/-91.58044) ATM RapiXchangE Bitcoin ATM · Quetzaltenango 27 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=14.84326&mlon=-91.52320#map=17/14.84326/-91.52320) Petrol pump Estacion Santa Ines · Momostenango 6.2 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=15.12356&mlon=-91.53340#map=17/15.12356/-91.53340) Hotel Hotel Pelico · Momostenango 7.8 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=15.03819&mlon=-91.50877#map=17/15.03819/-91.50877) Mall Plaza Sofia · San Carlos Sija 8.0 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=15.13330&mlon=-91.61671#map=17/15.13330/-91.61671) School Glorioso Imebdca Cabricán · Cabricán 8.2 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=15.07106&mlon=-91.64403#map=17/15.07106/-91.64403) College Mesoamericano · Momostenango 17 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=15.04264&mlon=-91.41384#map=17/15.04264/-91.41384) Police station Sub estación · La Esperanza 23 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=14.87162&mlon=-91.56498#map=17/14.87162/-91.56498) 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. ## Hospitals, banks and other services in San Carlos Sija Places mapped inside San Carlos Sija in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations. - Hospitals2 - Banks1 - Petrol pumps5 - Shopping malls1 - Pharmacies1 - Restaurants1 Source: [Overture Maps places (CDLA-Permissive-2.0) and © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL)](https://overturemaps.org/). Coverage depends on what has been mapped; contact details are not shown. ## Other municipalities in Quetzaltenango Department - Almolonga - Cabricán - Cajolá - Cantel - Coatepeque - Colomba - Concepción Chiquirichapa - El Palmar - Flores Costa Cuca - Génova - Huitán - La Esperanza - Olintepeque - Ostuncalco - Palestina de Los Altos - Quetzaltenango - Salcajá - San Francisco La Unión - San Martín Sacatepéquez - San Mateo - San Miguel Sigüila - Sibilia - Zunil ## Quick answers - Where is San Carlos Sija?In Quetzaltenango Department, Guatemala - What is the population of San Carlos Sija?37,097 (2024 estimate) - What is the median age in San Carlos Sija?About 25 years (2024 estimate) - What is the population density of San Carlos Sija?About 164 people per km² - What borders San Carlos Sija?Cabricán, Cajolá, Huitán, Malacatancito, Momostenango, San Bartolo, San Cristóbal Totonicapán, San Francisco El Alto, San Francisco La Unión, Sibilia and Sipacapa - What is there to see in San Carlos Sija?Aguas calientes, Parque Regional Municipal Cerro Mano de León (Cerro Sija) - What time zone is San Carlos Sija in?UTC−6 - What currency is used in San Carlos Sija?Quetzal (GTQ) - What language is spoken in San Carlos Sija?Spanish (main languages nationally) - How many villages are in San Carlos Sija?76 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap) - What is the elevation of San Carlos Sija?Settlements lie between 1,939 m and 2,993 m - What is the highest point in San Carlos Sija?Cerro Patená (3,295 m, GeoNames elevation model) - What is the best time to visit San Carlos Sija?November to April - Where is the nearest hospital to San Carlos Sija?Centro Médico Huitán, about 8.4 km from the centre - Where is the nearest bank to San Carlos Sija?Cope Mi Tesoro R.L, about 5.8 km from the centre - Where is the nearest ATM to San Carlos Sija?RapiXchangE Bitcoin ATM, about 27 km from the centre - Where is the nearest petrol pump to San Carlos Sija?Estacion Santa Ines, about 6.2 km from the centre - How many hospitals are in San Carlos Sija?2 mapped - How many banks are in San Carlos Sija?1 mapped - How many petrol pumps are in San Carlos Sija?5 mapped - What is the P-code of San Carlos Sija?GT0904 (OCHA common operational dataset)