# San Francisco El Alto Municipality, Totonicapán Department

> Source: https://wherepedia.org/guatemala/totonicapan/san-francisco-el-alto/

Municipality · Totonicapán Department 

# San Francisco El Alto

San Francisco El Alto is a municipality of Guatemala in Totonicapán Department. It had an estimated **69,233 people** in 2024 on 73 km² (about 953 per km²). Its main town is San Francisco El Alto. 67 named villages and localities are recorded here, and 13 mapped services such as hospitals, banks and schools.

- 69,233people (2024)
- 72.7km²
- 13mapped services
- 2,606 mtypical elevation

## How many people live in San Francisco El Alto?

San Francisco El Alto had an estimated **69,233 people** in 2024 — 13.4% of Totonicapán Department, 68th of 340 municipalities. There are 1,088 women for every 1,000 men (close to the Totonicapán Department figure of 1,095). Spread over 73 km², that is about **953 people per km²**, 40th of 340 municipalities.

32.0% of people are children under 15 and 4.8% are 65 or older; the median age is about 23 years (it is 23 across Totonicapán Department). For every 100 people of working age (15–64) there are 58 children and older people.

0–4 ****7,584**

5–9 ****7,496**

10–14 ****7,048**

15–19 ****7,237**

20–24 ****7,604**

25–29 ****6,669**

30–34 ****6,032**

35–39 ****4,660**

40–44 ****3,293**

45–49 ****2,578**

50–54 ****2,388**

55–59 ****1,893**

60–64 ****1,458**

65–69 ****1,074**

70+ ****2,219**

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 Francisco El Alto?

San Francisco El Alto lies in [Totonicapán Department](https://wherepedia.org/guatemala/totonicapan/), [Guatemala](https://wherepedia.org/guatemala/). It borders 5 other municipalities: [Momostenango](https://wherepedia.org/guatemala/totonicapan/momostenango/), [San Carlos Sija](https://wherepedia.org/guatemala/quetzaltenango/san-carlos-sija/), [San Cristóbal Totonicapán](https://wherepedia.org/guatemala/totonicapan/san-cristobal-totonicapan/), [Santa María Chiquimula](https://wherepedia.org/guatemala/totonicapan/santa-maria-chiquimula/) and [Totonicapán](https://wherepedia.org/guatemala/totonicapan/totonicapan/). By area it is the 242nd largest of 342 municipalities in Guatemala. It covers 6.7% of [Totonicapán Department](https://wherepedia.org/guatemala/totonicapan/). The centre of San Francisco El Alto is about 112 km in a straight line from Guatemala City, the capital. It is about 16 km from Totonicapán, the main town of Totonicapán Department. The centre point is at 14.9757° N, 91.4980° 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 Francisco El Alto

OpenStreetMap lists 1 named sights in San Francisco El Alto: 1 attraction.

- El más grande mercado del Centro America todos los viernes · attraction

### Nearby, outside San Francisco El Alto

- Parque Regional Municipal Cerro Mano de León (Cerro Sija) · nature reserve, San Carlos Sija5.0 km
- Parque Ecológico 'Pilares de Piedra Kiej', Pologuá · nature reserve, Momostenango7.1 km
- Homenaje al Emigrante Salcajense · monument, Salcajá10 km
- Lagunita - 10Q · attraction, Salcajá11 km
- Mirador Del Cementerio · viewpoint, Salcajá12 km
- Castillo El Carmen · castle or fort, Salcajá12 km
- Municipalidad de Momostenango · attraction, Momostenango12 km
- Parque nacional Riscos de Momostenango · attraction, Momostenango13 km
- Monumento a Tecún Umán · monument, Quetzaltenango13 km
- Museo Casa Botrán · museum, La Esperanza14 km
- El Tinajon · monument, Quetzaltenango14 km
- Tertulianos · museum, Quetzaltenango15 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 Francisco El Alto

- 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) · Quezaltenango12 km
- Retalhuleu Airport (RER) · Retalhuleu55 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 06:23, 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 Francisco El Alto

Open gazetteers list **67 villages, towns and localities** in San Francisco El Alto. The largest with a recorded population: San Francisco El Alto (57,894). Settlements here lie between about 2,349 m and 2,712 m above sea level (median 2,606 m).

- Aldea Pachaj San Francisco el Alto
- Buena Vista
- Camposeco
- Chiajtij
- Chibarreto
- Chicerá
- Chiernán
- Chigarcía
- Chigual
- Chihernández
- Chiherrera
- Chijoseantonio
- Chijoyab
- Chimacarib
- Chioxlaj
- Chipastor
- Chirramontziquín
- Chirramos
- Chirrenox
- Chitocar
- Chitocché
- Chitunap
- Chitzep
- Chivarreto
- Chochocox
- Chocruz
- Chuicuxbal
- Chuijalom
- Chuijá
- Chuisiguán
- Chuitap
- Chunimacorral
- Chunimcorral
- Chutuy
- El Centro
- El Pinal
- Los Pinales
- Mirador Chuisiguán
- Pabatoc
- Pabeyá
- Pachaj
- Pacotzij
- Palemop
- Pamazán
- Parracaná
- Pasacaquín
- Pasaculal
- Pasanjup
- Patacabaj
- Patzolojché
- Patzuncán
- Patzutzutz
- Paxixil
- Paxolá
- Rancho de Teja
- Sacmixit
- San Antonio Sija
- San Francisco El Alto
- Sancaquixá
- Tacajalbé
- Tacajalvé
- Tzanjuyup
- Vista Hermosa
- Xalqui
- Xecorral
- Xetinimit
- Xolsiguán

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 Francisco El Alto

Named natural and historic features inside San Francisco El Alto, from the GeoNames gazetteer.

### Water

5 rivers and streams.

- Arroyo Paxanquiej
- Río Caquixá
- Río Chuisaquijá
- Río Pasac
- Río Xolcatá

### Hills and mountains

3 mountains.

- Cerro de Sija · 3,010 m
- Cerro Pejuncubá · 2,920 m
- Cerro Poorop · 2,879 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 Francisco El Alto and the best time to visit

In San Francisco El Alto, the warmest month is Apr (average 17 °C) and the coolest is Jan (13 °C). About 1,857 mm of rain falls in a year; the wettest month is Sep (353 mm) and the driest Jan (6 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 13 6 

Feb 14 7 

Mar 16 22 

Apr 17 63 

May 17 217 

Jun 16 315 

Jul 16 226 

Aug 16 289 

Sep 16 353 

Oct 15 291 

Nov 14 58 

Dec 14 10 

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

## Nearest hospital, bank and fuel from San Francisco El Alto

Need Nearest mapped Distance 

Hospital Hospital San Carlos · San Carlos Sija 5.3 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=14.98083&mlon=-91.54713#map=17/14.98083/-91.54713) 

Bank Cope Mi Tesoro R.L · San Carlos Sija 11 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=15.02872&mlon=-91.58044#map=17/15.02872/-91.58044) 

ATM RapiXchangE Bitcoin ATM · Quetzaltenango 15 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=14.84326&mlon=-91.52320#map=17/14.84326/-91.52320) 

Petrol pump Texaco · Momostenango 2.6 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=14.99945&mlon=-91.49876#map=17/14.99945/-91.49876) 

Hotel Hotel el pueblito · San Francisco El Alto 6.5 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=14.94581&mlon=-91.44547#map=17/14.94581/-91.44547) 

Mall Plaza Comercial Pacheco · San Francisco El Alto 6.7 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=14.94374&mlon=-91.44463#map=17/14.94374/-91.44463) 

School español · San Francisco El Alto 5.0 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=14.94663&mlon=-91.46292#map=17/14.94663/-91.46292) 

College Colegio Juan Wesley · San Cristóbal Totonicapán 9.5 km [Map](https://www.openstreetmap.org/?mlat=14.90113&mlon=-91.45397#map=17/14.90113/-91.45397) 

Police station Sub estación · La Esperanza 14 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 Francisco El Alto

Places mapped inside San Francisco El Alto in open map data, by type — each number opens the full list with locations.

- Hospitals2
- Petrol pumps5
- Hotels2
- Shopping malls1
- Schools1
- Restaurants2

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 Totonicapán Department

- Momostenango
- San Andrés Xecul
- San Bartolo
- San Cristóbal Totonicapán
- Santa Lucía La Reforma
- Santa María Chiquimula
- Totonicapán

## Quick answers

- Where is San Francisco El Alto?In Totonicapán Department, Guatemala
- What is the population of San Francisco El Alto?69,233 (2024 estimate)
- What is the median age in San Francisco El Alto?About 23 years (2024 estimate)
- What is the population density of San Francisco El Alto?About 953 people per km²
- What borders San Francisco El Alto?Momostenango, San Carlos Sija, San Cristóbal Totonicapán, Santa María Chiquimula and Totonicapán
- What is there to see in San Francisco El Alto?El más grande mercado del Centro America todos los viernes
- What time zone is San Francisco El Alto in?UTC−6
- What currency is used in San Francisco El Alto?Quetzal (GTQ)
- What language is spoken in San Francisco El Alto?Spanish (main languages nationally)
- How many villages are in San Francisco El Alto?67 named settlements (GeoNames, OpenStreetMap)
- What is the elevation of San Francisco El Alto?Settlements lie between 2,349 m and 2,712 m
- What is the highest point in San Francisco El Alto?Cerro de Sija (3,010 m, GeoNames elevation model)
- What is the best time to visit San Francisco El Alto?November to April
- Where is the nearest hospital to San Francisco El Alto?Hospital San Carlos, about 5.3 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest bank to San Francisco El Alto?Cope Mi Tesoro R.L, about 11 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest ATM to San Francisco El Alto?RapiXchangE Bitcoin ATM, about 15 km from the centre
- Where is the nearest petrol pump to San Francisco El Alto?Texaco, about 2.6 km from the centre
- How many hospitals are in San Francisco El Alto?2 mapped
- How many petrol pumps are in San Francisco El Alto?5 mapped
- What is the P-code of San Francisco El Alto?GT0803 (OCHA common operational dataset)