Zacapa is located in the hot, dry eastern valley along the Motagua River. INE’s 2018 census counted 245,374 people in the department; population projections for later years differ from that count (2026 figures). It is known for Ron Zacapa rum (one of the world’s finest), extreme heat, and cattle ranching. The department capital is Zacapa.
What to Expect
Zacapa is the furnace of Guatemala. Sitting in the rain shadow of the Sierra de las Minas, the Motagua Valley traps heat like an oven, and daytime temperatures regularly push past 40 degrees Celsius during the dry months from November through April. The landscape is dry, thorny scrubland – cactus, mesquite, and dust – which surprises people who picture Guatemala as all green mountains and jungle. Locals have adapted: life starts early, the streets quiet down by midday, and everything picks up again in the evening when the heat breaks.
What Zacapa lacks in lush scenery it makes up for in food and drink. The department is famous across Guatemala for its carne asada – beef grilled over wood charcoal, served with chirmol (a roasted tomato salsa), black beans, guacamole, and fresh tortillas. The cattle ranching tradition here goes back generations, and the quality of the beef reflects it. Zacapa is also the birthplace of Ron Zacapa, the award-winning rum that ages in barrels stored at high altitude in the Quetzaltenango highlands (the “Sistema Solera” process). You can find the rum everywhere in Guatemala, but there is something satisfying about drinking it in the town that shares its name.
The small town of Estanzuela, just outside the capital, has an unexpected gem: the Museo de Paleontologia, which houses whale and giant sloth fossils found in the Motagua Valley – evidence that this desert-like corridor was once underwater. It is a modest museum but genuinely interesting, especially for families. The highway through Zacapa (CA-10) is a major route connecting Guatemala City to the Honduran border at Agua Caliente, so the road infrastructure is solid. Most travelers pass through quickly, but if you stop for a meal and a cold Gallo beer in the shade of a roadside comedor, you will get a taste of eastern Guatemala that the highland tourist trail completely misses.
The cost, safety and internet figures in the Key Stats section are our own map ratings and estimates, not official or sourced figures. For detailed cost comparisons across Guatemala, see our cost of living guide. Check the latest exchange rates and gas prices for budgeting.
Zacapa offers 6 notable attractions and 4 annual festivals that showcase its cultural heritage. Key highlights include: Ron Zacapa rum, Hottest dept, Dry valley, Estanzuela. For more information about staying safe while exploring, visit our safety guide.
Nearby Departments
Eastern: Chiquimula | Jalapa
Caribbean: Izabal
Central Highlands: El Progreso
Explore More Data
- Activities & Things to Do – Explore activities and tours
- Safety Guide – Read our detailed safety guide
- Exchange Rates – Today’s exchange rate
- Cost of Living – Compare living costs
- Remittances – Best remittance rates
- Gas Prices – Fuel prices by department
- Canasta Basica – Basic food basket costs
- Weather – Climate and weather data