Texistepeque, Municipality in Santa Ana Department, El Salvador.
Texistepeque is a municipality in the Santa Ana Department, in the western part of El Salvador, set across hilly terrain. It is divided into six administrative zones and covers dozens of smaller settlements spread across its territory.
The area was first home to Poqomam Maya communities before the Pipil, from the kingdom of Cuzcatlan, took control of the territory. The Spanish conquest in the 16th century brought a new political order and reshaped how the land was governed.
The name Texistepeque comes from Nawat, the language of the Pipil people, and means something close to 'hill of eggs'. This origin is still reflected in local place names and customs that people in the area continue to practice today.
Texistepeque is accessible from Santa Ana, which serves as the main regional hub for western El Salvador. The hilly terrain means that getting between individual settlements within the municipality can take longer than expected, so it helps to plan ahead.
During Holy Week, some residents dress as demons known as Talcigüines and move through the streets in a ritualized procession. This tradition combines old religious practices with local beliefs and has been passed down through generations.
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