Chalatenango Department

Chalatenango Department is an administrative region in northern El Salvador comprising 33 municipalities across mountainous terrain. Rivers flow through valleys and agricultural areas that stretch toward the Honduran border.

The region was established in 1855 as part of a major territorial reorganization of El Salvador. This reform created the framework for local governance systems throughout the nation.

Coffee growing shapes daily life here, with plantations covering the highlands where farmers work the land using traditional methods. The local identity is deeply tied to what people cultivate and harvest from the soil.

Buses connect the municipalities to the department capital Chalatenango on regular schedules. Additional transport options link the region to San Salvador for onward travel.

Several nature reserves here shelter rare bird species found nowhere else nearby. Hikers can walk through pine forests and experience the diverse wildlife of these protected areas.

Location: El Salvador

Inception: 1855

Capital city: Chalatenango

Shares border with: La Libertad Department, Santa Ana Department, Ocotepeque Department, Lempira Department, Cabañas Department, Cuscatlán Department, San Salvador Department

GPS coordinates: 14.04136,-88.93941

Latest update: December 7, 2025 20:40