El Caoba, Rural settlement in Flores, Guatemala.
El Caoba is a rural settlement located near Flores in the Petén region of Guatemala, positioned at a junction between jungle and major tourist routes. The community has developed as a small village with local cooperatives, schools, and basic services for residents and travelers passing through.
The settlement was founded in 1957 as a rest stop for chicle workers who migrated from Cobán in Alta Verapaz. Its location near a former airstrip influenced the early development of the community.
The population of 2100 inhabitants maintains strong religious practices, with 46 percent following Catholicism and 54 percent practicing Evangelical Christianity.
The settlement sits along the road connecting Flores to Tikal, making it accessible to travelers moving between these two destinations. Local schools and cooperatives operate in the community, offering insights into daily life in the area.
The name comes from mahogany trees that once grew abundantly in the area and supplied a sawmill operation. This wood industry played a significant role in the early economy of the place.
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