Guayabal, Azua facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Guayabal
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Municipality
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Aerial view of Guayabal
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 Guayabal, Azua
Location in the Dominican Republic
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| Country | Dominican Republic |
| Province | Azua |
| Area | |
| • Municipality | 262.87 km2 (101.49 sq mi) |
| Population
(2012)
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| • Municipality | 3,965 |
| • Density | 15.0835/km2 (39.066/sq mi) |
| • Urban | 1,047 |
| • Rural | 2,918 |
Guayabal is a small town, also called a municipality, located in the Azua province of the Dominican Republic. It's a quiet place with a unique way of life.
Contents
Where is Guayabal?
Guayabal is a town located high up, about 725 meters (2,379 feet) above sea level. It sits where the Arroyo Guayabal stream meets the Rio Cueva river. You can find it on a map at these coordinates: 18°44'56 N and 70°50'11 W.
A special trail goes from Guayabal through the Arroyo Guayabal to a city called Constanza. This trip takes about two hours by car, but you need a strong vehicle like a sports utility vehicle (SUV) because the roads are rough.
Guayabal is about 20 kilometers (12 miles) northeast of Padre las Casas. If you take a public minibus, called a Guagua, it's about a 50-minute ride. From Padre las Casas, it's another two hours by Guagua to Azua de Compostela, which is the capital city of the province.
Community Life in Guayabal
Guayabal also manages some smaller villages that are located along the Rio Cueva. These villages are quite remote and can only be reached by vehicles made for off-road travel. Some of these villages include Periquito, Arroyo Corozo, La Guama, and El Recodo.
Because Guayabal is a bit hard to get to, its residents often rely on the nearby town of Padre las Casas for many of their daily needs and services. Many people from Guayabal move away to find work. However, during special holidays like Christmas (Navidad) or Easter (Semana Santa), the town becomes lively again as many people return to visit their families.
Guayabal's Economy
The main way people in Guayabal make a living is through farming. They grow crops like beans (called habichuelas), peas (called guandule), cassava (called yuca), and calabash (called auyama).
In the past, raising animals for meat and dairy was important. But now, farming crops has become more popular. This is because there's a lot of land good for growing plants, but not as much land suitable for raising livestock. The farming areas, known as Loma or Cerca, stretch up the hillsides to the very tops of the mountains, some of which are over a kilometer high.
The most common way to get around in Guayabal is by riding on horseback.
Visiting Guayabal
Guayabal doesn't have a lot of tourists. There are only two small hotels in the town. One of these hotels has things like a bath, a TV, and a fan, but these rooms are mostly used by people traveling for business. There is also one restaurant in the town where you can eat.
Most tourists who come through Guayabal are usually just passing through on their way to the city of Constanza.
See also
In Spanish: Guayabal (República Dominicana) para niños
