Olintepeque facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Olintepeque
Xepau
Xekik'el
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Municipality and town
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 Olintepeque
Location in Guatemala
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| Country |  Guatemala |
| Department |  Quetzaltenango |
| Area | |
| • Total | 13.2 sq mi (34.2 km2) |
| Elevation | 7,710 ft (2,350 m) |
| Population
(2018)
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| • Total | 35,060 |
| • Density | 2,655/sq mi (1,025.1/km2) |
| Time zone | UTC+6 (Central Time) |
| Climate | Cwb |
Olintepeque is a town and a municipality (a type of local government area) in Guatemala. It is located in the Quetzaltenango department, not far from the city of Quetzaltenango. In 2018, about 31,545 people lived in Olintepeque. The town is built along the Xekik'el (or Xekikel) River.
History of Olintepeque
Olintepeque is famous for a very important historical event. It was the place where the legendary Kʼicheʼ king Tecún Umán died. This happened on February 20, 1524, during a battle with the Spanish conquistador (a Spanish explorer and conqueror) named Pedro de Alvarado.
The battle was a single combat between King Tecún Umán and Pedro de Alvarado. The river that flows through Olintepeque is called Xekik'el. Its name means "where the blood spread," and it got this name because of this famous battle.
Culture and Language
The people who live in Olintepeque mainly speak two languages. These are Spanish and Kʼicheʼ. Kʼicheʼ is an indigenous language spoken by the Kʼicheʼ people, who are one of the largest Maya groups in Guatemala.
There is a special chapel in Olintepeque. It is dedicated to St John the Baptist and a local folk saint named San Pascualito.
See also
In Spanish: Olintepeque para niños
