Pasaco facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Pasaco
Pasaco Location in Guatemala
Country	Guatemala
Department	Jutiapa
Climate	Aw

Pasaco (pronounced pa-SAH-koh) is a town and municipality in Guatemala. It is part of the Jutiapa Department. Pasaco is located close to the Pacific Ocean and near the border with El Salvador.

History of Pasaco

The town of Pasaco has an interesting history that goes back to the time of the Aztecs. When the Spanish explorer Hernán Cortés arrived in Mexico, some Aztecs decided to leave. They traveled south into what is now Guatemala.

These Aztecs joined up with local groups of people. They saw Cortés as a bad guy, not a god. At that time, many Aztec leaders thought Cortés might be Quetzalcoatl, a god who was expected to return.

Later, another Spanish explorer, Pedro de Alvarado, came to the area. He was sent by Cortés to explore and conquer lands further south. Alvarado found the town, which was then called Paxa. The local people used poisonous sticks to defend themselves, which Alvarado wrote about in his diary.

After the Spanish left, the people of Paxa moved inland. Their original location near the ocean was prone to flooding. They then moved to the place where Pasaco is today. The name "Pasaco" literally means "goodbye Paxa."

Getting Around Pasaco

For a long time, it was hard to get to Pasaco. There were no cars or easy ways to travel there. People had to walk about 5 kilometers (about 3 miles) inland to reach the town.

Today, things are much easier! There is now a paved road that leads right into Pasaco. The town even has a small public library for everyone to use.