Ocós Municipality in San Marcos

History and Founding

On August 16, 1884, Ocós Bay was established as an import and export port. A year later, Barra de Ocós was declared a free port, and soon after, Ocós Bay became the Main Port of the Republic of Guatemala. In 1888, a 433-meter-long pier opened to the public. However, the port eventually fell into disuse due to shallow waters, which prevented ships from docking directly.

In 2014, after six years of negotiations, La Blanca was established as a separate municipality, detaching from Ocós in San Marcos. This reduced Ocós' territory to 103.946 km², comprising twelve populated centers—equivalent to 51% of its former size.

Economy and Development

With a land area of 103.946 square kilometers, Ocós sustains a diverse economy centered on agriculture, fishing, and, more recently, tourism. Infrastructure includes cobblestone streets in the town center and dirt roads in its surrounding communities. The municipality is connected by National Route RN-8 and the Southwestern CA-2 Highway, ensuring accessibility from the capital and other regions.

Climate

Located on the Pacific coast, Ocós enjoys a tropical climate with warm temperatures year-round and a rainy season from May to October. The terrain is mostly flat, making it vulnerable to strong winds and flooding during hurricane and tropical storm seasons.

Flora and Fauna

The municipality’s flora includes crops like corn, plantains, and fruit trees such as coconut, mango, and avocado. As for wildlife, diverse species thrive here, including spiny-tailed iguanas, raccoons, green iguanas, and seabirds.

Notably, CONAP (National Council of Protected Areas) and the Asociación Amigos del Bosque (Friends of the Forest Association) lead conservation efforts to protect endangered species, particularly the Parlama sea turtle.