Acajutla (El Salvador)

Acajutla is a municipality and seaport in Sonsonate Department, El Salvador. It is the principal seaport of El Salvador from which a large portion of the exports of sugar, coffee and Balsam of Peru are shipped. Acajutla, as a municipality, is one of 17 such districts in Sonsonate. In 1992, the population of the town was 18,000 and in 2012 it reached 29,700 people. The total city area of Acajutla is 166.59 km2 (64.32 ml2).

The inhabitants of Acajutla have their traditional celebrations between the last days of May and June 2 as the main day. One of the major celebrations is between March and April: then, they celebrate the passion of Christ, clean the roads and create decorative images in the sand brought from the beach. At noon they start the simulation of passion from San Francisco de Asis church close to Barrio La playa ending  in the early hours of the next day in the same location. On October 24 they make celebrations of fishermen, in honor of San Rafael Arcangel. 

The port of Acajutla was constructed in its initial phase at a cost of 25M colones. The wave breaker of 338m inaugurated operations in August 1961. It is managed by CEPA (the Executive Commission of Autonomous Port).

The deepwater harbor of Acajutla is the principal port. For some types of shipping, two operational ports exist in El Salvador. The port cargo loading facilities allow marine shipment of large portions of Acajutla's major exports of coffee (40%) and sugar. Its oil refinery is the largest in the country and mainly refines petroleum that is imported from Venezuela.

Acajutla cruise terminal