Discover Las Lisas

Playa Las Lisas is a beach on Guatemala’s Pacific coast. Boca Barra is located there, where the Chiquimulilla Canal meets the sea. This gives the place a clear geographic context: the Pacific identifies its coastal location, while Boca Barra is the specific meeting point of the canal and the sea.

Distances for orientation

Playa Las Lisas is 46 kilometers from the administrative seat of the municipality of Chiquimulilla. From Playa Las Lisas to the Parque Central in Guatemala City is 161 kilometers. The two figures refer to different reference points: the first locates the beach in relation to the municipality’s administrative seat, and the second in relation to the capital’s Parque Central. When making your comparison, it is therefore important to consider which of these places is relevant to your travel plans.

Culture in the wider destination of Santa Rosa

The Puente de Los Esclavos stands in Cuilapa, Santa Rosa. The bridge is made of hewn stone, is 75 meters long and two meters wide, and has eleven arches. Its material, dimensions, and arches convey different aspects of its design. At the same time, the bridge preserves five centuries of history and is associated in oral tradition with the resilience of the community.

According to the tradition, the legend arose during the Spanish colonization of the Americas and the enslavement of the Xinka people. It tells of an old man who made a pact with the devil so the bridge could be built in a single night. The story of its construction is also shaped by forced labor: the bridge’s construction was imposed on the people.

A 2026 account published by Guatemala’s Ministry of Culture and Sports describes how the community brings the story of the bridge to life each year through the Zarabanda. This includes music, dances, and colorful clothing. The tradition connects faith, identity, and cultural heritage. If you would like to plan your trip around this cultural event, check the specific dates before making your plans.

The descendants of the old man in the legend maintain their own religious and cultural forms of expression, particularly during the Día de la Luz de la Candelaria. For the community, the Puente de Los Esclavos symbolizes the spiritual transition to the “New Faith.” These cultural connections are distinct: the Zarabanda brings the story of the bridge to life each year, while the descendants’ forms of expression are particularly associated with the Día de la Luz de la Candelaria.

Find accommodation in Las Lisas

If you would like to consider regional culture alongside the coastal location, note that the Puente de Los Esclavos and the traditions mentioned are located in Cuilapa, Santa Rosa.

Discover more destinations: Chiquimulilla, Cuilapa, Taxisco, Tecuamburro, Monterrico, El Hawaii

For the wider travel overview: Santa Rosa.