Esquilinchuche

El Esquilinchuche is a small village in the municipality of Juticalpa, Olancho, Honduras, that lies approximately 2 miles from the Guayape river during the dry season, but lies within 100 yards of that river during the annual monsoon floods. To reach Esquilinchuche you have to traverse 10 kilometers of dirt road, passing through the other small town of El Portrero.

Esquilinchuche is loosely governed by a local group of village elders known as the 'patronato'.

The residents of this mostly agricultural community for the most part dedicate themselves to agricultural pursuits. The only 2 small stores are set in the living rooms of houses. El Esquilinchuche boasts a fine catholic church, an elementary school, a large soccer field, and good quality residential water from a large water tower or 'pila' set on a low hill next the the Rivera ranch. Electricity first came to the community in the early 1990's. Cell phones now are in common use among the residents of this town that in 2005 boasted one telephone.

During Hurricane Mitch in 1998 the Guayape river lapped at the edges of the town, swallowing 3 residences that had been built a few feet below the level of the rest of the town. Other than some livestock, there were no fatalities.

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  Sign on the road to Esquilinchuche
• A baptism ceremony in El Esquilinchuche
  A baptism ceremony in El Esquilinchuche
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  A member of the Esquilinchuche patronato with some of his grandchildren and cattle
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  A pila, commonly used for washing both clothing and dishes in Honduras