Esquilinchuche

El Esquilinchuche is a small village in the municipality of Juticalpa, Olancho, Honduras.

Topography and Access

El Esquilinchuche sits on a low rise that forms the banks of the flood plain of the Guayape river that lies approximately 2 kilometers to the south during the dry season, but lies within 400 meters during the annual monsoon floods. There are 2 turn-offs you can take to Esquilinchuche from the main Olancho highway, one is in Jutiquile, where 10 kilometers of dirt road, passing through the other small town of El Portrero, and the other is the highway junction closer to Catacamas leading through the small town of Arimis, this route is only 6 kilometers of dirt road.

Government

Esquilinchuche is loosely governed by a local group of village elders known as the 'patronato'. There are no governmental offices of any kind to be found in Esquilinchuche or the surrounding small towns.

The name

El Esquilinchuche is known (by its residents) to be named for a large tree with sparse long leaves (approximately 1.5 x 8 inch) and prominent white five petaled flowers that once grew in abundance in the town. The Esquilinchuche tree has a very soft wood and is identifiable by the milky sap that oozes out when any branch is cut. Today there are no Esquilinchuche trees in El Esquilinchuche. The tree is said to be named for Esquiline Hill, one of the famous seven hills of Rome.

Residents and town amenities

The residents of this mostly agricultural community for the most part dedicate themselves to agricultural pursuits. The several small stores "Pulperias" set in the living rooms of houses. There are no lodging or other amenities to be found other than freshly prepared foods occasionally offered by some pulperias. El Esquilinchuche boasts a fine catholic church, an elementary school, a large soccer field, and good quality residential freshwater from a water tower or 'pila' set on a low hill next to the Rivera ranch. Electricity first came to the community in the early 1990s. 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.