It is north of San Francisco El Alto and west of Santa María Chiquimula.

Long-leafed pine forests and red soil give the surroundings the flavor of the southern USA Appalachian region.

The principal town of San Bartolo Aguas Calientes -- St. Bartholomew's Hot Springs—is one KM from a small resort at a geothermal spring.

The displaced families moved into tent-like huts, each constructed from USA-supplied tarpaulins covering a wood frame.

In mid-2006, the United Methodist Church began to send US-based work teams into the area to build permanent houses for displaced families that could obtain land.