Cuerda, manzana & caballería converter
An official cuerda of 25 × 25 varas is 436.71 square metres, and a manzana is 6,987.39 m². But the cuerda is not the same across Guatemala: the 30 × 30 vara cuerda common in the highlands is 628.86 m², and the 40 × 40 vara cuerda reaches 1,117.98 m². That is why this converter lets you pick your municipio's cuerda instead of giving you a single number.
The most common in the western highlands. An unqualified "cuerda" usually means this one. The cuerda changes by municipio. If you don't know which one is used where the land is, ask the seller how many varas it measures per side — that one question prevents the dispute later.
Equals
- Square metres (m²)
- 628.86
- Square varas (v²)
- 900
- Manzanas
- 0.09
- Hectares (ha)
- 0.0629
- Caballerías
- 0.001394
The cuerdas used across Guatemala
The cuerda is an agrarian measure running from 15 to 50 varas per side depending on the region. A "ten-cuerda" plot can be under half a hectare or nearly two, depending on where it is. This is the discrepancy that causes the most disputes in a sale.
| Cuerda | Square varas | m² | Where it is used |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 × 20 | 400 | 279.5 | Used in parts of the east and for small plots. |
| 25 × 25official | 625 | 436.71 | The official cuerda: 1/16 of a manzana. Used by the registry and in appraisals. |
| 30 × 30 | 900 | 628.86 | The most common in the western highlands. An unqualified "cuerda" usually means this one. |
| 32 × 32 | 1,024 | 715.51 | The local norm in Sololá. |
| 40 × 40mecate | 1,600 | 1,117.98 | Common in the lowlands and on fincas; also called a mecate. |
| 42 × 42 | 1,764 | 1,232.58 | The local norm in Santiago Atitlán. |
| 50 × 50 | 2,500 | 1,746.85 | The large cuerda, used for extensive rural land. |
Fixed equivalences
| Unit | Square metres | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Square vara (v²) | 0.6987 | 1 vara = 0.835906 m |
| Official cuerda (25 × 25 varas) | 436.71 | 1/16 of a manzana |
| Manzana | 6,987.39 | 10,000 square varas |
| Hectare (ha) | 10,000 | 1.43 manzanas |
| Caballería | 451,256.81 | 64.58 manzanas · 45 ha 12 a 56.81 ca |
The Guatemalan caballería was fixed at 45 hectares, 12 ares and 56.81 centiares by government decree on 17 February 1925 — not the exact 64 manzanas used elsewhere in Central America, but 64.58.
Frequently asked questions
How many square metres are in a cuerda?
It depends on the municipio. The official cuerda, 25 × 25 varas, is 436.71 square metres. The most common one in the western highlands is 30 × 30 varas, at 628.86 m². In the lowlands, 40 × 40 varas is common, at 1,117.98 m². Always ask how many varas the cuerda measures per side before you buy.
How many cuerdas are in a manzana?
A manzana is exactly 16 official cuerdas of 25 × 25 varas. If the local cuerda is 30 × 30 varas, a manzana is 11.11 cuerdas. A manzana is 10,000 square varas, or 6,987.39 square metres.
How many square metres are in a manzana?
A manzana is 6,987.39 square metres — just under a hectare (0.6987 ha).
How many cuerdas are in a hectare?
A hectare is 10,000 square metres: 22.9 cuerdas of 25 × 25 varas, or 15.9 cuerdas of 30 × 30 varas. It also equals 1.43 manzanas.
How big is a caballería in Guatemala?
A caballería is 451,256.81 square metres — 45 hectares, 12 ares and 56.81 centiares, fixed by government decree on 17 February 1925. That is 64.58 manzanas. Note that the Guatemalan caballería is not the 64-manzana caballería used elsewhere in Central America.
How many square metres are in a square vara?
The Guatemalan vara is 0.835906 metres, so one square vara is 0.6987 square metres. Conversely, one square metre is 1.43 square varas.
About to buy that land?
Knowing the square metres is step one. Nova Scout compares all 340 Guatemalan municipios against your budget and goal, and flags the zone’s risks before you sign — free, no account, about 5 minutes.