Estanzuela (Spanish pronunciation: [estanˈswela]) is a municipality in the Guatemalan department of Zacapa. It is a small town. Estanzuela was a passing place for Spaniards looking to go farther west to the ocean. A group of these Spaniards decided to rest for a while, and thought Estanzuela to be the perfect location. As they went through the surroundings they saw that it was good land to harvest, so they decided to stay. At first it was called "La Estancia". It is said that its second name was "La Estanzuelita," a Spanish diminutive of Estancia, which is translated to a resting place.