Land measurement table
| Unit | Square meters | Acres | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hectare (ha) | 10,000 | 2.4711 | |
| Manzana (Central America) | 6,987.29 | 1.7266 | 10,000 square varas — Guatemala, Honduras, El Salvador, Costa Rica |
| Manzana (Nicaragua) | 7,042.25 | 1.7402 | Uses a slightly longer vara |
| Square vara | 0.6987 | 0.0002 | Castilian vara of 0.8359 m (32.9 in) |
| Tarea (Central America) | 436.71 | 0.1079 | 25 × 25 varas; 16 tareas = 1 manzana |
| Tarea (Dominican Republic) | 628.86 | 0.1554 | 30 × 30 varas |
| Cuerda of 25 varas (Guatemala) | 436.71 | 0.1079 | Official cuerda; 16 cuerdas = 1 manzana |
| Cuerda of 30 varas (Guatemala) | 628.86 | 0.1554 | Common in western Guatemala |
| Cuerda of 40 varas (Guatemala) | 1,117.97 | 0.2763 | |
| Cuerda (Puerto Rico) | 3,930.4 | 0.9712 | |
| Caballería (Guatemala) | 447,186.44 | 110.5 | 64 manzanas |
| Fanegada (Colombia) | 6,400 | 1.5815 | 80 × 80 m |
| Acre | 4,046.86 | 1 |
Why these units differ from country to country
Traditional land units such as the manzana, tarea and cuerda come from the Castilian vara (0.8359 m, about 32.9 inches), but each region adopted different sizes: a Guatemalan "cuerda" can be 25, 30 or 40 varas per side, and the Dominican tarea is larger than the Central American one. For sales and property deeds, confirm the official unit with the country's property registry.
Frequently asked questions
How many acres is a manzana?
A Central American manzana is 1.73 acres (6,987 m², or 0.6987 hectares). One acre is 0.58 manzanas.
How big is a square vara?
A square vara is 0.6987 m² (about 7.5 sq ft), because the Castilian vara measures 0.8359 m.
How big is a cuerda in Guatemala?
It depends on the cuerda: 25 × 25 varas is 436.7 m², 30 × 30 varas is 628.9 m² and 40 × 40 varas is 1,118 m². Always ask how many varas the cuerda has.
How big is a fanegada?
In Colombia a fanegada is 6,400 m² (80 × 80 m), or 1.58 acres.