Esperanza Resources Begins Drilling at Pucarana Project, Peru

Esperanza Resources Corp. (TSX VENTURE:EPZ)(PINK SHEETS:ESPZF) is pleased to
announce that drilling at the Pucarana project has started. The drill plan
includes 2,500 meters in 10 diamond-drill core holes.


This project is located in the Arequipa region of southern Peru, near to the
Orcopampa gold-silver mining camp. Esperanza Resources is the operator of the
joint venture, held with Estrella Gold (TSX VENTURE:EST). The Pucarana project
consists of two concessions, totaling 1,889 hectares Pucarana is seven (7)
kilometers from the portal of the high-grade underground Chipmo mine and 15 km
from the Poracota mine, which have a combined annual production of 360,000 oz of
gold and 131,000 oz of silver during 2010. Pucarana is a gold-rich system
consisting of quartz veins and silicified bodies together with alteration
similar to that observed at the nearby Chipmo Mine. The veins and structures
that are being drill tested, trend northeast toward the active underground
workings of Chipmo.


Esperanza Resources can earn-in to 60% of the Pucarana Project by expending
US$1.3 million and making combined cash payment(s) totaling up to US$80,000.


More information on our Pucarana and Peru exploration program can be seen on
Esperanza's website at: http://www.epzresources.com/newproject_perumap.php.


About Esperanza

Esperanza is focused on advancing the development of its principal property, the
wholly-owned Cerro Jumil gold project in Morelos State, Mexico. It is also
actively investigating 11 other exploration interests in Peru and Mexico. In
October of 2010 it announced a strategic investment which resulted in a 35%
interest in Global Minerals Ltd. (TSX VENTURE:CTG), majority owner of the
Strieborna silver/copper/antimony project in Roznava, Slovakia.


QUALIFIED PERSON: Mr. J. Stevens Zuker, M.Sc., Geology and Senior Vice
President, Esperanza Resources Corp. is the Qualified Person (QP) under NI
43-101 responsible for the Peru exploration program. He has verified the data
disclosed in this news release, including sampling, analytical and test data.
Field work has been conducted under his supervision. Gold samples were analyzed
by fire assay and atomic absorption spectroscopy with a 30 g nominal sample
weight. Silver is analyzed by induction coupled plasma - atomic emission
spectroscopy (ICP-AES). A description of quality control and quality assurance
protocols can be found at www.epzresources.com/protocols.php.


SAFE HARBOR: Some statements in this release are forward-looking in nature. The
United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 provides a "safe
harbor" for certain forward-looking statements. Such statements include
statements as to the potential of the Pucarana property, the ability to finance
further exploration, permit drilling and other exploration work, and the
availability of drill rigs.


The forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and other factors
that could cause actual results to differ materially, including those relating
to exploration and bringing properties into production. Please refer to a
discussion of some of these and other risk factors in Esperanza's Form 20-F
filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The forward-looking
statements contained in this document constitute managements' current estimates
as of the date of this release with respect to the matters covered herein.
Esperanza expects that these forward-looking statements will change as new
information is received and that actual results will vary, possibly in material
ways. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, expectations and
opinions of management on the date the statements are made, and the company does
not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements if circumstances
or management's beliefs, expectations or opinions should change. For these
reasons, investors should not place undue reliance on forward-looking
statements.