Description

It is the most important archeological zone of Chiapas Coast; there are two basic native people at this zone, mainly Olmeca and Maya, whose origin permitted the Mixe—Zoque union; during one thousand years, at the Pacific site, the most civic and religious siege was in function, until 1500.

The place was as important to cacao and obsidian commerce. Since ancient vestiges appeared rounded edges; places surrounded bay plazas, supported ancient churches, in many of them elaborated stones and not elaborated; additionally, altars and other stone monuments are present; several spherical stones over columns, possibly sun representations. The sculpturial style has been called Izapeña culture, influenced by Olmecas and took their own forms, spreaded to Chiapas and Guatemala and beyond.

Izapa had more then hundred and sixty buildings and platforms up to 20 meters height, around plazas. In front of different plazas, there are 252 stone monuments, majority sculpted and 89 carving religious steles; usually, at floor there was a stone as frog, disk or square.

Weathe

Hot, humid and rainy during summer.

Location

Soconusco region, on the Tuxtla Chico municipality.

How to get there?

From Tapachula to Frontera Talismán, get Tuxtla Chico.

What to do?

Archeological vestiges observation.

Time visits

8:00 to 17:00 all day of the year. Free accepted.

Travel hints

This place can be visited all year. It is suggested to bring adequate water drinking, comfortable clothing and shoes for walks. Raincoat for the rainy season.

Places nearby

Tapachula and Santo Domingo.

Contact

Instituto Nacional de Antropologia e Historia (National Institute of Antrophology and History)
01 (961) 613-4554 / 612-8360 / 613-4450

Secretaria de Turismo
(Tourism State Office)
National toll free number: 01 (800) 280-3500