Huapalcalco, Archaeological site in Tulancingo de Bravo, Mexico.
Huapalcalco is an archaeological site in Tulancingo de Bravo situated on the western slope of Cerro El Tecolote with pyramid-shaped structures and ancient ceremonial platforms. The complex spans multiple sectors with remains of buildings and caves that show evidence of different periods of habitation.
The settlement developed as a second center of Toltec civilization before the rise of Tula and represents a crucial phase of early habitation. Archaeological findings show continuous occupation of the region over millennia.
The cave paintings here depict human figures and celestial symbols created by the site's earliest inhabitants. These artworks reveal how ancient people understood their world and marked sacred meanings on stone surfaces.
The site is accessible via Federal Highway 130 from Pachuca, with local colectivos providing transport connections to the area. Visitors should wear sturdy shoes as the terrain is uneven and crosses forested slopes.
A three-sided pyramid with about 12 meters at its base and 8 meters in height stands on the grounds. This unusual construction was specifically designed for ceremonial offerings, making it distinct from typical Mesoamerican structures.
Location: Tulancingo de Bravo
GPS coordinates: 20.13333,-98.36667
Latest update: December 6, 2025 16:04
Hidalgo state sits northeast of Mexico City, connecting volcanic landscapes with more than two thousand years of human settlement. The region extends from high-altitude pine forests to semi-arid canyons, with geological processes having created basalt columns, cave systems with thermal springs, and marble formations. Colonial monasteries from the 16th century stand alongside mining towns that emerged during the Spanish era, while the archaeological site of Tula served as the capital of the Toltec civilization that preceded the Aztec empire. Visitors can walk among the hexagonal basalt columns at Prismas Basálticos, bathe in the warm pools of Grutas de Tolantongo, or view the stone warrior statues at Atlantes de Tula. Mining towns such as Real del Monte preserve their narrow streets and historic mines, while the Aqueduct of Padre Tembleque, a 16th-century UNESCO World Heritage structure, carried water across distances through a series of tall arches. National parks like El Chico protect mountain forests, the Metztitlán Canyon Reserve hosts desert ecosystems, and Atezca Lake offers views of calm water surrounded by forested hills. The combination of natural variety and centuries of history makes Hidalgo a place where each visit reveals both geology and human adaptation to this demanding environment.
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