Malpasito, Maya ceremonial site in Huimanguillo, Mexico.
Malpasito is an archaeological complex with around 53 rectangular structures arranged around plazas and sunken courtyards across roughly 17 hectares. The buildings follow a north-south axis pattern that reveals how the Zoque people organized their ceremonial spaces.
The Zoque people established this settlement between 700 and 900 CE, building terraces on mountainous terrain to create platforms for their ceremonial buildings. The construction demonstrates how they adapted the challenging landscape to create lasting structures.
The site contains over 100 petroglyphs depicting birds, deer, monkeys, human figures, and temples with stairways carved into rocks throughout the area.
The site requires personal transportation since public transit options are limited and it sits roughly 115 kilometers north of Tuxtla Gutierrez. Daytime visits work best for seeing the stonework and rock carvings clearly.
More than 100 petroglyphs showing birds, deer, monkeys, and human figures are carved into rock surfaces throughout the site. These carvings reveal animals and structures that held meaning for the Zoque people.
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