Archaeological site 22 km east of Calvillo
Aguascalientes' best-known rock paintings, on cliff walls in the rugged canyons of the Sierra del Laurel, with a small dam and campsites.
El Ocote is an ejido in the canyons of the Sierra del Laurel, on the line between the municipalities of Aguascalientes and Calvillo. It is a dry, dramatic landscape of sharp peaks and piled-up boulders, broken by a small reservoir, the Presa El Ocote, and a few green plots of farmland.
People lived here long before the Spanish arrived; archaeologists date the occupation to roughly 575 to 900 AD. They left the paintings that make El Ocote famous: red figures on the smooth faces of the cliffs, including animals, human shapes and wavy lines that are read as water. They are the best-known rock paintings in the state, and some of the site has been damaged over the years, so look without touching.
Today the area of about 650 hectares is also used for outdoor sports. Climbers, rappellers, hikers and mountain bikers come on weekends, and there are designated places to camp, with a fee for overnight stays.
What to see and do
Walk past the Presa El Ocote to the cliff with the rock paintings.
Look for the animal figures, human shapes and wavy water lines painted on the rock.
Hike or mountain bike among the boulder fields and peaks of the Sierra del Laurel.
Try climbing or rappelling with a local guide.
Camp overnight in the designated area (fee charged).
Getting there
From Calvillo, drive east on Highway 70 toward Aguascalientes and take the signposted turnoff south toward Tapias Viejas and El Ocote; the trip is about 45 km and takes around 50 minutes. The last stretch to the paintings is on dirt tracks and a walk, so go with someone who knows the way or ask in the village. There is no regular public transport. Visiting the area is free; camping has a fee.
22 km east of Calvillo
Directions from Calvillo on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
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Places to stay in El Ocote
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Tours & activities
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Weather mild
El Ocote shares the climate of Calvillo, 22 km away. The best months to visit are Jan, Mar, Nov, Dec.
Make Calvillo your base
El Ocote is an easy trip from Calvillo, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
More around Calvillo
-
Presa de Malpaso
· Lake · 7 km away
Calvillo's big reservoir under the Sierra del Laurel: boat and kayak trips into La Boquilla, bass fishing and lakeside fish restaurants. -
Cascada Los Huenchos
· Waterfall · 8 km away
A rainy-season waterfall in a canyon northwest of Calvillo, reached by a 3 km walk from paid parking at La Mezquitera. -
Parque Acuático La Cueva
· Hot springs · 11 km away
A family water park with thermal-water pools, slides, temazcal and camping, about 20 minutes west of Calvillo; usually open weekends. -
Cascada El Garruño
· Waterfall · 12 km away
A waterfall in the Sierra del Laurel south of Calvillo that runs in the rainy season; the approach needs a hike, ideally with a local guide. -
Presa La Codorniz
· Lake · 18 km away
A quieter reservoir north of Calvillo where local families come to camp and grill on the shore.
Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.