Archaeological site 7 km southeast of Comala
The largest pre-Hispanic city of the Colima valley: stepped platforms, shaft tombs and a ball court with the volcano behind.
La Campana is an archaeological site on the edge of Villa de Álvarez, about 7 kilometers south of Comala, and was once the most populous pre-Hispanic settlement in western Mexico. The oldest traces here, pottery of the Capacha phase, go back to around 1500 BC, but the buildings you see belong mostly to the Classic period, with the city at its height between about AD 700 and 900.
The builders used river stones bound with clay, and the site has terraced platforms, stepped pyramids that once held large enclosures, avenues lined with stone walls, a rain drainage system, petroglyphs and a small ball court. Shaft tombs, typical of the ancient cultures of western Mexico, were found here too. Archaeologists think earthquakes may have contributed to the city's decline.
Only a small part of the site has been explored, and much of its stone was taken away after the Spanish conquest for new buildings. Even so, it is the best place near Comala to understand the people who made the region's famous clay figures, and on clear days the Colima volcanoes rise behind the ruins.
What to see and do
Walk the main ceremonial area with its terraced platforms and stepped structures.
Look for the small ball court and the petroglyphs carved on stones in the plazas.
On a clear morning, line up photos of the ruins with the Colima volcanoes behind them.
Pair the visit with the El Chanal archaeological site, a short drive to the east.
Getting there
La Campana is about 15 to 20 minutes from Comala by car or taxi, heading south into Villa de Álvarez; the site is in an urban area near the Colima city limits. City buses and taxis from Colima also reach it. It is run by INAH; check opening days and hours before you go.
7 km southeast of Comala
Directions from Comala on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
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Weather warm
Zona Arqueológica La Campana shares the climate of Comala, 7 km away. The best months to visit are Jan, Feb, Nov, Dec.
Make Comala your base
Zona Arqueológica La Campana is an easy trip from Comala, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
More around Comala
-
Nogueras
· Town · 2 km away
A former sugar hacienda next to Comala, now home to the museum of painter Alejandro Rangel Hidalgo and his pre-Hispanic collection. -
Zona Arqueológica El Chanal
· Archaeological site · 7 km away
Ruins of a large town on the Colima River that flourished around 1100–1400, with platforms, plazas and a ball court. -
Suchitlán
· Town · 8 km away
An indigenous village above Comala known for its carved wooden masks and the Danza de los Morenos. -
Laguna La María
· Lake · 17 km away
A crater lake in the forest at the foot of the Colima volcano, run by the local ejido, with boats, trails and cabins. -
Volcán de Colima
· Mountain · 26 km away
One of Mexico's most active volcanoes, towering over Comala; the summit area is off-limits, but it is a dramatic sight from the valley.
Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.