Petroglifos de Altavista

The Altavista petroglyphs are a group of rock carvings in a shady ravine in the hills between Las Varas and the coast. A trail follows a stream up through tropical forest past boulders covered in carved spirals, concentric circles, faces and other figures, and ends at a series of rock pools known as La Pila del Rey, the King's Pool.

Nobody knows exactly how old the carvings are or who made them. They are usually attributed to the people who lived along this coast long before the Spanish arrived, sometimes called the Tecoxquines, and some sources suggest they are thousands of years old, though that dating has not been confirmed. Dozens of carvings have been recorded along the trail, and many more have been reported in the surrounding hills.

What makes the place special is that it is still in use. Wixárika (Huichol) families travel here to perform ceremonies and leave offerings by the pools, so treat it as a sacred site: keep your voice down, do not climb on the carved rocks, and leave any offerings you find untouched.