Landmark 12 km northwest of Copainalá
The huge brick shell of a 16th-century Dominican convent, once the center of the Zoque world, in the next town west.
Tecpatán is a small Zoque town a short drive west of Copainalá, and it holds one of the most striking colonial buildings in Chiapas: the former Dominican convent of Santo Domingo de Guzmán. Dominican friars began building it in the 1560s to evangelize the Zoque people, and for centuries it was the most important religious and trading center of the Zoque region, which is why Tecpatán is often described as the old Zoque capital.
The convent was built to impress, with thick walls, massive brick buttresses and a tall, fortress-like tower. It mixes styles: the tower shows Mudéjar influence, the façade has Gothic touches and the cloister is Renaissance in spirit. Over time much of it fell into ruin and the great vault collapsed, but restoration work has stabilized what remains, and today you can walk among the red brick arches and walls under the open sky.
The convent is also a symbol for the Zoque people today, a focus for efforts to keep their language and traditions alive. Paired with Copainalá's own churches, it makes an easy half-day trip into the colonial history of this lesser-known corner of Chiapas.
What to see and do
Walk through the ruined nave and among the brick buttresses and arches.
Look up at the tower, the best-preserved part of the convent.
Stroll Tecpatán's main square and streets, a quiet Zoque town with few visitors.
Combine the visit with Copainalá's churches for a half day of colonial architecture.
Getting there
Tecpatán is about 15 to 20 minutes west of Copainalá by car along the state highway that continues toward the Malpaso dam. Local colectivos usually run between the two towns. The convent stands in the center of Tecpatán; check locally about opening times, as there is no fixed schedule published.
12 km northwest of Copainalá
Directions from Copainalá on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
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Weather warm
Ex convento de Tecpatán shares the climate of Copainalá, 12 km away. The best months to visit are Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec.
Make Copainalá your base
Ex convento de Tecpatán is an easy trip from Copainalá, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.