Archaeological site 5 km north of El Fuerte
Northern Sinaloa's best petroglyph site: about 300 carvings on rocky hills by the Río Fuerte, just north of town.
A few kilometers north of El Fuerte, on low rocky hills above the Río Fuerte, the Cerro de la Máscara holds the most important group of petroglyphs in northern Sinaloa. About 300 carvings are spread over some 17 hectares, in around fifteen clusters, pecked into the dark rock.
The designs range from spirals and other geometric shapes to human figures and plants. Several have names that describe what people see in them: La Máscara (the mask that gives the hill its name), El Observatorio, La Mariposa, La Piedra Ladeada, El Alacrán. Archaeologists date most of them to the ceramic period, roughly between 100 BC and AD 1500, and link them to the worldview of the ancestors of the Yoreme (Mayo) people who still live along the river.
Since 2016 an archaeological project has been studying the site, which is open to visitors. It is a short, easy outing from El Fuerte, best done in the morning before the heat.
What to see and do
Walk between the groups of petroglyphs on the hills.
Find La Máscara, the carving that gives the site its name.
Look for the spirals and other sun-like designs linked to Yoreme cosmology.
Enjoy the view over the Río Fuerte valley from the top of the hills.
Getting there
The site is about 5 kilometers north of El Fuerte, around 10 minutes by car or taxi. Entry has been free, with the site open Monday to Saturday from morning to mid-afternoon and closed Sundays, but confirm in town before going. Bring water and a hat; there is little shade.
5 km north of El Fuerte
Directions from El Fuerte on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
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Weather warm
Cerro de la Máscara shares the climate of El Fuerte, 5 km away. The best months to visit are Jan, Mar, Nov, Dec.
Make El Fuerte your base
Cerro de la Máscara is an easy trip from El Fuerte, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
More around El Fuerte
-
Presa El Sabino
· Lake · 9 km away
The Josefa Ortiz de Domínguez dam, known as El Sabino, west of El Fuerte: bass and catfish fishing, camping, and a yearly tournament. -
Los Capomos
· Town · 10 km away
A Yoreme (Mayo) ceremonial village east of El Fuerte where visitors can learn about the culture, see traditional dances, and eat handmade tortillas. -
Tehueco
· Town · 17 km away
A Yoreme ceremonial town on the river with an old Jesuit mission and a free community museum of Holy Week masks. -
Presa Miguel Hidalgo
· Lake · 28 km away
A large reservoir north of El Fuerte, also called El Mahone, famous for big black bass; guided fishing trips leave from town.
Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.