Archaeological site 15 km northwest of Mitla
A small Zapotec site by the highway with two striking stucco masks of Cocijo, the rain god, at a noble's house.
Lambityeco is a small Zapotec site right beside Highway 190, just west of Tlacolula. It was at its height between about 600 and 800 AD, around the time Monte Albán was declining, and it was a salt-making town: water was run through the salty soil here and then boiled down, and by some estimates the site supplied most of the salt used in the valley. Salt was still made in the area as late as the 1940s.
The ruins are compact, but they hold some of the finest stucco work in Oaxaca. In one mound, the house of a noble family, the entrance to a patio is flanked by two large masks of Cocijo, the Zapotec god of rain and lightning, still with traces of their original paint. Another building has a tomb whose facade carries stucco portraits of seated ancestors, a rare look at the people who lived here.
Because it takes less than an hour to see, Lambityeco is easy to combine with Yagul and the Tlacolula market. It sees very few visitors, so you may have the masks to yourself.
What to see and do
See the two stucco masks of Cocijo, the rain god, at the noble house.
Look for the stucco portraits of ancestors on the tomb facade.
Combine the visit with Yagul and Tlacolula on the same morning.
Getting there
Lambityeco is about 20 minutes west of Mitla, right on the south side of Highway 190 a short way past Tlacolula toward Oaxaca. Buses and colectivos on the highway can drop you at the entrance. It is an INAH site with a small entry fee; hours can vary, so check before going.
15 km northwest of Mitla
Directions from Mitla on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
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Places to stay in Lambityeco
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Weather mild
Lambityeco shares the climate of Mitla, 15 km away. The best months to visit are Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec.
Make Mitla your base
Lambityeco is an easy trip from Mitla, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
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Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.