Archaeological site 14 km west of Tlaquepaque
A small pre-Hispanic site in Zapopan with a stepped pyramid base, surrounded by city avenues; entry is free.
El Ixtépete is an archaeological site in the south of Zapopan, right beside the junction of Avenida Mariano Otero and the Periférico, about 14 kilometers west of Tlaquepaque. It is a surprising sight: a pre-Hispanic platform standing in a green park while traffic flows around it.
The protected area covers about 13 hectares and holds three structures. The main one is a stepped platform about 44 meters wide at its base and 6 meters high, built in five stages with two later additions. The settlement was occupied roughly between AD 400 and 900, and was once much larger, spreading over what are now the neighborhoods around it. Some of its architecture uses the talud-tablero style associated with Teotihuacan, though archaeologists are cautious about how close the link really was.
It is a quick, easy visit and a good introduction to the ancient peoples of the Atemajac valley, and many people come here to welcome the spring equinox.
What to see and do
Walk around the main stepped platform and look for its different building stages.
See the two smaller structures in the park.
Come around the spring equinox, when many visitors gather here.
Combine it with an afternoon in Zapopan or the Bosque La Primavera.
Getting there
El Ixtépete is about 25 to 35 minutes from Tlaquepaque by car or taxi, at Avenida Mariano Otero and the Periférico in Zapopan. City buses along Mariano Otero and the Periférico stop nearby. Entry has been free; hours differ between sources, so check before you go.
14 km west of Tlaquepaque
Directions from Tlaquepaque on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
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Weather mild
El Ixtépete shares the climate of Tlaquepaque, 14 km away. The best months to visit are Jan, Mar, Nov, Dec.
Make Tlaquepaque your base
El Ixtépete is an easy trip from Tlaquepaque, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
More around Tlaquepaque
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Cajititlán
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Bosque La Primavera
· Nature reserve · 28 km away
A 30,500-hectare pine-oak forest and UNESCO biosphere reserve on Guadalajara's western edge, with trails and warm streams.
Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.