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| Group B Looking North, See Map Below:. |
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Izapa Group A and B: The turnoff is located about 2 km. from the entrance to Group F on the road that leads back toward the Chiapas town of Tapachula. Look for a very narrow gravel road that leads off into the jungle through farm fields and yards of the farm owners. It will be on your left side of the road as you are traveling toward Tapachula from Group F. There is no sign to notify you of the road. If you get lost, the caretaker at Group F can direct you. You will notice monuments in the yards and fields of the land owners as you travel the road. You will find a sign at a fork in the road with one fork going to Group B and the other to Group A. When you find the sign you are close to both sites. We visited the site of Izapa Group A and B on January 29, 2004. When you visit the site you will pass through the front and back yards of the many farm houses that cover the area. Be sure to remember that you are a guest upon other peoples private property. Some of these people are having a hard time just to make enough money to get by. It would be appropriate to make a small donation to these people for parking upon their property as you feel fit to make. At Group A and B you will be parking on private property. You must ask permission to park and a tip is certainly in order. The quadrangular plaza of Group B was the focus of ritual activity by 300 BC. While the Group B plaza contains many stela-altar combinations, it is most famous for its triadic arrangement of pillars. Each of the three pillars, measuring about 130 cm tall, holds a stone sphere that is about 70 cm in diameter.
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A great place to stay when visiting Izapa is the nearby business city of Tapachula (tah-pah-CHOO-lah): The náhuatl word, (TLAPACHOLI) means "flooded House." Tapachula is located in the SE corner of Mexico in the state of Chiapas at the base of the Guatemalan Highlands, near the border of Guatemala and the Pacific Ocean. The city is the commercial center of a coffee-growing region and has thrived in coffee export. It is an important transportation link between Mexico and Central America.and hosts a large European and Asian population. In fact, Tapachula is considered to be an important city in the national economy of Mexico. Tapachula exhibits the typical style of Spanish built cities with a Central Park surrounded by the Municipal Palace. The Old Municipal Palace is now the House of Culture for the city. Ceramics and leather goods are produced by local artisans. It is also a land route for the cocaine trade between Guatemala and Mexico. If driving between Guatemala and Mexico through Tapachula, expect to be stopped by the army or police at one of the checkpoints. The locals usually avoid the checkpoints by walking overland through the jungle with their illegal cargo. One place of interest is the Museo Arqueologico del Soconusco which is a small museum displaying local finds. Including some finds from Izapa. Everything is in Spanish. It is open 11 am to 6 PM every day except Mondays. Located at the main plaza, which is called Parque Hidalgo. Tapachula also sits at the base of an extinct volcano called El Tacaná. El Tacaná is important in the archaeology of the area since many structures at Izapa were aligned to El Tacana. We have links on this page that will connect you with one of the best hotels in Tapachula. TAPACHULA, CHIS. KM. 3.5 CARRETERA A PUERTO MADERO, TAPACHULA DE CORDOVA Y ORDO EZ TAPACHULA, 30700 MEXICO. Holiday Express Tapachula is a modern new hotel with spacious and comfortable and functional facilities. It is located in their newest and largest shopping area, located just 10 km from the airport. Enjoy delicious complimentary Express Breakfast daily. We suggest getting a hotel and then letting them arrange either a car or a tour of Izapa. If you call their Concierge Services ahead of your arrival, all of this can be pre-arranged for you. We do this all the time, when traveling in Mexico. It is safe and it works!!! We have never experienced a problem, doing it this way! Tapachula International Airport (IATA: TAP, ICAO: MMTP) is the international airport located at Tapachula, Chiapas, Mexico. It is Mexico's southernmost airport. It handles national and international air traffic for the city of Tapachula. Therefore, we have placed a link to Expedia.com on this page so you can arrange your flights into and out of Tapachula; as well as your hotel, when visiting this area.
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| Map Izapa Group B By Edwardo Martinez E |
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One Researcher Thinks That The Three Pillars Represent The Belt Stars Of The Constellation Orion. Called "Oxib' Xk"Ub", "The Three HearthStones Of Creation." Hypothesis From The Web Page Of Dr. Julia Kappleman, University Of Texas At Austin
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| Possible Star Alignments | Orion Belt Stars Photo |
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| Various Objects Found At Group B | Various Objects Found At Group B |
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| West Side Of North Mound | East Side Of Acropolis |
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| Looking North Toward North Mound | Looking North East Toward North Mound And Stelae |
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| Farm NE Of Group B | South Mound & Ceiba Tree |
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| Looking West Toward West Mound | East Side Of Acropolis |
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| Stele 24 | George With Stela Altar |
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| Bottom Decor Of Stele 12 Looks Like The Same Artist As Sculpted Stele 5 | Izapa Throne One Placed In Front Of Central Stela Pillar Shows Rulership Of Cosmic World |
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| Stele 8 | Stele 9 |
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| Stele 10 | Central Stela And Izapa Throne One |
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| West Stela | East Stela |
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| Stele 12 | Stele 11 |