Tres Zapotes Veracruz Mexico
Olmec Archaeological Ruins
Travel Pictures And Photos

George And Audrey DeLange

Tres Zapotes Olmec Museum Courtyard

Tres Zapotes (tres sah-PO-tes), village (1990 est. pop. 854), SE Veracruz, E Mexico, 15 mi/24 km W of San Andrés Tuxtla, near Cerro de las Mesas on N edge of Tuxtlas Mts. (in former Olmec heartland); 18°30'N 95°30'W. Pre-Maya monument dating from 381 B.C.– 32 B.C. was found here (1939) near a colossal Olmec stone head. Evidence here of early writing. Go into Satiago Tuxtla from Lago Catemaco on Highway 180, watch for a brick fence on the left side of Highway 180 and then you will make a left turn just before you see a bridge going over Highway 180. Tres Zapotes is 13.9 km from the turn. Take the road about 5 km through Sehualca. At 7.8 km you will see a Tres Zapotes sign located at (N 18 degrees 24 minutes W 95 degrees 20.65 minutes). The road is very pot-holed at this point. At 9.4 km you will go through another small village. At 13.9 km you will actually enter Tres Zapotes. Going through town don't turn at the first curve, go straight to a dead end. Make a right turn to the museum which will be seen to your left. Be sure to have a good deet mosqueto repellant on when there. The caretakers keep the grass and weeds nicely cut and trimmed or the place would soon be covered by weeds. The museum and restrooms are clean.