Tingambato archaeological zone

🌿 The Green Enigma of Michoacán

Imagine finding a "lost city" hidden among the intense green of avocado orchards. That's Tingambato. Unlike the large Purépecha ceremonial centers you'll see on the lake, this site is a fascinating mystery that seems to have been transplanted from central Mexico.

Its ancient name was Tinganio, which poetically means “The place where the fire ends”. As you walk along its shaded paths, you will feel as if you are stepping back to a time (between 450 and 900 AD) long before the height of the Purépecha empire.

📐 Teotihuacan in Michoacan? Lo primero que te hará detenerte es su arquitectura. ¡No hay estructuras redondas aquí! Tingambato sorprende con una Great Pyramid of seven bodies built in the style slope-board. If you've visited Teotihuacan, you'll immediately recognize that stepped pyramid shape. This is a rarity in western Mexico and suggests that this civilization had strong commercial or diplomatic ties with the great metropolis in the center of the country. It's a missing link in the region's history.

💀 The Secret of the Tomb II If you enjoy stories of discovery, this one's for you. In 1979, archaeologists found the famous Tomb II. Unlike others that had been looted, this one was intact. Inside, a high-ranking dignitary lay seated, surrounded by breathtaking riches: 32 skulls offered as sacrifices, necklaces of seashells, and objects of jade and turquoise. Although the original treasures are now housed in museums, descending to see the tomb's structure gives you goosebumps when you think about the funerary ceremony from a thousand years ago..

⚽ The Ball Game Don't miss its I-shaped ball court. Walking along this stone walkway, imagining the sound of the rubber ball and the ritual shouts echoing through the vegetation, is an immersive experience.

🌟 Our Recommendation

Tingambato is the ideal place if You hate crowds. It's an intimate archaeological site, where sometimes you might be the only visitor.

Expert tip: This site is literally right off the highway between Pátzcuaro and Uruapan. It's the perfect stopover. After exploring the ruins (it will take you about an hour), go to the town of Tingambato and ask for the carnitas or the wood-fired bread. Located in avocado country, the food here has a delicious rustic flavor. It combines archaeology with a good taco! 🥑🌮