About 14km east of Tapachula, the road to the border passes right through the archeological site of Izapa, an important group of ruins. Besides being easy to get to, the site is large with more than eighty temple mounds and significant for its evidence of both the Olmec and Maya cultures. Izapa culture is seen as a transitional stage between the Olmecs and the Classic Maya period. Many of the best carved monuments have been removed to museums, but you can still see early versions of the rain god Chac and other gods, many in rather sad-looking huts surrounded by barbed wire. From its founding before 1250 BC, Izapa flourished up to and throughout the Maya pre-Classic period, until around 300 AD; most of what remains is from the later part of this period, perhaps around 200 AD.

It is possible that the name of Izapa is a deformation of the Nahuatl word "Atzacua" (place the water reservoir). Or River Place de la Sal (Ixtac + atl + bread). Can also be the word "Ixtapan" (on the sand) Cultural significance developed in this place since at least 1500 BC, the Mixe-Zoque culture (which is related to the archaeological Olmecs); the features of the pre-culture are evident, which are subsequently present in all of the classic Maya area.

The presence of Mexica enclaves in order to collect taxes in the area of the Chiapas coast are evident in all those towns which have names in Nahuatl, from Tonala, Chiapas to El Salvador in Central America. The various mounds in the area have an array of squares or courtyards, which were named according to how they were working. At present, groups A and B (in the nuclear area of monuments), and Group F north of the set are those who are open to visit. Izapa has a continuous occupation from 1500 BC to 1200 AD The guidelines regularly and trace spaces, as well as the constant positioning of monuments indicate a constructive activity under the same basic planning patterns.

The sculptures of Izapa commemorative integrate ideas and mythological on humans and nature, with both practical and spiritual utility. His greatest contribution is the sculpture in bulk on the arrangement of stelae and altars, cultural element associated with the major mounds and which appears later in the Maya area during the classical era. In many of these stelae characters in the legends of the Popol Vuh, a book that chronicles the ancient Maya traditions originating from high they are profiled.

The style "Izapeño, it developed over 700 years (from 600 BC to 100 AD), it was distributed by what is now the coast of Chiapas and the Guatemalan coast. It is distinguished by carved in low relief stelae have a vertical arrangement divided into three levels: the sky, the earth and the underworld, featuring rich and allegorical ritual scenes with deities, characters and descriptions of oral narrative which is then distributed throughout the Yucatan peninsula to discover: On a clear day, you can appreciate the geographical relationship between the highest mounds of Izapa and the Tacana volcano (north) and Tajamulco (east).

Other details that can be seen in the main trails are water deities, beheaded people (which became common practice of sacrifice as in the classic), and other elements and icons that can be seen in later elements in much of Mesoamerica.

Hours: Monday to Sunday 9-17 hours. Group F has different opening times and remained closed on Tuesday.

Contact: Chiapas INAH Center 01 (961) 6 12 83 60.

Recommendation: To travel the 2.5 kilometers between major groups of buildings that can be visited ( A, B and F), it is necessary to wear comfortable shoes, light clothes, umbrella or manga (it rains in the afternoon from 14 hrs), bring enough drinking water.

The northern side of the site (left of the road as you head to the border) is the most interesting. There’s a ball-court and several stelae, which, though not Olmec in origin, are carved in a recognizable Olmec style. The southern side (Grupo A and B), is down a track about 1km back along the main road towards Tapachula. These sections are more overgrown, but you can spot altars with animal carvings frogs, snakes and jaguars and several unexcavated mounds.

To get to Izapa, take any bus or combi to the Talismán border and ask the driver to drop you at the site, which is signposted from the road.

Highway 200 or the "Route de la Costa and Soconusco", Km 304. There are a number of groups of buildings both north and south of this road. The cars reach areas where there is parking. Services available in the area: There is only a small module services to North Road (Group F). Both the Group A and B you can buy handicrafts, soft drinks and bottled water. In Tapachula there are several agencies, tour operators are the main groups of buildings (A, B and F).