Some 100km southwest of Villahermosa, between the borders of Veracruz and Chiapas, a narrow triangle of Tabasco thrusts into mountains known as the Sierra Huimanguillo. These rugged peaks are not that high, only up to 1000m, but in order to fully appreciate them, you’ll need to do some hiking: not only to canyons and waterfalls, but also to the ruins of Malpasito, with their astonishing petroglyphs.

Malpasito derives its name from Malpaso populated ejido Tabasco Huimanguillo, referring to the rugged relief in the region. There are two places with the same name. The ejido Malpasito Choapas municipality of Veracruz and the town of Malpaso Unleashed head of the municipality in Chiapas Mezcalapa Cultural Significance Malpasito served as rallying point of minor settlements in the Valley of Flowers. It presents a solution based on the use of blocks of sandstone architecture and its adaptation to the relief through artificial terraces as well as a different cultural context to the Olmec and Maya, which allows us to consider the Zoque ethnic group as most of cultural diversity that existed and still prevails in the Mexican southeast, particularly in Tabasco. You may Malpasito was subject to most important sites located in the northwest of Chiapas, such as those of San Antonio or San Isidro, with which it shares cultural traits in terms of pottery and architectural features. Its main timeline is Late Classic 700 to 900 d.

The post-Classic Zoque ruins are overshadowed by jagged, jungle-covered mountains, the highest point in Tabasco. Though the ruins bear a certain resemblance to Palenque, the Zoque were not a Maya group one of the few things known about them. On the way into the site you pass terraces and grass-covered mounds, eventually arriving at the unique ball-court. At the top of the stone terraces forming the south side of the court, a flight of steps leads down to a narrow room, with stone benches lining either side. Beyond this, and separate from the chamber, is a square pit more than two metres deep and 1.5m wide. This room may have been used by the ball-players to make a spectacular entrance as they emerged onto the top of the ball-court.

But the most amazing features of this site are its petroglyphs. More than three hundred have been discovered so far: animals, birds, houses and more, etched into the rock. One large boulder is covered in enigmatic flat-topped triangles surmounted by a square or rectangle, and shown above what look like ladders or steps stylized houses or launching platforms for the chariots of the gods, depending on your viewpoint. While in the area, you can cool off at the nearby Cascadas Las Pavas (9am–5pm), a beautiful set of waterfalls, set in a tranquil spot down a path through dense flowering trees, and often surrounded by butterflies. To get here, backtrack along the road to town, and bear left at the fork.

Services available in theoffice, health and signage.

Schedule Monday to Sunday from 8:00 to 17:00 hour.

Tabasco INAH Center 01 (993) 3 52 10 33.

Is traversed on foot a distance of 320 meters via a walkway lined with gravel leading to the main square, so it is recommended to bring water to hydrate, comfortable clothing and non-slip footwear. In rainy season from July to September, wear waterproof.

It is located by the Federal Highway No. 187 Malpaso, Chiapas Huimanguillo, Tabasco, deviating at Km 29.9, 3.5 kilometers are traveled dirt, reaching the Colonia Las Flores, where there is a deviation to the left, this is walking 2.5 Malpasito kilometers to the village. In the southeastern tip the dirt forks, the path to the left leads to the ejido La Candelaria, while the right with a length of 1.2 kilometers reaches the archaeological area.