Around 23km from Santiago, the Olmec site of Tres Zapotes was one of the longest-lasting of all Olmec cities, occupied from 1200 BC to around 1000 AD. The renovated museum (daily 9am–6pm). Other than this the museum contains little that is not duplicated elsewhere its main interest lies in a series of stelae inscribed with Olmec glyphs while of the site itself, nearby, virtually nothing can be seen apart from green mounds.

Cultural importance has been considered the call history of Olmec culture as pre-Hispanic societies that structured "developed urban settlements." This culture is mainly distributed in the Gulf of Mexico, although the accuracy of its boundaries to the south and southeast is unknown, and had its heyday between 1300 and approximately 600. C.

The prehistoric settlement of Tres Zapotes spans over 3 kilometers along the Arroyo Hueyapan and is known for the considerable number of sculptures of Izapa style Olmeca and found in it. Most buildings are located on the west bank of the stream, on the alluvial plain and a natural terrace of sedimentary and volcanic deposits. From the tour they have been detected more than 150 mounds, artificial terraces, and modified natural features.

The site consists of three major groups of mounds, located around irregular squares, over an area of approximately 2 km2, and several groups of low mounds that have not yet been determined and they seem to be residential platforms, including Ranchito Groups and Burnt mounds.

Tuesday to Sunday from 9:00 to 17:00 hours.

Veracruz INAH Center 01 (229) 9 34 42 08 9 34 52 82 99 81.

Local buses take around an hour, departing from close to the junction of the highways, by the river below the zócalo; you can also find taxis on this riverside road.

To get there take Hwy 179 (towards Isla) for about 8km, and then turn right.

The archaeological site is accessed Tres Zapotes starting from the port of Veracruz on Highway 180, south of the state, is located 143 kilometers Santiago Tuxtla; the road to Isla and 7 kilometers then take to the right, is the deviation leading to Tres Zapotes, 21 kilometers from Santiago Tuxtla, Veracruz.

Also can be reached by Santiago Tuxtla-Island Highway, the deviation in Salto del Agua is taken to the village of Tres Zapotes, north of which the site is located.

To reach the site by public transport, you can take a truck from Santiago Tuxtla to Tres Zapotes, whose runs are hourly, or by collective taxis.