Overview

Hype:

The ruins of an ancient pyramid built by the mysterious Chupícuaro civilization. Just outside Querétaro looms the desolate stone ruins of a pyramid known alternately as El Cerrito and El Pueblito. In ancient times, this site was the religious center of a civilization that devoted itself to the fervent worship of an inscrutable and buxom goddess of fertility. The Chupícuaro civilization and its city center, known today as El Cerrito, arose around 300 BC and was for many centuries contemporaneous with the Teotihuacan civilization. Later in its history, it was conquered and came under the influence of the Toltec empire as a vassal state. This socio-cultural change was reflected in the city’s architecture, and led to the construction of the Toltec pyramid that still dominates the site and the surrounding landscape today. The collapse of El Cerrito and the Chupícuaro appears to have occurred around the same time as the fall of the Toltecs in 1168, and was probably similarly caused by a combination of environmental stressors and the invasions of warlike northern tribes known as the Chichimecas. 

Time:

Fees: Admission, Parking

Recommended Ages:

	0-3
	4-11
	12-19
	20-49
	50-69
	70+

Recommended Months to Visit:

Jan

Feb

Mar

Apr

May

Jun

Jul

Aug

Sep

Oct

Nov

Dec

Links: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/El_Cerrito_(archaeological_site)

Location

Closest City or Region: Queretaro, Mexico

Coordinates: 20.551400, -100.444051

View larger map

Brochure

June 9, 2023 Trip Report

By Jeremy Dye

Trip Members

Jeremy Dye, Luke Galyan, Tracy Kwan, Ryan Hone, Napo Acuna,

Story

We had a slow morning and played some pool in our Airbnb. Then we ran around town and did a bunch of errands. We went to a market for breakfast. Then we went to a currency exchange place. The traffic was horrible, so Tom and I got out to walk there while Ryan drove. When we got there, they were out of money. So we drove to another place. By the time we exchanged money and got back to the cars, the whole endeavor had taken way too long. Our next errand was to go grocery shopping. It was a bit chaotic but fun. All 6 of us grabbed random stuff and filled one cart. We paid together and shared the cost. The most memorable part was filling two giant platters of bread and pastries. We bought a bunch of fruit that we don't get in the U.S. as well as other random treats. Our quantities ended up being almost perfect as we had almost no leftovers at the end of the trip and no one went hungry.

Once we got our errands out of the way, had lunch.

Then we went over to the Zona Arqueologica El Cerrito, which is an ancient stone pyramid. We wandered through the museum then walked around the base of the pyramid and took pictures. This pyramid was interesting because in the late 1800s, a group built a stone fortress on the top of a hill, not knowing that the hill was a buried pyramid. When they excavated the pyramid, they left the more modern building in place.

Pictures