Visit us

Sala Introductoria a la Zona Arqueológica de Ixtlán del Río

Opening hours
Tuesday to Sunday from 09:00 to 17:00 h
Fee
$80.00 Visitantes nacionales
$145.00 Visitantes extranjeros
Aditional Fees
  • Included in the entrance to the Archeological Zone
Adress

International Highway No. 15 (Guadalajara-Tepic section) Km 136, Los Toriles, Municipality of Ixtlán del Río, Nayarit.

Access

From the city of Guadalajara, take Federal Highway 15 and, at km 95.6, follow the deviation to Ixtlán del Río.

Services
Parking
Information module
Toilets
Important
  • Sundays free for mexican citizens
  • Free entrance for Mexicans under 13 years old
  • Free entrance for Mexican students and teachers
  • Free entrance for Mexican senior citizens
  • No smoking
  • No entry with food
  • Pets not allowed
  • No flash

Sala Introductoria a la Zona Arqueológica de Ixtlán del Río

Sala Introductoria a la Zona Arqueológica de Ixtlán del Río

Sala Introductoria a la Zona Arqueológica de Ixtlán del Río

Through the display of archaeological artifacts and informational materials, it explains the history, social organization, architecture, and traditions of the area’s ancient inhabitants, helping visitors better understand the historical and cultural significance of a tour of the archaeological site.


VISIT US

Through an exhibition featuring original archaeological artifacts, reproductions, maps, illustrations, photographs, scale models, and informational panels, the gallery explains the history of the site’s occupation, the characteristics of its structures, and the findings of archaeological research conducted over several decades. The objects on display—including pottery shards, stone tools, ornaments, and other materials recovered during the excavations—offer insight into aspects of daily life, productive activities, ritual practices, and artistic expressions of the populations that inhabited the region from approximately 300 B.C. to 600 A.D., with subsequent occupations.

One of the central themes of the exhibition is the architecture of Los Toriles, especially its famous circular temple, considered one of the most unique structures in pre-Hispanic Mexico. This structure stands out for its completely circular floor plan—a design uncommon in Mesoamerican architecture—and for its advanced construction techniques. Experts believe it may have been associated with religious ceremonies and the worship of deities linked to the wind, fertility, or agricultural cycles, although its exact function remains a subject of study. The gallery provides information on the construction techniques used, the organization of the ceremonial space, and the symbolic significance of this building within the archaeological complex.

The exhibition also presents information on the natural environment of the Ixtlán del Río Valley and explains how its resources facilitated the establishment of agricultural communities that developed an economy based on the cultivation of corn, beans, squash, and other crops, supplemented by hunting, fishing, and trade. It also describes the cultural relationships they maintained with other peoples in western Mexico, which facilitated the exchange of goods, knowledge, artistic styles, and technological innovations.

Another important aspect highlighted in the exhibition is the conservation and research work carried out by archaeologists, conservators, and specialists from the National Institute of Anthropology and History. The exhibition explains the process by which archaeological remains are discovered, documented, analyzed, and preserved to ensure their protection and study, emphasizing the importance of preserving this heritage for present and future generations.



  • Dirección del Centro INAH
    Othon Yaroslav Quiroga García
    othon_quiroga@inah.gob.mx
    +52 (311) 217 8666

     



Contact

+52 (311) 217 8666
+52 (311) 216 2038

Lugares relacionados


NearBY INAH PLACES