Casa Blanca Archaeological Site

Casa Blanca is part of the larger Chalchuapa archaeological zone, which also contains Tazumal, and it holds a group of platform mounds occupied from around 900 BC through the Maya period, with two structures excavated and consolidated and a trench left open showing the stratigraphy and the volcanic ash layers that mark the eruptions. The site museum covers the zone. What distinguishes Casa Blanca from other sites in the country is the indigo workshop: El Salvador was a major indigo producer in the colonial period, the plant is grown on the site, and visitors can work through the dyeing process and take away a piece of cloth they have dyed themselves.

What you actually see

• The excavated mounds - the consolidated platform structures.
• The stratigraphy trench - the open section showing the ash layers.
• The indigo workshop - the dyeing process from plant to cloth.
• The site museum - the display on the Chalchuapa zone.

When to go

November to April in the dry season. The indigo workshop runs on request and may need arranging; ask at the entrance. The site closes on Mondays. Mornings are cooler.

Honest expectations

The archaeological remains are modest compared with Tazumal nearby. The indigo workshop is the main draw and may require booking or a minimum group. Interpretation is in Spanish. The site is small.

Nearby

Tazumal is in the same town; Santa Ana lies east.