Tazumal

Tazumal sits in the middle of Chalchuapa, surrounded by an ordinary Salvadoran town, and its stepped pyramid is the most completely restored pre-Columbian structure in the country. The site was occupied for well over a thousand years and shows influences from across Mesoamerica - Maya, Teotihuacan and later Pipil - reflecting Chalchuapa's position on trade routes. Excavations recovered jade, ceramics and a famous stone figure, with much of it displayed in the site museum. The 1940s restoration used concrete, which archaeologists now regret, but the shape and scale still land.

What you actually see

• The main pyramid - the restored stepped structure at the site's centre.
• The site museum - jade, ceramics and finds from the excavations.
• The ball court remains - the Mesoamerican court within the complex.
• Casa Blanca and San Andres - other sites in the same archaeological zone.

When to go

The dry season from November to April is more comfortable; the site is open and shadeless. Mornings avoid the worst heat. It is open year round with a closed day midweek, so check before travelling.

Honest expectations

The concrete restoration is obvious and disappointing to visitors who have seen sites in Guatemala or Mexico - Tazumal is modest by regional standards and largely still buried under the town. The visit takes an hour or two. Labelling is mostly in Spanish. It works best combined with Joya de Ceren and San Andres on a single archaeology day.

Nearby

Joya de Ceren, San Andres, Santa Ana and Lake Coatepeque.