Stroll through luscious avocado groves to the beautiful ruins of this ceremonial site, which predates the Tarascan empire and thrived from about AD 450 to 900. Rarely visited and beautifully atmospheric as a result, they are located outside of Tingambato village, about 30km from Uruapan on the road to Pátzcuaro. The ruins, which include two plazas, three altars and a ball court (rare in western Mexico), have a Teotihuacán influence.
There’s also an 8m-high stepped pyramid and an underground tomb where a skeleton and 32 scattered skulls were found – hinting at beheading or trophy-skull rituals.
Buses to Morelia leave from Uruapan’s terminal every 20 minutes and stop in Tingambato (M$16, 30 minutes). The ruins are 1.4km downhill on Juárez, the first street on the right as you enter town.
