The Cerro de la Máscara archaeological site is the most important petroglyph site in northern Sinaloa. Located 70 km from the city of Los Mochis, it is flanked by the ancient Zuaque River, near the Pueblo Mágico of El Fuerte..
It is a must-see stop for the Chepe train, which crosses the Tarahumara Mountains from the port of Topolobampo to the city of Chihuahua. The site attracts both national and international visitors and represents one of the most significant places in the history of northern Mexico.

Yoreme Cosmovision
Like the El Fuerte Mirador Museum, it carefully preserves the memory of the ancient Yoreme (Mayo) cosmovision, the inhabitants of this region. The archaeological site is located on the banks of the Fuerte River, very close to the border with the neighboring state of Sonora. El Cerro de la Máscara rises along a small peak of rhyolitic stone.

Since 2016, the Cerro de la Máscara Archaeological Project has been directed by researchers Víctor Joel Santos Ramírez and Julio César Vicente López.
Nestled in a thorny forest at the foot of the Sierra Madre Occidental, the nearest town to the site is the ejido La Galera, which belongs to the nearby municipal seat of El Fuerte, located on the opposite bank of the river.
Petroglyphs at El Cerro de la Máscara
The Cerro de la Máscara consists of 300 petroglyphs spread over 17 hectares, featuring primarily geometric, anthropomorphic, and phytomorphic designs. The site’s name comes from some engravings with human faces or mask designs.

Some petroglyphs have been named after their distinctive features: El Observatorio (The Observatory), La Máscara (The Mask), La Piedra Ladeada (The Tilted Stone), La Mariposa (The Butterfly), La Reina (The Queen), La Zorra (The Fox), and El Alacrán (The Scorpion).
In 2004, John Carpenter and Guadalupe Sánchez conducted a survey and surface reconnaissance. The results recorded 77 sites, most of which belong to the ceramic period, approximately between 100 B.C. and 1500 A.D.
Since 2016, the Cerro de la Máscara Archaeological Project has been led by researchers Víctor Joel Santos Ramírez and Julio César Vicente López.

Text: Maestro Victor Joel Santos Ramírez
Professor of Scientific Research and Teaching at INAH. Tenured C.
Arqueología en casa
El Gabinete del Arqueólogo
Isabel Kelly – Capítulo II
Los Ornamentos Prehispánicos en Sinaloa
“Chametla ancestral”
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How This Virtual Tour Was Made
I illuminated the Cerro de la Máscara in a way that would make the carvings in the stone more noticeable.
To achieve this, I used a Led Lenser T7 flashlight from the side to highlight the details.
Use our photos
Our photos have “Creative Commons“ license. This license allows you to use our photos, without needing permission, legally. When using the photos, the only requirement is that you provide credit as follows:
“Photography: Miguel Angel Victoria / Sinaloa 360”

English translation made by Diego González Yáñez, student at PrepaTec Campus Sinaloa. Tecnológico de Monterrey.