“Las Labradas” is one of the sites with archaeological monuments in Sinaloa. It is one of the few found on the shores of the Pacific Ocean. They are a series of rock engravings on rocks of different sizes located in the municipality of San Ignacio, near the beaches of Barras de Piaxtla. Eight years ago it was declared an Archaeological Monument Zone and was protected by the National Institute of Anthropology and History (INAH).
Archeology museum
Las Labradas has an extensive parking lot, one small archeological museum, an auditorium, classrooms, and workshops where experienced archeologists work. Groups of students and tourists come from various cities in the region to visit the archaeological remains. It is located forty minutes from the port of Mazatlan on the highway to Culiacan and two hours if you are coming from Culiacan.
At kilometer 51 is the turnoff to the community of La Chicayota and then on a dirt road, it’s found “Las Labradas” Visitor’s Center.
Through some small gaps, you can walk to the beach where there are more than 600 rocks with rock engravings. You can appreciate different human figures, engravings of plants and geometric figures. It is not known which culture made these rock engravings. Some may have been made in 3000 B.C. and others between 750 and 1,250 A.D. Due to their characteristics, there is nothing similar in all of America.
It is a well-maintained site with an extensive parking lot, a small archaeological museum, an auditorium, classrooms, and workshops where experienced archaeologists work.
Las labradas, a sacred place
“Las Labradas” are very visited by environmental groups during the spring and autumn equinoxes and the summer and winter solstices. Because of its proximity to the Tropic of Cancer and the petroglyphs with solar symbols, it is believed that it was considered a sacred place.
There are rules that visitors must follow to preserve this wonderful place. It is forbidden to smoke and to bring in food and pets that could harm the flora and fauna. It is requested to avoid contact with the figures engraved on the rocks and with crabs, snails and other animals.
Image Gallery
How was this tour made:
We decided to do this virtual tour on a day when there were not many visitors in this beautiful archaeological site at mid-morning, so that the sun would help us to have that beautiful tone that the sea has on these beaches.
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 María José Balcázar Gamboa, student at PrepaTec Campus Sinaloa. Tecnológico de Monterrey.