Peralta

The Peralta Archaeological Site stands on a sweeping plain, one that seems to invite the wind and the sun from different centuries. For visitors, it is a place of great majesty and heightened awareness. The natural setting is breathtaking. 

The site overlooks a curious turn in the famous Lerma River. It is thought to have flourished between 200 and 700 CE. The civilization of the Bajío, the central mountainous plains of Mexico is not well understood, and that makes the site particularly precious. What knowledge there is, of the people, their tools, their culture, and their way of life, is presented in a small museum on the site. On particularly hot days, it can be a cool respite, but it is an important component for understanding the excavations. 

The Precinct of the Ruler and the several pyramids are distributed across six important groups. And although mound and sunken courtyard architecture is probably an accurate way to describe the main features of the site, it was very much a living culture. And visiting gives one a much better idea of who and what and how they lived. More than 50 graves were excavated across the site and have revealed a wealth of decorated pottery, obsidian, and decorative and utilitarian objects. These give visitors more than a funerary perspective on the culture and its people.

As mentioned, people visit also for the natural environment. There is simply nothing quite like the quality of light and the comfort of the wind here. People get to this part of Guanajuato generally by traveling south from Irapuato, itself a treasure trove of, albeit more recent, cultural artifacts. Peralta is only about a half-hour drive south from the center of Irapuato. The town will be a major stop on the Guadalajara-Mexico City train line, and that will make travel to Peralta that much easier. For now, visitors can find information about travel direct to Peralta from tour providers in the town center, or at the bus station.