Olmec Archaeological Ruins
Tabasco, Mexico
Travel & Tour
Pictures, Photos, Information, Images, & Reviews.
George & Eve DeLange
Google Map To La Venta Olmec Archaeological Ruins, Tabasco, Mexico.
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Audrey DeLange At Pyramid C1. La Venta Olmec Archaeological Ruins, Tabasco, Mexico.
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| Audrey DeLange At Pyramid C1. La Venta Olmec Archaeological Ruins, Tabasco, Mexico. |
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LA VENTA ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE near Huimanguillo and PARQUE LA VENTA in Villahermosa are not the same place! Do not get them confused! They are several kilometers apart. Most tourists and tour companies visit La Venta Park in Villahermosa not the La Venta Archaeological Site! Both are worth the visit. If you only have time for one, then Parque La Venta would be our recommendation. Most of the carvings at La Venta Archaeological Site were moved to the La Venta Park for protection. Nearly all of the large Heads and Monuments at the site are fiberglass reproductions. It is worth the trip to see the La Venta Archaeological Site, so try to see them both. Most of the reproductions and original monument on the Archaeological site are not in their original locations. No-one seems to know exactly where they belong! That is because no - one kept good records when they were moved. There is evidence that the Olmec people were on the North American continent more than 10,000 years ago. The first documentation of shamanistic practices in Mesoamerica occur during the Formative period of the Olmec. The first depictions show the shaman being transformed into the deified form of the jaguar. Their highest civilization dates from 1,200 B.C., although they were at their peak in this area from 800 to 300 B.C. Many believe the Olmec were the cradle civilization for the genepool of Mesoamerica, even calling the Olmecs �the mother culture of Mesoamerica." La Venta's large stone sculpture was made of basalt from the Tuxtla mountains far to the north. The Olmec transported these massive basalt boulders by means of the region's meandering rivers, where they were used for thrones, altars, stelae, and colossal heads. It is at LaVenta that the famous ten foot high Olmec heads were found. To the best of our knowledge, there are only 17 of these giant heads known to exist! Some of the best we have seen are in the Museum in Jalapa. LaVenta itself is located on an island in the midst of a swamp near the Tonala River near the Eastern edge of the Olmec cultural area. the buildings in La Venta are aligned in a N-S axis. The many altars found in LaVenta are thought to actually be thrones. When visiting La Venta today it is difficult to notice that it once was on an island in the midst of a swamp. The rivers and lakes gave the Olmec in this area a good way to travel, so this was a very good trade center. Thus, the Spanish name La Venta, "The Sale." Be sure to have a good deet mosqueto repellant on when there. Oh! Mosquetos like red shirts! We forgot to pack out deet repellant and had to buy the brands sold in Mexico, which are next to useless. We hurt for several days after the visit. La Venta is located at the edge of the town of Huimanguillo (wee-mahn-GWEE-yo): GPS 17�50'N 93�23'W. Elev. 98 ft/30 m. Important oil production. Agr. center (bananas, tobacco, mangoes, rice, coffee, beans). At the bottom of this page are several photos of sculptures and monuments that were located between the Museum and Structure C 1, which is the cone shaped pyramid that is thought to represent a volcano. C 1 is the largest pyramid shaped monument at La Venta. The caretakers keep the grass and weeds nicely cut and trimmed or the place would soon be covered by the jungle. The museum and restrooms are very clean.
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A great place to stay when visiting the Villahermosa PARQUE LA VENTA in Villahermosa and LA VENTA ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE near Huimanguillo is the Crowne Plaza Hotel VILLAHERMOSA, TAB. PASEO USUMACINTA 1708 TABASCO; VILLAHERMOSA, 86035 MEXICO. The Crowne Plaza Villahermosa Hotel is ideal for business and pleasure. The Crowne Plaza Villahermosa Hotel is a modern style hotel offering full services in the city. It is about 2 miles from the La Venta Park. We have links on this page that will connect you with the Crowne Plaza Villahermosa Hotel. Another great place to stay when visiting the Villahermosa PARQUE LA VENTA in Villahermosa and LA VENTA ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE near Huimanguillo is the Holiday Inn Express VILLAHERMOSA TABASCO 2000 PERIFERICO CARLOS PELLICER C. #4000; VILLAHERMOSA, 86035 MEXICO. It also provides complete services at a great price. It is about 1.5 miles from the La Venta Park. We have links on this page that will connect you with the Holiday Inn Express Villahermosa Hotel. We suggest getting a hotel in Villahermosa and then letting them arrange either a car or a tour of Villahermosa and/or the PARQUE LA VENTA. You also could arrange for a tour of the LaVenta Archaeological Site near Huimanguillo. You will need a full day for that tour. If you call the hotels Concierge Services ahead of your arrival, all of this can be pre-arranged for you. We do this all the time, when traveling in Mexico. It is safe and it works!!! We have never experienced a problem doing it this way! Carlos Rovirosa P�rez International Airport or Villahermosa International Airport (IATA: VSA, ICAO: MMVA) is the international airport located at Villahermosa, Tabasco, Mexico. It handles national and international air traffic for the city of Villahermosa. Therefore, we have placed a link to Priceline.com on this page so you can arrange your flights into and out of Villahermosa; as well as your hotel, when visiting this area.
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| La Venta Archaeological Site Ruins Map |
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| "Audrey DeLange At LaVenta Ruins Entrance. | George DeLange At LaVenta Ruins Entrance. |
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| Back Area Of Museum Olmec Head C 1 Of Complex C In Background | Another Olmec Head Near Work Area. |
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| Pyramid C 1 As You Walk Onto Site From Visitor Center Looking WSW | Pyramid C 1 And Small Structures Looking To The West. |
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| Audrey DeLange At Pyramid C 1 Looking NNE. | George DeLange At Pyramid C 1 Looking NNE. |
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| Olmec Carvings. | Olmec Carvings. |
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| Olmec Carvings. | Olmec Carvings. |
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| Olmec Carvings. | Olmec Carvings. |
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| Olmec Carvings. | Olmec Carvings. |
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| Olmec Carvings. | Olmec Carvings. |
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| Leaf Cutter Ant Trail. | Trails Throughout Jungle. |
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| Leaf Cutter Ants. | Leaf Cutter Ants. |
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