King’s archaeological route: Altavista petroglyphs

The King’s archaeological route is a one-day trip through pre-Hispanic Nayarit. It starts at the Museo Regional de Nayarit in Tepic, crosses Compostela and drops to the coast to reach the Altavista petroglyphs, a site also known as La Pila del Rey (“the King’s Pool”) for the spring-fed pool next to the carvings. It ends with lunch and a swim in Chacala. The loop is about 190 km (118 miles), paved all the way except the last stretch to the site.

The name has a concrete origin: “La Pila del Rey” is what locals call the Altavista complex, and its cold pool is the reward at the end of the walk among the carved rocks. It has nothing to do with the King Nayar, the Cora ruler of the sierra whose story we tell separately; the archaeologist who studied the site, Joseph Mountjoy, has even suggested that the pool’s name was chosen for tourist appeal rather than history. What is genuinely old is the rock art: dozens of boulders carved by the ancient inhabitants of Nayarit’s southern coast.

This guide corrects an earlier version that put the whole route at Los Toriles with wrong facts: Tepic to Ixtlán del Río is not 40 km but about 85 km, Los Toriles sits in the Ixtlán valley rather than in a jungle, and it was not the “capital” of any kingdom. If you want to add it, we explain at the end how to make it a second day.

Getting there: King’s archaeological route distances

The route works the same from Tepic or from the Riviera Nayarit. Altavista is on federal highway 200, between Las Varas and Rincón de Guayabitos, in the municipality of Compostela. For flights and buses, see how to get to Nayarit.

From	Distance to Altavista	Approx. time	Road
Tepic	86 km	1 h 20 min–1 h 30 min	Highway 200 via Compostela and Las Varas
Rincón de Guayabitos	18 km	20–25 min	Highway 200 north
Sayulita	48 km	45–55 min	Highway 200 north
Puerto Vallarta	91 km	1 h 20 min–1 h 40 min	Highway 200 north

One-day King’s archaeological route itinerary

Do the Altavista walk in the morning, before the heat, and leave the museum for the drive back. The Museo Regional is open Tuesday to Friday 10:00–19:00 and Saturday and Sunday 10:00–15:00 (INAH schedule; confirm before you go). On weekends, flip the order: museum first, coast afterwards.

Approx. time	Leg / stop	Leg km	Approx. drive	What to do
7:30	Tepic → Compostela	39 km	40 min	Breakfast in the Pueblo Mágico center
8:45	Compostela → Las Varas	37 km	35–40 min	Fuel, water and cash
9:30	Las Varas → Altavista petroglyphs	12 km	15 min	1.7 km creek-side walk, carvings and La Pila del Rey (2–3 h)
13:00	Altavista → Chacala	19 km	25 min	Seafood lunch and the beach
16:30	Chacala → Tepic	85 km	1 h 20 min–1 h 30 min	Back via Las Varas and Compostela
18:00	Museo Regional de Nayarit (Tepic)	—	—	Shaft-tomb and Aztatlán galleries (closes 19:00 on weekdays)

The total is about 190 km and roughly 3 h 30 min of driving. If you sleep on the coast, stay in Chacala or Guayabitos and see the museum another day.

The stops along the route

Museo Regional de Nayarit (Tepic)

This is the best place to understand what you are about to see. It occupies an 18th-century mansion on Avenida México in downtown Tepic, and its West Mexican archaeology collection includes shaft-tomb pieces (the clay figures that accompanied the dead in underground chambers), finds from the coastal shell middens and objects of the Aztatlán tradition, the Postclassic culture that dominated the coastal plain. In 2026 general admission is $85 MXN (about 5 USD); Sundays are free for Mexican nationals and residents. Pair it with the rest of downtown using our Tepic guide.

Compostela

Compostela was the first capital of Nueva Galicia and has stood on its current site since 1540. It is a Pueblo Mágico (Magical Town, a federal tourism designation) and a good breakfast stop on the plaza, facing the parish of Santiago Apóstol, also called the church of the Señor de la Misericordia, the town’s patron (his festivities run from November 22 to the first Friday of December). Before the conquest, the Compostela area was home to peoples who paid tribute to the lordships around Xalisco.

Altavista petroglyphs, or La Pila del Rey

The site is about 12 km south of Las Varas. On highway 200, before the village of Altavista, a dirt road turns off to the left (signage is poor, so use the map below). The dirt track is fine at first, then gets deeply rutted; most people park and walk. From the entrance it is about 1.7 km (roughly 45 minutes) on a flat, shaded trail along the Las Piletas creek, with some scrambling over large boulders.

Hundreds of carvings have been recorded along the creek; in the area open to visitors you can see 56 boulders with spirals, human figures, crosses and geometric shapes. They are attributed to the ancient people of this coast, often called the Tecoxquin, and their exact age has not been established; the most accepted reading is that they were prayers for rain and good harvests. At the end of the trail is La Pila del Rey, a pool of very cold water fed by a spring that flows even in the dry season, framed by large basalt blocks.

The site is still a ceremonial place for the Wixárika (Huichol) people, who leave offerings among the rocks. Signs along the trail are in Spanish and English, and the INAH ones spell out the rules: do not mark the carvings (no chalk to make them stand out). Out of respect, also leave offerings untouched, and if you swim in the pool, skip the sunscreen. A small access fee is charged at the gate; bring cash. If you would rather not hunt for the turnoff, several operators in Guayabitos, Chacala and Sayulita offer guided visits. The site also appears in our list of hidden places in Nayarit.

Chacala

A fishing village on a small, calm bay, 11 km from Las Varas. It is the stop for fish and seafood by the water and a swim after the walk. For more services, Rincón de Guayabitos is 20 minutes south of the site.

Optional second day: Los Toriles in Ixtlán del Río

To round out the state’s archaeology, the Los Toriles archaeological zone is about 85 km from Tepic (roughly 1 h 10 min on toll highway 15D), on the edge of Ixtlán del Río. Its main building is a circular temple about 25 m across dedicated to Ehécatl, the wind god. According to INAH it opens Tuesday to Sunday 9:00–17:00, with admission of about $80 MXN for nationals. We cover it in detail, together with the Ceboruco volcano, in the Eco-Archaeological Route.

Season and what to bring

The best time for Altavista is November to June: the creek runs low, the trail is dry and there are fewer biting gnats. From July to October it rains most afternoons, the creek rises, rocks get slippery and the dirt road turns to mud; in those months go only with a guide and in the morning. April and May are hot on the coast, so start early. More in the best time to visit Nayarit.

• Closed shoes with good grip; the trail is not suitable for strollers or anyone with a leg injury.
• Water (1.5 liters per person), a hat and insect repellent.
• Cash for the entrance and lunch in Chacala.
• Swimsuit if you want a dip in the pool; no sunscreen in the water.
• Respect: do not climb on carved boulders or touch offerings.

To stay nearby, look for options in Chacala, Las Varas or Guayabitos in our directory.

Frequently asked questions

Area map

1. 1
   Museo Regional de Nayarit INAH museum, downtown Tepic: shaft tombs and Aztatlán tradition.21.51, -104.8926 · Open in Google Maps
2. 2
   Compostela Pueblo Mágico; breakfast facing the parish of Santiago Apóstol.21.2375, -104.8994 · Open in Google Maps
3. 3
   Las Varas Fuel and cash; 12 km north of Altavista.21.1806, -105.1365 · Open in Google Maps
4. 4
   Altavista petroglyphs (La Pila del Rey) Compostela. 56 carved boulders along the Las Piletas creek.21.0893, -105.1686 · Open in Google Maps
5. 5
   Chacala Fishing bay; seafood lunch after the walk.21.1667, -105.2255 · Open in Google Maps
6. 6
   Los Toriles (Ixtlán del Río) Optional day 2: circular temple of Ehécatl; 85 km from Tepic.21.0385, -104.3448 · Open in Google Maps