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Cañada de la Virgen Archaeological Site
Visit the Cañada de la Virgen Archaeological Site with guidance by our bilingual & extremely qualified guides.
The archaeological site is located just 25 kilometers West of San Miguel de Allende. Occupied between 540 and 1050 a.d., it is perched upon a small mesa surrounded by canyons and is made up of four patio/pyramid complexes, an ancient artificial pond and a ceremonial causeway covering the 16 hectares that is now government property.
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 | | Complex A, termed ‘The House of the Thirteen Heavens’, served as a horizon clock, an observatory and a burial ground for the elite. It is aligned to the rising and setting sun and the movements of Jupiter and Venus at auspicious moments related to the Otomi calendar, the people the researchers believe built the place. Also discover Complex B, ‘The House of the Longest Night’, and Complex D, ‘The House of the Wind’, and the many mysteries related to these structures.
Though there are guides on site at the pyramid, they are counsolers, locals trained by INAH that only speak Spanish and have only a basic knowledge of the pyramid complex.
(Picture to the left by Steven Miller) |
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The picture to the right shows an amazing discovery made by the director of Coyote Canyon Adventures, Rodrigo Landeros, with the aid of an app in his smartphone. It shows the perfect alignment of the Sun, the Moon and all but one planets in our Solar System at sunset during the Otomi New Year's Eve, March 4 2011. The missing planet, Saturn, was located exactly 180º from the setting sun, just at the visual beginning of the ritual causeway to the site.
Our guides can tell you more about it and about the uniqueness of the ancient human remains discovered at the site. | |  |
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**IF YOU REQUIRE TO MAKE A RESERVATION WITH LESS THAN 24HRS NOTICE PLEASE CONTACT US ON: coyotecanyonadventures@gmail.com**
They will also share their knowledge of the Otomi people and of other cultures of the Bajio region, as well as the Mesoamerican cultures in general. After visiting the Cañada de la Virgen Archaeological Site, we strongly recommend 1 or 2 day trips to Peralta and Plazuelas archaeological sites, both in the state of Guanajuato.
***PYRAMID CLOSED ON MONDAYS***
Items to bring: hat; sunblock; bottled water; comfortable, well padded walking shoes or sneakers.
*IMPORTANT NOTE: Pyramid Tours require participants to leisurely walk a total of approximately 3 kilometers (1.5 miles) within approximately 2 hours in order for your tour to encompass all of the archaelogical site.
Below we have several options available for you to choose from in regards to Cañada de la Virgen Pyramid:
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Option 1: Pyramid Tour + Ranch Style Meal
Includes: transportation from San Miguel & back; entry fee to the Cañada de la Virgen Archaeological Site; guided tour of the pyramid complex ; travel insurance + transportation from pyramid to neighboring ranch for a delicious ranch style meal. Meal consists of fresh ranch style cheese prepared on site daily, fresh tortillas al comal, rice, beans, fresh salsas and guacamole. Also on the menu are quesadillas, nopales (cactus), salad, potato patties and fresh fruit. Guaranteed to be one of the best meals you can possibly find in San Miguel de Allende!
**If you require to make a reservation with less than 24hrs notice, please contact us on coyotecanyonadventures@gmail.com**
Cost : $75 USD / $1250 MXN perpax. Approximate time: 6 hours. Minimum 3 people or contact us for more options.
Option 2: Basic Pyramid Tour
Includes: transportation from San Miguel & back; entry fee to the Cañada de la Virgen Archaeological Site; guided tour of the pyramid ; travel insurance.
Cost: $60 USD / $1050 MXN pax. Approximate time: 5 hours. Minimum 3 people or contact us for more options.
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 | | Option 3: Pyramid Tour + Hiking in Coyote Canyon
Includes: transportation from San Miguel & back; entry fee to the pyramid; guided tour of the pyramid complex; travel insurance + transportation to Coyote Canyon for the Ranch Style Meal previously mentioned + leisurely guided hike to the canyon's upper rim and cliffs. Cost: $110 USD / $1850 per pax. Approximate time: 7 hours. Minimum 2 people or contact us for more options. Please note that this hike is shorter than the regular hiking excursions we offer in the canyon.
Includes: transportation from San Miguel & back; entry fee to the pyramid; guided tour of the pyramid complex; travel insurance + transportation to Coyote Canyon for the Ranch Style Meal previously mentioned + a two and a half hour guided horseback tour down into Coyote Canyon, Cost $165 USD / $2800 per pax. Approximate time: 8-9 hours. Minimum 2 people or contact us for more options.
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Check out and download our price list for updated fares and conditions.
Contact us for more details or call 415 154 4193 from 9am to 8pm for more info & reservations. | |  |
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NEW! > Astro-archaeology session of the site with archaeologist Rossana Quiroz, add $250 pesos / person. Upon availability. Contact us for more information!
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Dra. Rossana Quiroz Ennis
Archaeologist by the National School of Anthropology and History.
Master and PhD in Anthropology from the Autonomous National University of Mexico (UNAM).
Her degree proposals have earned, in all cases, Honorable Mention and publishing recommendation.
Author of the book "El cerro y el cielo" (The hill and sky)
Specialist in cultural astronomy and founder of the Museum of Prehispanic Astronomy. She participated in various aspects of the exploration of the archaeological area Cañada de la Virgen, among them: surface travel, topographic survey and cartographic analysis and the excavation of the east platform of the B Complex.
Member of the Permanent Seminar of Archeoastronomy and Cultural Astronomy from the ENAH / UNAM. Member of the American Cultural Astronomical Society.
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