IGUALTEPEQUE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE.

Cerro de las Figuras – Igualtepeque
Nestled within the tranquil waters of Lake Güija lies the most intriguing and culturally rich archaeological site in El Salvador: Cerro de las Figuras, Igualtepeque. What at first glance may appear to be a modest volcanic island is, in fact, a true jewel of Mesoamerican heritage — and home to a series of discoveries that challenge everything we thought we knew.

This sacred site holds the highest concentration of petroglyphs in Central America, surpassing even Tikal in Guatemala and Copán in Honduras. Dozens of engraved boulders and rock faces silently preserve the voices of past civilizations — spirals, human figures, animals, and symbols etched in stone, still waiting to be fully deciphered. The richness of this iconography reflects the profound ceremonial importance of the area, likely serving as a spiritual hub for lakeside communities for generations.

But beneath the still waters of the lake lies a revelation that truly sets Igualtepeque apart from any other site in the region: a sunken Maya pyramid, dating approximately from AD 600 to AD 900. Discovered by a pioneering research effort led by UTEC and supported by independent underwater investigator José Baires, the submerged structure was confirmed using advanced sonar technology — Compressed High-Intensity Radiated Pulse Imaging — through the Raymarine Dragonfly 4 Pro. The detection of precise coordinates, depth, and structure left no doubt: a pyramid rests at the bottom of Lake Güija.

This is not speculation — it is now one of only three recognized underwater pyramids on the planet, joining mysterious sites in Japan and the Azores. However, unlike those locations, this one is surrounded by ceremonial structures on dry land, further reinforcing its legitimacy as part of a lost sacred complex.

Adding even more wonder to this place is its natural transformation throughout the year. Igualtepeque shifts between being a peninsula and an island, depending on the lake’s water level — a phenomenon strikingly similar to the tides of Mont Saint-Michel in France. This unique characteristic only amplifies the mythical aura that surrounds the site, inviting imagination to meet science.

This is not just another archaeological site — it is a living legend, a testament to the hidden complexity of El Salvador’s pre-Hispanic past. Though still underappreciated locally, Cerro de las Figuras is poised to become one of the most significant archaeological landmarks in Mesoamerica.

If you're planning a visit, San Andrés is easily reachable by road. Just follow Google Maps directions.

IGUALTEPEQUE ARCHAEOLOGICAL SITE.