La Piedra Pintada
A boulder about 4 meters high covered in pre-Columbian carvings, near the start of the Sleeping Woman trail, with small waterfalls nearby.
La Piedra Pintada is a massive rock about 4 meters tall, its surface covered with carvings left by Indigenous peoples in the pre-Columbian era. Some believe they are maps or astronomical charts, and they have never been fully deciphered. The boulder sits in a stream valley northwest of town, not far from the Sleeping Woman trailhead, and several small waterfalls are nearby, including the “Lovers’ Falls.” Local children often offer to act as guides and ask for tips, and it is up to you whether to pay. The community charges a small entrance fee (about US$1–3), and visits are usually combined with a hike up Sleeping Woman Mountain.
Opening hours
Daytime
Nearby sights
- La India Dormida
- Chorro El Macho
- Pozos Termales (El Valle Hot Springs)
- El Valle Market
- El Níspero Zoo & El Valle Amphibian Conservation Center
- Chorro Las Mozas
- Cerro Cara Iguana
- Cerro Gaital Natural Monument