Historic Site · Chalchuapa, El Salvador
Tazumal
Tazumal is a pre-Columbian archeological site and architectural complex located within the archeological zone of Chalchuapa, in western El Salvador. Built c. AD 250–900.
Photo: Jose Huwaidi via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0. Cropped and resized for display.
Landmark facts
| Location | Chalchuapa, El Salvador |
|---|---|
| Type | Historic Site |
| Built | c. AD 250–900 |
| Elevation | Elevation: 720 m |
| Coordinates | 13.9796° N, 89.6744° W |
Every fact above is taken from the sources listed below; anything no source states is left blank rather than guessed.
What Tazumal is known for
Tazumal is a pre-Columbian archeological site and architectural complex located within the archeological zone of Chalchuapa, in western El Salvador.
About Tazumal
Tazumal is a pre-Columbian archeological site and architectural complex located within the archeological zone of Chalchuapa, in western El Salvador. The complex forms part of the remains of the ancient Mesoamerican city of Chalchuapa and occupies the southern portion of the zone. Archaeologist Stanley Boggs excavated and restored the site during the 1940s and 1950s.
History
Chalchuapa was inhabited since the Preclassic period, when massive construction activity took place. Around the boundary between the end of the Late Preclassic and the start of the Early Classic, construction at Tazumal was interrupted by the eruption of the Ilopango volcano, some 75 kilometres (47 mi) to the east of the city. Activity resumed during the Early to Middle Classic (AD 250–650), although the city never fully recovered to its Preclassic levels of activity. The principal structures of the Tazumal group date to the Classic period (AD 250–900), and by the Late Classic (AD 600–900) Tazumal was an important ceremonial complex.
How to get there
| Nearest town | Chalchuapa |
|---|---|
| Nearest airport | El Salvador International Airport (SAL) |
| Distance from the airport | 55.5 miles (straight line) |
Nearest major airport by straight-line distance from the landmark’s coordinates; road distance will be longer.
Airports near this landmark
The airports a visitor would actually fly into, nearest first — each link opens its profile on our sister site AirportProfiles.
- El Salvador International Airport Saint Óscar Arnulfo Romero y Galdámez (SAL) · San Salvador (San Luis Talpa), El Salvador · 55.6 miles away
- La Aurora International Airport (GUA) · Guatemala City, Guatemala · 70.7 miles away
- Palmerola International Airport (XPL) · Palmerola, Honduras · 140.3 miles away
Landmarks nearby
The closest landmarks in this library, by straight-line distance.
More landmarks in El Salvador
More historic sites
Frequently asked questions
What is Tazumal?
Tazumal is a pre-Columbian archeological site and architectural complex located within the archeological zone of Chalchuapa, in western El Salvador.
Where is Tazumal located?
Tazumal is in Chalchuapa, El Salvador. Its coordinates are 13.9796° N, 89.6744° W.
How do I get to Tazumal?
The nearest town is Chalchuapa, and the nearest airport is El Salvador International Airport (SAL), about 55.5 miles away (straight line).
When was Tazumal built?
Tazumal was built c. AD 250–900.
Sources
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tazumal — Wikipedia article — overview, history and core facts (CC BY-SA).
- https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q690372 — Wikidata — built year, architect, height/size, visitors, official website (CC0).
- https://github.com/jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports — Nearest major airport computed from landmark and airport coordinates (haversine); airport list: jbrooksuk/JSON-Airports.
Page last updated 13 November 2026.