Las Piedras Labradas has long been an ideal stop during the long drive from Guadalajara to Barra de Navidad.
After hours of winding roads through the hills south of Autlán, you finally reach the small town of La Conchita (about nine kilometers before La Huerta).
It’s at this point that a long, straight stretch of highway opens up before you—an ideal moment to veer off the road, navigate your way through peaceful mango orchards, and arrive at the base of a sheer marble wall covered in dozens of strange petroglyphs. These carvings depict everything from dogs and frogs to a large figure that resembles a bizarre mix of the old comic-strip character Nancy and an astronaut with a Mafalda hairdo.
This fascinating site is considered an ancient “bulletin board” dating back to the ninth and tenth centuries, as described years ago by Guadalajara archeologist Otto Schondube. After soaking in this historical marvel, weary travelers could continue another 2.5 kilometers to the edge of the small, pristine Lake Altilte, fed by a clean, tepid spring—perfect for a quick dip before continuing the journey to the coast.
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