San Martín Huamelulpan is a town in the State of

Oaxaca Oaxaca, officially the Free and Sovereign State of Oaxaca, is one of the 32 states that compose the political divisions of Mexico, Federative Entities of the Mexico, United Mexican States. It is divided into municipalities of Oaxaca, 570 munici ...

Mexico Mexico, officially the United Mexican States, is a country in North America. It is the northernmost country in Latin America, and borders the United States to the north, and Guatemala and Belize to the southeast; while having maritime boundar ...

, but it is better known simply as Huamelulpan. It is located just off Federal Highway 190. It is a small community of only 250 people whose main occupation is subsistence farming and fruit orchards. It is 2,218 meters above sea level with a temperate to cold climate and surrounded by pine trees. The town promotes

ecotourism Ecotourism is a form of nature-oriented tourism intended to contribute to the Ecological conservation, conservation of the natural environment, generally defined as being minimally impactful, and including providing both contributions to conserv ...

, especially hiking and horseback riding. About a half a kilometer from the town is located a notable

archeological site An archaeological site is a place (or group of physical sites) in which evidence of past activity is preserved (either prehistoric or historic or contemporary), and which has been, or may be, investigated using the discipline of archaeology an ...

. This place used to be an important city during the Pre-classic and

Classic A classic is an outstanding example of a particular style; something of Masterpiece, lasting worth or with a timeless quality; of the first or Literary merit, highest quality, class, or rank – something that Exemplification, exemplifies its ...

periods of

Mesoamerica Mesoamerica is a historical region and cultural area that begins in the southern part of North America and extends to the Pacific coast of Central America, thus comprising the lands of central and southern Mexico, all of Belize, Guatemala, El S ...

. Still visible are terraced fields, plazas, ball fields, tombs and residential areas.

References

Populated places in Oaxaca {{Oaxaca-geo-stub