Santa María Zacatepec

photo by Sheila Clarke

Santa María Zacatepec is a community of 13,734 (2005) located in the Sierra Madre del Sur 47 miles (75 km) north of Pinotepa Nacional on highway 125. The word zacatepec means hill of hay in the tacuate tatacoatl dialect and was said to be inhabited by snakes. The city was under Mixtex rule for more than a century until it was overtaken by the Aztec in 1463.

Local farms produce corn, beans, chiles, watermelon, peanuts, tomatoes, squash, mangos, maney, avocado, guayabas, and limes.

One December 8, a fiesta celebrates the immaculate conception of Mary. Carnival takes place in March.

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