Monte Alto is an archaeological site on the Pacific Coast in what is now Guatemala.
Located 20 km southeast from Santa Lucía Cotzumalguapa in Escuintla, Monte Alto was occupied as early as 1800 BCE, but has a fairly light presence – less than either El Bálsamo or Los Cerritos Sur located about 10 km west and east of Monte Alto respectively.
During the Late Preclassic (400 BCE to CE 200), Monte Alto became a regional center.The site has 45 major structures, the tallest being a 20 m high pyramid.
The Monte Alto Culture is one of the oldest in Mesoamerica and perhaps predates the Olmec.
