You're driving through the lush, humid Sierra Nueva or the muddy banks of the Cordillera, and suddenly, you see it. Or maybe you don't. That’s the thing about the Temple of Quechula FH5—it’s a ghost.
Actually, it's a real place. The Temple of Santiago (its actual name) is a 16th-century colonial church in Chiapas, Mexico, that was submerged after a dam was built in the 1960s. In Forza Horizon 5, Playground Games did something pretty cool. They tied the temple’s visibility to the game’s seasonal cycle. If you’ve been tearing up the map looking for those Accolades or just a killer Photo Mode spot, you might have realized the water level isn't always the same.
It’s frustrating. You drive to the map marker, and all you see is a lake. You check Reddit. You check YouTube. Everyone says it’s "right there," but for you, it’s underwater.
Where Exactly is the Temple of Quechula in Forza Horizon 5?
Locating the temple isn't hard once you know the landmark. It sits in the south-central part of the map, specifically within the Sierra Verde Dam region. If you look at your world map, find the large body of water fed by the rivers coming down from the volcano. The temple is situated right in the middle of that basin.
Usually, you'll find it by following the river south from Cordillera.
But here’s the kicker: the Temple of Quechula FH5 only fully reveals itself during the Dry Season (Winter). Forza Horizon 5 operates on a weekly seasonal rotation. In the Spring (Hot Season), Summer (Wet Season), and Autumn (Storm Season), the water levels are typically high. The church is either partially submerged or completely hidden beneath the waves.
When Winter hits Mexico in-game, the water recedes. This is the only time you can drive your car—whether it's a Hoonigan or a stock Ford Bronco—right up into the nave of the church.
Why the Season Matters More Than Your GPS
I’ve seen players spend hours circling the lake in the Summer season, thinking their game is glitched. It's not. The developers at Playground Games wanted to capture the real-life phenomenon of the Nezahualcóyotl Reservoir. In the real world, the water levels drop during droughts, allowing tourists to walk through the ruins.
If it’s currently the Wet Season in your game, you can’t force the temple to appear in the open world. You’re stuck waiting for the weekly reset.
However, there is a "cheat" way to see it.
You can use the EventLab. Search for "Quechula" in the EventLab blueprints created by the community. Many creators have built races specifically set in the Dry Season so people can grab their "Ghost of the Sierra Verde" Accolade without waiting three weeks for the real-time calendar to flip.
The History Behind the Ruin
Most people just want the XP board. I get it. But the Temple of Quechula FH5 represents a massive piece of Mexican history.
Built around 1564 by a group of monks led by Friar Bartolomé de la Casas, the church was intended to serve a growing population. It’s massive. We’re talking nearly 200 feet long. It was eventually abandoned in the 1770s because of plagues that wiped out the local community.
When the Malpaso Dam was completed in 1966, the valley flooded. The church was lost.
In Forza, the scale is impressively accurate. When you drive inside, notice the height of the arches. It's a haunting experience, especially if you visit during a night cycle with the fog rolling off the water. It’s easily one of the most atmospheric spots in the game, rivaling the Tulum ruins or the Ek' Balam site.
Finding the XP Boards and Accolades
If you’re a completionist, the Temple of Quechula is a mandatory stop.
- The XP Board: There is typically a bonus board located right near the ruins. If the water is high, you can try to "skim" your car across the surface at high speed or use a large off-road vehicle to reach the shallowest parts, but honestly? Just wait for the Dry Season. It makes life easier.
- The Photography Accolade: You’ll often find Daily or Weekly Challenges in the Festival Playlist requiring you to take a photo of a specific car at the temple.
- The Discovery: Simply driving near it counts toward your "Landmarks Discovered" stat.
How to Get There Without Breaking Your Suspension
Getting to the Temple of Quechula FH5 isn't as simple as following the highway. You’re going off-road.
If you’re coming from the north, you’ll be descending from the high-altitude forests. The terrain is rocky and full of trees that don't break when you hit them. Don't take a Ferrari. Take something with travel. A trophy truck or a modified rally car is your best bet.
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Follow the riverbed. During the Dry Season, the riverbed acts like a natural highway leading you straight to the church. If you’re coming from the south, you’ll have to navigate the dam itself. There are some great jumps near the Sierra Verde Dam, but if your goal is the temple, stay low.
Common Misconceptions About the Temple
I’ve heard players say the temple only appears at night. That’s a myth. Time of day has zero impact on the physical structure; it’s strictly the water volume dictated by the season.
Another common mistake? Looking for it near the ocean. Because it’s a "sunken" structure, people assume it’s on the coast near the Riviera or the Tulum side of the map. It's firmly inland. It's fresh water, not salt water.
Specific Tips for the "Ghost" Accolade
To trigger certain rewards, you need to be very close to the center of the structure.
- Wait for the Winter (Dry) Season.
- Set your map filter to only show "Landmarks."
- Drive into the center of the church ruins.
- Open Photo Mode (D-Pad up on controller).
- Make sure the temple is in the background and your car is in the foreground.
If the Accolade doesn't pop, try moving further into the "altar" area of the ruins. The hitboxes for these landmarks can be a bit finicky if you're just hovering on the outskirts.
Actionable Next Steps for Forza Players
If you want to see the temple right now, don't wait for the seasons to change naturally.
Go to the Creative Hub in the pause menu. Select EventLab and then Event Blueprints. Use the search function and type "Quechula" into the title search. Choose a "Free Play" or "Photography" blueprint. These are almost always set to the Dry Season specifically so you can interact with the temple regardless of what the main map is doing.
Once you’re there, use the opportunity to smash any nearby XP boards and grab your screenshots. This saves you from having to remember to come back in two weeks when the season finally shifts.
If you prefer the "authentic" experience, check the current season in the Festival Playlist. If it says "Winter," drop everything and head to the Sierra Verde Dam immediately. The water won't stay down forever, and once the "Spring" rains start, the Temple of Quechula FH5 will return to the depths, leaving only the very top of the stonework visible for the next twenty-one days.
Forza is a game about speed, but this one location requires a bit of patience. Or a clever use of the EventLab. Either way, it’s a piece of history worth the trek.