Teotihuacán was one of the first places I visited when I arrived in Mexico City and it was at the top of my list of places to show my friends on their recent visit to the capital.
Teotihuacán was the largest ancient Aztec city in all of Mexico and the capital of Mexico’s pre-hispanic empire. The Piramide del Sol, or Pyramid of the Sun, is the third largest pyramid in the world and was built without the use of metal tools, pack animals or the wheel. It’s a challenging 200 step climb to the top but the views are worth it. The slightly smaller Piramide de la Luna, or Pyramid of the Moon, located at the northern end of the 2km Calzada de los Muertos, or Avenue of the Dead, and the 12 temple platforms surrounding it are believed to represent the ancient Aztec calendar.
Construction of the Piramide de Sol was completed by A.D. 150 and the rest of the ancient city, which covered more than 20 sq. km, was developed between A.D. 250 and 600. Much of the history of Teotihuacán remains a mystery, but it is believed that the city exerted great influence as far south as present day Guatemala. Teotihuacán is believed to have been abandoned around A.D. 700. The Teotihuacán archaeological site was designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.
From the World Heritage inscription:
The holy city of Teotihuacan (‘the place where the gods were created’) is situated some 50 km north-east of Mexico City. Built between the 1st and 7th centuries A.D., it is characterized by the vast size of its monuments – in particular, the Temple of Quetzalcoatl and the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon, laid out on geometric and symbolic principles. As one of the most powerful cultural centres in Mesoamerica, Teotihuacan extended its cultural and artistic influence throughout the region, and even beyond.
Teotihuacán remains an important pilgrimage site even today. Each year thousands of people visit the site to celebrate the vernal equinox. Photos of the site during the pilgrimage show the Pyramid of the Sun almost completely covered with people dressed in white, many avoiding the crowded stairs and instead scaling the walls to get to the top. Of course it wasn’t nearly as busy when we visited, although there were still a good number of tourists and vendors lining the ancient avenues.
If you’ve booked airline tickets to Mexico City and plan to go on day trips, you’ll have the opportunity to visit Teotihuacán. International flights arrive at Mexico City’s Benito Juárez International Airport; from there it’s just a quick taxi or metro ride downtown. Buses to the Teotihuacán archaeological site depart Mexico City’s Terminal Norte approximately every half hour and the ride takes just under an hour. Mexico City’s Turibus also offers transportation and guided tours to the Teotihuacán archaeological site.
Photo credit: Suzanne Delaney
{ 5 comments… read them below or add one }
this is beautiful. I wish i would have been able to visit the ruins when i was in mexico.
another reason for another trip!
I am catching up… way late from #Commenthour 8/10
Definitely! Anytime’s a great time to visit, and Teotihuacán is such an easy side trip from Mexico City — you can do it in half a day.
Nice to know that Teotihuacan, which is such a beautiful and historically important place, is so close to Mexico City that one can make it there in a day.
It’s definitely an easy side trip, and if you start early enough you can do the trip in half a day and still have some time left over for sightseeing in the city.
We went six years ago and it was amazing. I recommend it to every visitor to Mexico City. Do come prepared to walk, with comfortable shoes, and water.