Teotihuacan: Legends of the Hidden Temple
Ancient Pyramids, Hidden Temples, the Avenue of the Dead, and a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Teotihuacan is an awesome day trip about 30 miles outside Mexico City!
Mysterious History
No one knows who originally built Teotihuacan, but scientists estimate it was constructed between the 1st and 7th Centuries AD. It has been inhabited and abandoned by several civilizations such as the Aztecs, the Toltecs, and many others.
The city was named Teotihuacan by the Aztecs, which means ‘City of the Gods’. The Aztecs believed that the Gods created man in this very place. At it’s height, Teotihuacan was home to 150,000 people and was the first true city in Mesoamerica.
What to See
Teotihuacan is a very popular destination for tourists and Mexican citizens alike so it gets extremely crowded. Here are a couple Drinking Tourist Tips for visiting:
1. The park opens at 9am and you should plan to arrive a little before then to miss the long lines.
2. Avoid visiting on Sundays if possible as Mexican citizens get in free that day so it is overly packed.
3. English speaking personal tour guides are available for a negotiable 750 pesos ($40) and are well worth it! You will learn so much more about Teotihuacan’s history and you can appreciate it in the moment.
Pyramid on the Sun
This should be your first stop! It is the 3rd largest pyramid in the World standing 216 feet tall. The outside of the pyramid used to be covered in plaster and decorated in brightly-colored murals depicting animals, people and gods. However, the colored plaster has been worn away over the years and only the limestone rock is left.
Unlike most pyramids in the world, you can actually climb the Pyramid of the Sun and the panorama views at the apex are incredible! There are 248 steps to the top and it is not a relaxing climb. The steps are uneven and sometimes really far apart so take your time. Also, Teotihuacan is about 7,000 feet above sea level so even those in the best shape might find themselves breathing a little heavy. But as I mentioned, the view is absolutely worth the climb!
Pyramid of the Moon
This pyramid is smaller than its counterpart standing at 141 feet tall but I think it provides the best comprehensive view of the site, including the Avenue of the Dead and Pyramid of the Sun.The Pyramid of the Moon is still being excavated and a new discovery was found in 2017! Thirty-three feet below the ground is a secret tunnel that leads under the pyramid. No one has been allowed in the tunnel yet, but it is expected to lead to additional temple rooms.
Scientists have already found the remains of humans, wolves, jaguars, and other animals in the pyramid that were sacrificed to the Gods as well as obsidian blades, jewelry and other sacrificial items. Who knows what else they may find?
The Avenue of the Dead
This main thoroughfare starts at the bottom of the Pyramid of the Moon and stretches across the whole site. A number of smaller temples line both sides of the avenue so the Aztecs named it ‘the Avenue of the Dead’ because they thought people were buried in these temples. They were wrong, but the name stuck!
There are two highlights you need to see on this quick walk between pyramids. The first is when you’re headed toward the Pyramid of the Moon, on your right hand side under a wooden overhang is a preserved original mural of a jaguar, which gives you an example of what the whole avenue used to look like. Pretty amazing.
The second highlight is that if you stand directly in front of any of the temples and clap your hands, the reverberation makes this crazy, high-pitched bird sound. It is a bit hard to hear in this video but you’ll have to take my word for it.
So, those are the big three ‘must sees’. It is also worth checking out the Palace of the Jaguars (a smaller yet intricate temple) as well as La Gruta which is a restaurant in an underground cave located close to the site. A word to the wise: go see La Gruta but skip eating there as the food and service are sub-standard. More on where to eat below.
Other Helpful Tips
Where to Eat
Right outside Gate 3 (P3) are a number of street vendors and that is where I had one of the best tacos I’ve ever tasted. They cost 20 pesos ($1) and we watched them being handmade from scratch. Per Mexican tradition, we washed the tacos down with some Micheladas(30 pesos) – a Mexican drink made with beer, lime juice, and assorted spices.
There are a number of other restaurants close to this site. If you try one of these, make sure they have a ‘M Certification’ displayed, which means they have cleared a food health inspection and that they cook their food fresh daily (not just reheat it).
What to Buy
There are number of vendors selling trinkets and other touristy knick-knacks you can buy. My favorite was the jaguar head that when you blew into it made an awesomely loud roar! I purchased it for 20 pesos. Every vendor is seemingly selling the same things so you should definitely haggle.
How to Get There
The best and fastest way to get there from Mexico City is by car. If you don’t want to pay for a rental car, Uber is extremely affordable and safe way to get around.
We actually took the bus from the North Bus station (Autobuses del Norte Station) which costs 2.50 pesos and it was pretty easy. It leaves out of Gate 8 every half an hour and drops you off directly at Teotihuacan’s site. This would be the best route for price-conscious visitors.
Lastly, remember to bring bottled water and sunscreen. There is virtually no shade and bottled water is a little harder to find. Be sure to come prepared and enjoy this incredible historic site!
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