Teotihuacan

Teotihuacán

The largest ancient city in the Americas between the 1st and 7th centuries AD, now a World Heritage Site. Its 65-meter Pyramid of the Sun, Pyramid of the Moon and 2-km Avenue of the Dead are even more breathtaking from a hot-air balloon.

Teotihuacán lies 50 km northeast of Mexico City. Between AD 100 and 650 it was the largest city in the Americas, peaking at more than 100,000 residents. Who built it remains a mystery. The Aztecs, who later found the ruins, called it 'the place where the gods were born.' It was inscribed as a World Heritage Site in 1987. The site unfolds along the Avenue of the Dead (Calzada de los Muertos), 2 km long and 40 m wide. At the south end is the Ciudadela (Citadel), which contains the Temple of the Feathered Serpent (Quetzalcoatl), its façade carved with feathered serpents and rain god heads. In the middle stands the Pyramid of the Sun, with a base of 225 m and a height of 65 m, the third-largest pyramid in the world. Climbing has been prohibited since 2021. At the north end is the Pyramid of the Moon, 43 m tall and facing Cerro Gordo. It's the best spot for photographing the full sweep of the Avenue of the Dead, and currently only the first platform may be climbed. On the west side of the Moon Plaza, the Palace of the Quetzal Butterfly (Palacio de Quetzalpapálotl) features fine column carvings and murals. The site museum displays excavated pottery and ritual remains. Admission is about 100 pesos, free for Mexican residents on Sundays. There are 5 entrances in total. Enter at Gate 1 (the Citadel) and exit at Gate 3 (the Pyramid of the Moon). The walk is about 3–4 km and takes 3–4 hours in total. The most popular new experience is a sunrise hot-air balloon flight. Balloons take off from a nearby field at 5 a.m. and spend 40–60 minutes above the pyramids at sunrise. The flight costs about 2,000–3,500 pesos, including breakfast and transfers. Book in advance, as rainy-season weather occasionally cancels flights. Getting there: take an Autobuses Teotihuacán bus from the Autobuses del Norte terminal (Metro Line 5) for about 1 hour (about 60 pesos, dropping off at Gate 1). An Uber costs about 500–700 pesos. You can also join a day tour that includes the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe and the Plaza of Three Cultures in Tlatelolco. Note: the site sits at 2,300 m altitude with almost no shade, so bring a hat, sunscreen and plenty of water. The stairs are steep, so face the stairs when going down. There are many vendors inside, and souvenir prices are negotiable. The nearby La Gruta cave restaurant is a popular lunch spot.

Teotihuacan

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