Teotihuacan – The archaeological site, listed as a UNESCO World Cultural and Natural Heritage Site, is one of the most mysterious places in Mexico. Monumental ruins left behind more questions than answers. It is not clear who built it and when and why they abandoned the place. Several theories are saying that the method of construction and the building materials used were so far beyond the skills of contemporary civilization that they suggest the presence of visitors from another planet. In other words, Teotihuacan is fascinating and definitely worth a visit, especially if you are planning to visit located nearby Mexico City.
History of Teotihuacan
The ruins of a pre-Columbian city are located in the northeastern part of the Valley of Mexico in what is now Mexico state. It was established in 100 BC. In its heyday, around the year 500, it had an area of 22 square kilometers and had over 100,000 inhabitants, including many talented craftsmen famous for making utensils decorated with various techniques, censers, masks, ornaments, and objects made of obsidian. The obsidian deposits in Otumba and on the Navajas hill (now Hidalgo state) were controlled by the city. This semi-precious black stone with a beautiful gloss was one of the main trade products with other Mesoamerica centers.
Teotihuacan was also a city of artists, as evidenced by the andesite and basalt sculptures and beautiful paintings decorating the walls of the buildings around the city.
Unfortunately, there is not much information on who ruled the Teotihuacan, as there are no stone monuments or paintings depicting the rulers. So far, no royal tomb has been found. Therefore, it is difficult to determine whether the power rested in the hands of one or several people and whether there were priests or soldiers in the Teotihuacan society. Mexican researchers believe that there were four co-rulers, and each district had representatives responsible for the administration and organization of religious ceremonies.
The original name of the city in its heyday also remains unknown. It turns out that the term “Teotihuacan” – translated as “a place where people turn into gods” was given much later by the Aztecs. Based on the recent research on ancient manuscripts, scientists believe that the correct translation of the name is “City of the Sun.”
Architecture of the city
Teotihuacan is characterized by symmetry and harmony. The city was divided into four large sectors: Northeast, Northwest, Southeast, and Southwest. There were districts in every sector. In the years 200–500, more than 20 districts were established. They housed about 2,000 complexes, including residential buildings built around courtyards, rooms for kitchens and warehouses, and small temples or altars serving as places of worship.
Inhabitants of particular districts worked in the same profession or were connected by family bonds. Teotihuacan was a truly cosmopolitan metropolis and the most populous city in Mesoamerica. Hundreds of immigrants who retained their ethnic identity, customs, and cultural traditions and representatives of the Mayan elite resided in the city of Teotihuacan.
What led to the fall of Teotihuacan
Teotihuacan made a massive impact on other Mesoamerican cultures. This can be seen in architecture, art, iconography, and ceramics not only in centers in pre-Columbian Mexico but also among Maya peoples in Guatemala and Honduras.
Despite its significance and importance in the lands of Mesoamerica, the city only survived for a few hundred years. The reasons for the fall of Teotihuacan are unknown, but there are many hypotheses, including plundering and setting the city on fire by northern peoples; the great drought leading to the destruction of the natural environment, and, according to the latest hypotheses – internal unrest and conflicts that caused the fall of the governance system. The increasing economic rivalry has caused tensions between the rulers and representatives of individual districts inhabited by people of different ethnicity, gaining more prestige and accumulating more goods. Everything indicates that the fall of Teotihuacan did not take place around 650, as previously thought, but already in the second half of the 6th century when the buildings along the Avenue of the Dead were set on fire, and the sculptures from the palaces were destroyed and scattered.
Despite the fall of the city, it was still considered a holy place, and it was a destination for pilgrims until the Spanish conquest at the end of the 15th century.
What exactly to see in Teotihuacan?
Pyramid of the Moon
The oldest structure was probably the Pyramid of the Moon. From 100 to 450 BC, it was expanded seven times. Each subsequent stage of expansion was accompanied by the sacrifice of people and animals, valuable items made of jade and obsidian, and ceramic vessels. There is a natural cave underneath the pyramid, accessed by an artificially dug tunnel running from the center of Moon Square in front of the pyramid. The tunnel could symbolize the underworld and played a significant role in various ceremonies, for example, related to the agricultural cycles.
Avenue of the Dead
The Avenue of the Dead begins on the Moon Square. It is over four kilometers long and is the city’s main axis. There are numerous palaces and temples on both sides of the Avenue of the Dead. It was the perfect place for a processions with even tens of thousands of participants. The avenue ends in front of the so-called Citadel.
Citadel complex
The Citadel complex is a large square about 400 meters long with small structures around it. In its center was the Temple of Quetzalcoatl. It played a double role – it was a sacred place that served to recreate the myths related to the world’s creation and was also used for political purposes to demonstrate the legitimacy of power.
Temple of Quetzalcoatl (Feathered Serpent) and human sacrifice
On the temple was an image of the Feathered Serpent and the headwear of the so-called War Serpent, made of shell pieces. There is also a tunnel under the temple that leads to an artificially created cave where there are rich sacrificial deposits made during the rituals performed in the years 150-200. The people of Teotihuacan later sealed the tunnel entrance. Archaeological work has shown that more than 200 people were sacrificed at the time of the dedication of the temple.
The Pyramid of the Sun
The Pyramid of the Sun was built in the 1st-2nd century, and it was expanded in the 3rd century. It is 65 meters high, and the base is 222 by 225 meters. It is one of the largest structures in Mesoamerica. At the top of the pyramid was a temple, probably the place of worship of the old god of fire – Huehueteotl, because the sculpture with his image has survived to this day. It is believed the Pyramid of the Sun was the setting for the so-called ceremony of lighting a new fire, associated with the passage of calendar cycles. Access to the pyramid was restricted to representatives of the elite.
Palaces
In the central part of the city, there are palace buildings that used to belong to the ruling elite. At the Moon Square is the entrance to the Quetzalpapalotl Palace. Wide stairs lead to a large vestibule, the walls of which are covered with paintings. Nearby is the Jaguar Palace (Palacio de Los Jaguares), where you can admire red wall paintings with jaguars and other sacred mythical creatures.
Archaeological Museum of Teotihuacan
The Archaeological Museum is located in front of the complex. The entrance fee is included in the Teotihuacan ticket.
How to get to Teotihuacan from Mexico City?
Departure from: Autobuses del Norte Station.
The bus terminal has its metro station (Autobuses del Norte Metro), which is located on the yellow line (line 5). You can buy a single-use metro ticket or use a prepaid metro card. Rides are very cheap, starting from 5 pesos per ride.
The ticket is purchased at the bus terminal. The best option is an open return ticket. Buses leave every 15 minutes and are mainly intended for tourists. Teotihuacan is about 50 km from Ciudad de Mexico, so it takes about an hour to get there.
From the station, we can reach Teotihuacan in just 45 minutes, depending on traffic. There are several entrances and exits to the pyramid complex, but you only need to get off at the first stop by the pyramids (Gate 1).
On the way back, you can get on the bus at one of the exits instead of walking back to the starting point. Buses are available to the visitors all day long.
Another option is to go on a day trip with a guide which includes transportation, eg. HERE.
You can also rent a car. I chose the simplest solution – Uber. Uber in Mexico City works great, and it worked perfectly for me. It is safe, easy to book in the app, and is pretty affordable.
Teotihuacan – visiting hours and entrance fee
Teotihuacan is open daily from 9:00 am to 5:00 pm. The entrance fee is 80 Mx per person. I recommend avoiding Sundays, as Mexican citizens have free entry on that day, and a trip to Teotihuacan is a popular way to spend the day off.
Pyramids tour with a guide
You can move around the Teotihuacan on your own, but the buildings you see do not have extensive information boards, so it is difficult to dive into the history of this place, counting only on the information they provide. If you went alone and regret that decision, you can still hire a local Teotihuacan guide on site.
Other ways of exploring Teotihuacan in Mexico
Teotihuacan Nocturno
Teotihuacan Nocturno can be an exciting experience. It is a night tour that includes illuminated pyramids, dances of people in costumes, and a light and sound show on the Pyramid of the Sun. The price of the ticket is 390 Mx per person. Teotihuacan Nocturno is available from 6:30 pm on Mondays, Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays.
Balloon flight over Teotihuacan
Another unique way to see Teotihuacan is a balloon flight over the pyramids. The best time for it is sunrise.
Best time to visit Teotihuacan
The best time to explore Teotihuacan is winter, spring, or early summer. The best months for a visit are from November to May, that is, the dry season. In winter, except for Christmas, there are not as many tourists. With the beginning of spring, not only the temperature is increasing, but also the number of visitors. Summer is characterized by high humidity and heat; frequent rainfalls are not the best weather conditions for sightseeing.
Regardless of the season, do not forget about a hat and sunscreen when going to Teotihuacan. It’s an open, huge area that is explored on foot. In other words, you are in the sun all the time. Water can be purchased on site.
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