Teotihuacan

Teotihuacan is one of the greatest archaeological sites in the Americas, the ruins of a vast and mysterious city that flourished near modern Mexico City over a thousand years before the Aztecs, who named it the place where the gods were created. Its colossal Pyramids of the Sun and Moon rise along the ceremonial Avenue of the Dead, a UNESCO wonder whose builders and language remain an enigma.

History

The first settlement in the area dates to 600 BC, and until 200 BC it was a scatter of small villages; from 200 BC farmers gathered around its springs, and between AD 1 and 350 the city grew explosively into the largest metropolis in Mesoamerica, swelled by people fleeing volcanic eruptions elsewhere, and built the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon. At its height in the first half of the first millennium it may have had around 100,000 people, the largest city in the Americas and perhaps the sixth-largest in the world. Around 550 its major monuments were sacked and systematically burned, possibly in civil strife, though the city may have lasted into the 7th or 8th century; its original name is unknown, and the name Teotihuacan, often glossed as the birthplace of the gods, was given centuries later by the Aztecs. In 1905 Leopoldo Batres began a major excavation and restoration, and in 1987 the site, covering 83 square kilometres, became a World Heritage Site (Wikipedia, Teotihuacan).

What to look for

• The Pyramid of the Sun - the colossal pyramid, one of the largest in the world.
• The Pyramid of the Moon - the pyramid crowning the Avenue of the Dead.
• The Avenue of the Dead - the great ceremonial axis of the city.
• The Temple of the Feathered Serpent - the carved facade of Quetzalcoatl.

When to go

Year-round; the dry season from November to April is best, and mornings are cooler and quieter before the tour groups. Some balloon operators fly over the pyramids at dawn for a spectacular view.

Practical notes

Climbing the pyramids has been restricted at times to protect them, so check before counting on it. It is huge, hot and shadeless, so go early with water, a hat and good shoes. It is a popular day trip from Mexico City, busy by midday, and vendors line the avenue.

Nearby

Mexico City and its great Anthropology Museum, which holds finds from the site, are an hour away.

Key facts