Just 30 miles from Mexico City stands Teotihuacán, one of Mexico’s greatest ancient treasures and a UNESCO World Heritage Site that shows us the remains of Mesoamerica’s most important early civilization.
A Mystery from the Past
Teotihuacán remains largely a mystery despite being one of Mexico’s most visited sites. The city began around 100 BC and was at its strongest between 1 AD and 500 AD. Then, for unknown reasons, people abandoned it around 550 AD—long before the Aztecs found it in the 1400s. And when they found it, the Aztecs were so impressed by its size that they named it Teotihuacán, meaning “the place where the gods were created.”
At its height, between 25,000 and 125,000 people lived here, making it one of the world’s largest cities at that time covering about 8 square miles.
Teotihuacán influenced many other ancient Mexican cultures. It became a major trading center, controlling the region’s obsidian—the most valuable resource at that time. Items found throughout Mexico show that Teotihuacán’s art styles and cultural practices shaped other civilizations for hundreds of years.
The Great Buildings
The site follows a precise grid pattern. The Avenue of the Dead—130-feet wide and 1.5 miles long—serves as the main street. This impressive boulevard points toward the sacred mountain called Cerro Gordo. Let’s take a look at some of its most important buildings…
The Pyramid of the Sun
The Pyramid of the Sun is enormous—225 feet at its base and 75 feet tall. Workers used about 1 million cubic yards of material to build it! It’s the third-largest pyramid in the world, and archaeologists found a cave and tunnel system beneath it that may have represented paths to the underworld.
The Pyramid of the Moon
At the north end of the Avenue of the Dead stands the Pyramid of the Moon. Though smaller than the Pyramid of the Sun, it creates a striking endpoint for the grand boulevard. From the top, one can see the entire site, though climbing the pyramid is sadly no longer allowed.
Temple of Quetzalcoatl
The Temple of Quetzalcoatl (the Feathered Serpent) shows some of Teotihuacán’s best decorative art. The structure features detailed sculptures of feathered serpents with open mouths and elaborate headdresses.
Life in Ancient Teotihuacán
Unlike many ancient cities built around palaces, Teotihuacán had multi-family housing compounds where most people lived. Archaeologists have found about 2,000 such compounds.
The city’s people grew beans, avocados, peppers, and squash, and raised chickens and turkeys. Trade brought cotton, cacao, and exotic materials like feathers and shells into the city. Craftsmen made fine obsidian tools and decorated pottery that made for brisk trade with other cities and towns.
Visiting Teotihuacán Today
Today, over 1.3 million people visit Teotihuacán each year, making it Mexico’s second most-visited archaeological site. The best time to visit is early morning when it’s cooler and less crowded. However, keep in mind that since 2020, visitors can no longer climb the pyramids because of safety concerns plus the damage created by those millions of shoes striking the stone steps.
Ready to walk through history? A Closer Look Tours offers a half-day trip to Teotihuacán as part of our Colonial Cities tour. Our Tour Managers provide historical information that brings the ruins to life. The tour gives you plenty of time to explore the site and take photos from different angles.
Important tip: When visiting Teotihuacán, bring sun protection, comfortable walking shoes, and plenty of water. There’s little shade, and the high altitude (7,500 feet) can make the sun stronger and cause dehydration faster than you might expect.
