mexico pyramids tour

• Mexico City
• Copper Canyon
• Guadalajara
• San Cristóbal de las Casas
• San Miguel de Allende
• 5-Day Mexico City Itinerary
• 10-Day Baja California Road Trip
• 10-Day Chiapas Road Trip
• 10-Day Copper Canyon by Train
• 10-Day Guanajuato Road Trip
• 10-Day Yucatan Road Trip
• 10-Day Oaxaca Road Trip
• Cozumel Island
• Isla Mujeres
• Holbox Island
• Playa del Carmen
• Punta Allen
• Puerto Escondido
• Hot Springs
• Mayan Ruins
• Mountains and Valleys
• Wildlife Experiences
• Best Mexican Foods
• Best Mexican Movies
• Best Books about Mexico
• Mexican Artists
• Mexico Fun Facts
• Mexico Historical Facts
• Mexican Holidays
• Day of the Dead in Mexico
• Pueblos Mágicos in Mexico

Visiting Teotihuacan: My Guide to the Mexico City Pyramids

• by Jake Perry

Did you know there are 2000-year-old pyramids near Mexico City? Here’s a detailed Teotihuacan travel guide, with everything you’d need to know about visiting Teotihuacan.

Just 1 hour outside of Mexico City stands the most impressive archaeological site in Mexico : the Teotihuacan Pyramids . Teotihuacan was one of the largest cities in the pre-Hispanic Americas, at one point housing over 150,000 people.

Walking through the Teotihuacan Pyramids is like taking a step back in time – you can almost feel the energy of this ancient city back in its heyday. However, little is known about the city and archaeologists still have not come to any conclusion after years of research. This is what makes Teotihuacan such a fascinating place to visit!

To help you plan your trip to the Teotihuacan ruins, I’ve written this detailed guide to share how to visit Teotihuacan, including the best way to get there, best spots to visit, and best place to eat there.

Table of Contents

Why Visit Teotihuacan Ruins?

Best time to visit teotihuacan, mexico city travel guide: practical resources, by day tour, cost of visiting teotihuacan, teotihuacan hours, how much time to visit teotihuacan, mexico travel requirements, how to get around teotihuacan, best teotihuacan tours from mexico city, visiting teotihuacan with kids, climb the pyramid of the sun, walk along the avenue of the dead, see the pyramid of the moon, stroll through the palace of the jaguars, la ciudadela, mural of the great goddess, tepantitla palace, visit the teotihuacan museums, where to eat at teotihuacan, where to stay near teotihuacan, what to pack for teotihuacan, rules at teotihuacan , final tips for visiting teotihuacan.

The Teotihuacan Pyramids are THE most popular day trip from Mexico City , for good reason . The Teotihuacan pyramids are some of the largest in the world and the entire complex is incredibly well preserved. Because of its historical significance, Teotihuacan was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site . 

What’s most impressive about Teotihuacan is the sheer size of its monuments – in particular, the Temple of Quetzalcoatl and the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon. Not only that, these monuments are laid out on geometric and symbolic principles, bearing testimony to the engineering skills and advancement of ancient Mexico.

Teotihuacan Pyramids Facts

Translated to mean ‘ the place where the gods were create d’, Teotihuacan was once a powerful center in Mesoamerica. The Teotihuacan civilization mysteriously declined around 650 A.D., and the city was eventually abandoned. It’s theorized that a combination of environmental and social issues could have led to the decline, but no one knows for sure.

It’s not fully known who founded Teotihuacan and constructed its immense pyramids and temples. But some archaeologists speculate that it was likely the Toltecs or the Totonacs. Hailing from central Mexico, the Toltecs were well known for their ridiculously huge statues and head carvings. The Totonacs came from the state of Veracruz and the people, who still exist today, believe that their ancestors were the ones who built Teotihuacan.

However, evidence shows that Teotihuacan was home to several civilizations, including the Toltecs, Totonacs, Mayans, Mixtecs, and Zapotecs. To add to the mystery, the people who inhabited Teotihuacan had a written language, but researchers have yet to decode it.

Teotihuacan is one of the most visited ancient ruins in Mexico ; it can get busy on weekends, particularly on Sunday when it’s free for citizens and residents of Mexico. The best time to visit Teotihuacan is during the lower season months (April-September).

During high season it gets a little overrun with visitors, which somewhat takes the wow factor out of the place. Avoid visiting Teotihuacan during peak travel season – Christmas, New Year, Easter (Holy Week), and other Mexican holidays. Another busy period is during Dia de los Muertos (Day of the Dead) – 26 Oct to 2 Nov – when many flock to Mexico City for the vibrant celebrations. [Read more about Day of the Dead !]

In general, Teotihuacan is warm and sunny all year round. Its high elevation keeps the temperature pretty mild though the sun does beat down hard. The coolest months are between December and February, although temperatures still average around 72°F (23℃) in the day. Read my guide on when to visit Mexico City .

• ✈️ Book affordable flights to Mexico City on Skyscanner for $100+
• 🏥 Insure your trip with Safety Wing , a global travel insurance company.
• >🛏️ Read our guide on the best places to stay in Mexico City
• 🚗 Rent a car in Mexico City on Discover Cars
• 🚌 Reserve bus tickets from Mexico City on Bookaway for the best rates
• 📷 Book your day tours from Mexico City on Viator or GetYourGuide
• 🧳 Pack a quick dry towel , dry bag , and waterproof phone holder
• 📱 Get an eSIM on Airalo to get cheap internet data

How to Get to the Teotihuacan Ruins

Teotihuacan is located about 30 miles (50 kilometers) northeast of Mexico City , and it takes just 1 hour to get there. You can easily include it in your Mexico City itinerary even if you only have 4/5 days in the city.

The easiest way to get there is by bus, which takes around 60 minutes from Terminal Central del Norte station. The bus costs around $50MXN/$2.40USD each way . The first bus to Teotihuacan departs at 6am with more departures about every 20 minutes thereafter until 2pm. I recommend getting a SIM card to get around; read my guide on how to get a Mexico SIM card .

You could take a taxi or an Uber, but this will inevitably be more expensive. We booked an Uber from our hotel in the Centro Historic, and spent around 500 MXN (US$25) each way . Initially we were worried about not finding an Uber back as we’d read that there’s no cell signal in most of the complex. But we walked to Gate 5 and it just took us 10 minutes to get one.

Another way to get there is to book a day tour from Mexico City that includes transportation, admission, and a guide. It’s a great option if you want to learn more about Teotihuacan and have someone else handle the logistics. Read our guide to the best day tours from Mexico City .

The cost of visiting Teotihuacan is relatively cheap. Admission to the site is 80 MXN (US$4) for adults and free for children under 13 years old. The entrance fees cover the entrance to the site, Teotihuacan Culture Museum, and the Museum of Teotihuacan Murals.

Tickets can be purchased at any of the entrance gates to the Mexico City Pyramids. Your ticket allows you to leave and re-enter during the same day, so you can go out of the archaeological zone for a break or lunch and then return.

If you’re looking to take a tour here they start from around $650MXN/$33USD per person. Here’s a look at the Teotihuacan tours available. Read more to find out which tours I recommend.

Teotihuacan is open every day from 9AM to 5PM, 365 days a year. Teotihuacan Culture Museum is open 9AM to 4:30PM every day and the Museum of Teotihuacan Murals is open 8AM to 5PM, Tuesday through Sunday.

The best time to visit Teotihuacan is early in the morning, around opening time. This is when the site is the least crowded and you can avoid the heat of midday.

Make sure to arrive before 3PM however as this is the time of last entry. The site staff don’t allow any leeway for this time. Gates close at 3PM sharp.

You could easily spend a whole day at the Teotihuacan Pyramids, but if you’re short on time, I would allocate at least 3 hours. Of course, this all depends on your interests and how much detail you want to go into while exploring the site.

The museums themselves can take up to an hour or so each. If you are planning on visiting them, then make sure to plan this into the trip. Plus, if you’re looking to spend time getting lunch at the site restaurant that will extend the trip too. 

• Mexico has no travel restrictions, and there’s no need for proof of vaccine or PCR tests on the plane. Anyone is welcomed to travel to Mexico.
• However, I always recommend travelers to buy travel insurance, whether you’re traveling for a year or a week. These days, it is particularly important to have travel insurance that covers COVID-19. Read my travel insurance guide.
• Safety Wing  is the most popular travel insurance company for COVID19-coverage. I use their  Nomad Insurance plan , which covers COVID-19 as any other illness as long as it was not contracted before your coverage start date.

When you reach the site, there are 5 different entrances. If you’re looking to do a full tour of the site then the best entrance for this will be at the south of the site (entrance gate 1).

From here you’ll walk through the site restaurant, then come out onto the Avenue of the Dead which consists of a 2km stretch, passing all of the main monuments of the site. I suggest leaving through gate 5 as that is where you’ll find the best restaurant in Teotihuacan (more on this later).

I always say the best way to travel is independently as it allows you to go at your own pace and make changes on the fly. That being said, Teotihuacan can be challenging to visit on your own as there’s not a lot of information available in English and it’s easy to get overwhelmed by the size of the site.

There are many day tours to the Teotihuacan Pyramids, ranging from early access tours to tours with tequila-tasting. If your budget allows, I highly recommend the Teotihuacan Tour with a Hot Air Balloon Ride . This tour ($137) includes transportation from Mexico City, admission to Teotihuacan, an English-speaking guide, and a hot air balloon ride over the pyramids. It’s an incredible experience and one that I think everyone should do at least once in their life. 

Alternatively, this early access tour is great for those who want to enjoy the archaeological site without the crowd. It also includes tequila tasting at a family-run workshop in Tlacaelel. This tour is US$39 and lasts for around 8 hours.

There’s also a night show at Teotihuacan where you can experience the Teotihuacan ruins after dark . It begins with a guided tour of the park and ends with a light and sound show. You’ll need to book tickes in advance online at the  Ticketmaster webpage  and pick them up at any Ticketmaster outlet.

Teotihuacan is a huge complex and there’s very little shade, so it can be tricky for families traveling with young kids. That said, it’s absolutely doable if you plan in advance or book a private tour which will give you more flexibility.

Nellie, the founder of this blog, visited Teotihuacan with her daughter when she was 6 years old and had a great time! Kids at that age can walk long distances and can handle the heat, so it’s not a problem.

If you’re traveling with younger kids, I suggest carrying them in a sling or hiking carrier. It would be a pain to transport tiny toddlers in a stroller, with the ground paved in ancient, uneven stones. Pack lots of water, hat, and maybe an umbrella for kids who don’t do well in the sun.

Things to Do at Teotihuacan

Here are some of the highlights that I would make sure to tick off first during your visit:

At 213 feet tall, the Pyramid of the Sun is the largest structure at the Teotihuacan ruins and one of the highest pyramids in the world . Built around 200 A.D., the Pyramid of the Sun is actually made of six pyramids, each one stacked on top the other. And underneath it all is a cave.

Located on the east side of the Avenue of the Dead, it’s set between the Pyramid of the Moon and the Ciudadela. Just like many of the mysterious Teotihuacan safeguards, it’s still not fully known the original reasons why this structure was erected. It’s been theorized that it was constructed for a deity. 

In normal circumstances, you can actually climb the pyramid and feast on the views from above. Sadly, it was closed for climbing during our last visit in November 2021. But rules are constantly changing, so make sure to check before climbing.

The Avenue of the Dead (Avenida de los Muertos) is the main thoroughfare through Teotihuacan and it’s lined with pyramids on both sides. The long, broad thoroughfare goes from the Pyramid of the Moon on its north end to the Ciudadela complex on the south end, near the main entrance to the park.

On the way, the Avenue of the Dead passes many ceremonial platforms that house intricate murals and carvings. Back in the heydays, the road was 2.5 miles (4 kilometers) long.

The Pyramid of the Moon is the oldest structure in Teotihuacan, and it’s located at the northern end of the Avenue of the Dead. It’s thought to have been built around 150 A.D. At 147 feet, this is the second highest structure in the complex.

Archeologists have found a significant number of sacrificed remains inside this pyramid, including 12 human bodies and a range of animal cadavers. From this, it’s believed to have been a site of religious significance and for public ritual purposes.

Normally, it’s also allowed to climb the Pyramid of the Moon (but was also closed during our last visit). Just be prepared for a bit of a workout as they’re quite steep!

The Palace of the Jaguars is one of the most impressive buildings in Teotihuacan. It’s covered in reliefs of jaguars, eagles, and other sea creatures. Apparently, it’s the most sacred place in the whole of Teotihuacan.

This building has a large courtyard surrounded by small rooms with magnificent remains of mural paintings. It’s presumed to be a planning place for temple events and special occasions. 

Across the Pyramid of the Moon stands La Ciudadela (the Citadel), a large ceremonial courtyard that contains the Temple of Quetzalcoatl.

The temple is one of my favorite spots at Teotihuacan. Quetzalcoatl was the Feathered Serpent and an important god to most Mesoamerican cultures. His temple is decorated with large carvings of toothy snake heads with slithering bodies, along with images of marine life, such as clams and conch shells.

The Great Goddess, a mysterious deity of the Teotihuacan civilization, can be found depicted in several locations at the Mexico City Pyramids. The most striking mural is at the Tetitla compound. 

Often depicted with an elaborate jade nose-bar through her septum, the Goddess has become known as the “Spider Woman of Teotihuacan.”  On the mural of Tetitla, the Goddess wears an extravagant headdress reminiscent of those worn by dancers at Brazilian carnival. It is made of long green quetzal feathers, which fan out around her which are believed to represent the rays of the sun.

To the east of the Pyramid of the Moon, the Tepantitla Palace is quite a walk away from the Avenue of the Dead, but it’s definitely worth a visit. From the outside, the building looks like a stable, but upon entering the walls reveal traces of elaborate paintings.

One mural particularly stands out, and is lauded as the most impressive mural of all Teotihuacán: the mural of Tlālōcān. In Aztec mythology, Tlālōcān was the marvelous underworld ruled over by the water deity Tlaloc. Tepantitla is believe to have been a palace, a priest’s house, or the opulent residence of an aristocrat.

I highly recommend making time to visit the museums, which are actually easy to miss as they’re tucked behind the cacti gardens. They have interesting exhibits and informative explanations, along with air conditioning, which can be a godsend on hot days.

There are two museums at the ruins of Teotihuacan; entry is included with your ticket.

• The  Teotihuacan Murals Museum (near Gate 3A)  houses over fifty millennia-old murals along with several artifacts recovered from on-site temples and palaces.
• The  Teotihuacan Cultural Museum (next to Gate 5) displays more than 600 artifacts found in the archaeological site, from over the ten centuries the city lasted. The museum also has a sculpture garden and a botanical garden.

There are a few different places to try authentic Mexican food at Teotihuacan: If you’re looking for something quick and affordable, there’s a row of food stands near the entrance 4 and 5.

But I strongly suggest heading to  La Gruta Cave Restaurant  which is just a 10-minute walk away from Gate 5. This was easily the best meal we had in Mexico City! We visited during the Day of the Dead , and were impressed to find an atmospheric ofrenda (altar) set up in their cave.  Reservations, especially when visiting on a weekend, are highly recommended.

The underground restaurant serves contemporary Mexican cuisine in at atmospheric volcanic cave illuminated by candles. The menu is made of traditional Mexican dishes with a modern twist. My  panceta  (pork belly) with mole sauce was out of this world, and Alberto’s  barbacoa  lamb meat was divine. Their mezcal cocktails also hit the spot.

Teotihuacan isn’t jam-packed with hotels, because most people come for a day trip from Mexico City. Check out our complete guide on where to stay in Mexico City. For those who prefer to stay near the Teotihuacan pyramids, I’ve put together some recommendations and included a mix suitable for all traveler’s budgets. 

Luxury: Lujosa Villa

This place is a private villa, suitable for up to 6 people. It’s ideal if you’re traveling with your family or friends as it has a private pool as well as cable TV. Rates start at around 1950 MXN/US$94 per night.  Book here.

Luxury: Hotel y Suites Osdan

This is another apartment that can sleep up to 4 people. They have a fitness center within, a fully equipped kitchen, and car parking spaces. It’s situated close to Avenue Tuxpan for easy access to the pyramids. Rates start at around 20,100 MXN/US$102 per night. Book here!

Mid Range: Hotel Boutique Rancho San Juan Teotihuacan

We stayed at this gorgeous ranch/boutique hotel and loved the green space and country style! It’s a bit outside Teotihuacan but they offer a shuttle to the pyramids. The rooms are nice and spacious with a beautiful garden setting. Rates start at around 1250 MXN/US$60 per night.  Book here!

Mid Range: Hotel Palmas Teotihuacán

Roughly 3km from the pyramids, this place is a little bit away from the tourist’s murmurs. It’s got a nice garden for you to catch some sun plus an on-site restaurant and bar. Rates start at around 1450 MXN/US$71 per night.  Book here.

Budget: Hotel Fer  

This is a simple but still comfortable place to stay. They offer free parking and 24-hour reception as well as being located close to Teotihuacan’s main gate for easy access into the complex. Rates start at around 520MXN/US$25 per night.  Book here.

*These are daily rates per room, not per person. Most hotels have rooms ranging from single to quadruple rooms.

Unlike the Palenque ruins that are shrouded in forest, there is very little shade and it can get very hot. Make sure you pack a hat, lots of water, and light, airy clothes. Otherwise, there are several souvenir shops within the archaeological site that sell hats, sunscreen, and water.

The walking isn’t too difficult as it’s mostly flat. You won’t need hiking boots. I wore my Teva sandals for the whole day and they were fine. Here’s the list of what I packed/wore:

• KEEN Sandals
• Hiking t-shirt
• Hiking shorts
• Lightweight daypack
• Sunscreen – SFP50+ if possible
• Wide-rimmed hat 
• Water bottle (2 liters)

During our visit, both the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon were closed for climbing and museums were closed too, due to COVID19. The guards explained that they’d been closed since March 2020 and there’s no update on when they’ll reopen.

It is disappointing not to be able to climb the Mexico City pyramids, but there are still elevated spots from which you can get great views of the site. The lookout point next to the Pyramid of the Moon for instance is an excellent spot. [You can still climb the pyramids at Palenque ruins in Chiapas .]

It goes without saying that you need to be respectful of the site. This is an ancient archaeological site and it’s important to remember that. Make sure you stay within the boundaries and not wander into forbidden areas. Drones are not allowed in the area.

I hope you found this Teotihuacan travel guide helpful and that it has inspired you to visit the Mexico City pyramids.

Here are a few final tips for your trip:

• Arrive just as gates open at 9am to avoid the crowds. Book an early access tour if you want to be the first through its gates!
• Take plenty of water and snacks with you. There are many vendors selling cold drinks in the archaeological site, just make sure the bottled drinks are sealed before opening them.
• Wear sunscreen, a hat, and comfortable shoes – it gets hot!
• You will need cash for the entrance fees, so make sure to bring some Mexican Pesos with you.
• Teotihuacan is full of street vendors selling all kinds of souvenirs. They’re obviously more expensive here than elsewhere, so avoid buying souvenirs here. The vendors are usually not too pushy, just smile and say “no gracias” and walk away.

Thank you for reading this far. If you have any questions or tips of your own, please leave them in the comments below and I will be happy to reply to any questions you have.

Read my articles on Mexico City below:

• 15 Best Mayan Ruins in Mexico
• Best Time to Visit Mexico City
• Where to Stay in Mexico City
• 22 Best Day Trips from Mexico City
• 30 Best Museums in Mexico City
• Day of the Dead in Mexico City: My 2022 Guide
• The Ultimate Day of the Dead Guide
• Palenque Ruins: My Guide to Chiapas’ Pyramids

Disclaimer: This post contains affiliate links i.e. if you book a stay through one of my links, I get a small commission at NO EXTRA COST to you. Thank you for your support!

Inspired? Pin it!

Related Posts:

5 thoughts on “Visiting Teotihuacan: My Guide to the Mexico City Pyramids”

Hello. Planning our first trip to Mexico City and came across your web page on the Teotihuacán Pyramids. I found your site very informative and wanted to say “thank you” for putting in the time and effort. If we don’t squeeze this pyramid trip on our upcoming weekend trip, then we’ll definitely do it on the next one.

Sincerely, Jason Logsdon | San Antonio, TX

Aww thank you Jason, so kind of you!

I echo what Jason said! Very helpful and informative! Thank you so much for putting this together. I’m traveling to CDMX for my first time in October! This is #1 on my list!

Thank you Abby, much appreciated! Enjoy Teotihuacan!!!!

Most beautiful places, I really want to go there. Thanks

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Experience the best of   MEXICO CITY   Mexico

Mexico City travel inspiration straight to your inbox

Explore new cities with curated experiences, instant cashback, exclusive deals and essential travel tips!

Select Your Experience

Guided Tour of Teotihuacán from Mexico City

• You can cancel these tickets up to 24 hours before the experience begins and get a full refund.
• Experience the grandeur of Teotihuacan pre-hispanic pyramids with this round-trip guided tour.
• Join this guided tour (English) of the Teotihuacan archeological site and see the iconic pre-hispanic pyramids.
• Enjoy hassle-free transportation from central Mexico City and get ready to unravel every secret of this enticing city.
• You'll have the chance to see the most renowned pyramids: the Sun and Moon.
• After the tour, stop for a traditional liquor workshop where you'll taste traditional Mexican liquors such as Tequila, Mezcal, and Pulque.
• Entrance to Teotihuacán
• English-speaking guide
• Tastings of liqueurs made from cactus
• Round-trip transfers from the meeting point
• Optional tips
• Note: The only areas that will be open will be the Calzada de Los Muertos, as well as the squares and esplanades, so you will not be able to climb the Pyramid of the Sun or the Pyramid of the Moon.
• The archaeological area is restricted and closes at 5pm.

Teotihuacan Guided Tour

• Explore the magical archaeological site of Teotihuacan with a guide
• Once at the site, discover the archeological site at your leisure: walk around the site, soaking up the serene surroundings as you do.
• Learn about the holy city of Teotihuacan - known to be the place where the Gods were created.
• This UNESCO World Heritage Site contains the Temple of Quetzalcoatl, the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon, and more.
• This powerful cultural center in Mesoamerica extends its artistic, cultural, and historic influence throughout the region and further beyond.
• Ticket to Teotihuacán
• Transportation

Teotihuacán Pyramids Afternoon Guided Tour

• Head out to the sub-valley of Teotihuacán for unobstructed sightseeing opportunities.
• Found in the shadows of Cerro Gordo lie the incredible pyramids of Teotihuacán, the Pyramid of the Sun, and the Pyramid of the Moon, both of which have immense historical relevance.
• Gain insight into the architecture and urban design of Teotihuacán, representing Mesoamerican cosmovision at its finest.
• Your expert tour guide will fill you in on the history of the city as you pass along various hotspots on the site.
• Finally, as the crowds start trickling out, find yourself a cozy spot and watch the sunset over the capacious pyramids.
• Round-trip transportation from the designated meeting point makes for a hassle-free trip.
• Expert tour guide (English/Spanish)
• Round transfer from the meeting point
• Entrance to Teotihuacan
• Hotel transfers
• Food & drinks
• The only areas that will be open will be the Calzada de Los Muertos, as well as the squares and esplanades, so you will not be able to climb the Pyramid of the Sun or the Pyramid of the Moon.
• The archeological area is restricted and closes at 5:00 PM
• The site is not wheelchair accessible

Teotihuacan, Tlatelolco, Guadalupe Shrine & Tequila Tasting Tour

• See Tlatelolco, the biggest archaeological site in Mexico City, where the main market of the Aztec Empire once stood.
• Head to the Basilica of Guadalupe, one of the most popular Catholic pilgrimage sites in the world, and look at the cloak with the image of the Lady Virgin on display.
• This is where the Virgin Mary is believed to have appeared to Saint Juan Diego Cuauhtlatoatzin.
• At Teotihuacan, the ‘City of Gods,’ see some of the largest pyramids in the world.
• Learn about the many legends that surround the site - for instance, it is said that the gods gathered here to plan the creation of man.
• Find out about the artistic, cultural, and historic influence this UNESCO World Heritage Site had on its surroundings.
• With an expert local guide for company, you are guaranteed personalized attention and great service.
• Expert bilingual guide
• Tasting of tequila and mezcal
• Visit Guadalupe Shrine and Tlatelolco
• Food and drinks
• These tickets can't be cancelled or rescheduled.

2 Days: Mexico City & Teotihuacán Pyramids Guided Tour

• Day 1 of your tour commences at the National Museum of Anthropology, home to Mexico's pre-Hispanic ethnic cultures.
• Learn about the Mexican indigenous heritage as you walk past 22 showrooms with art pieces from the past.
• Take to Mexico’s vibrant historic center, and discover where the Aztec empire was once seated.
• Look for traces of evidence that remain of the Great Tenochtitlan’s very existence.
• Admire Mexico’s eye-catching landmarks from the outside, including the Metropolitan Cathedral, National Palace, and the Palace of Fine Arts.
• Day 2 begins bright and early at the striking City of Gods , Teotihuacan.
• Watch the sunrise over the gorgeous Teotihuacán Pyramids before the daytime crowds start trickling in.
• Admire this renowned archeological site and take in the sights of old buildings, plazas, and murals.
• Lend an ear to your guide, who will fill you in on this city’s mystical tales from the past.
• This ticket has two variants: English & Spanish guided tours.
• Certified bilingual guide
• Entrance to Teotihuacan (Day 1 - Teotihuacan)
• Round trip transfer from meeting point (Day 1 - Teotihuacan)
• Entrance to the National Museum of Anthropology (Day 2 - City tour)
• Entrance to the Templo Mayor Museum (Day 2 - City tour)
• Transfer by public transportation (Day 2 - City tour)

Teotihuacan Tours: FAQs

Yes, it is advisable to purchase Teotihuacan tour tickets online as it can not only be done from the comfort of your home but also saves time and helps avoid long queues.

Teotihuacan tour tickets are time-based and are valid only for the date and time selected.

A Teotihuacan tour ticket will allow you to enter the attraction and explore its various pyramids, palaces, etc.

Yes, a Teotihuacan tour ticket will include entry into the archeological museum located near the entrance.

A Teotihuacan tour can cost you anywhere between $29 and $64.

Yes, a number of Teotihuacan guided tours are available.

Keep aside at least 4-5 hours as climbing the pyramids and exploring the entire archeological site on foot takes time.

Yes, you can. It is an easy climb but the stairs are uneven so visitors have to be careful while climbing up the pyramid.

Visitors should wear loose, comfortable clothing as well as hiking shoes while visiting Teotihuacan.

Teotihuacan is located at a distance of 50km from the city. You can reach the archeological site by bus or cab.

Teotihuacan Tour: Explore Stunning Pyramids around Mexico City (6 h)

🇲🇽 Mexico Mexico City Tours Teotihuacan Teotihuacan Tour: Explore Stunning Pyramids around Mexico City (6 h)

Join our Teotihuacan Tour from Mexico City to explore the UNESCO-listed pyramids privately or in a small group. Once the capital of the first Mesoamerican empire, now it’s one of the most visited archeological sites in the country and is a complete must-see.

• Explore Mexico’s most visited archaeological site.
• Discover spectacular UNESCO-listed monuments.
• See the impressive Pyramids of the Sun and Moon.
• Spot beautifully frescoed palaces of Teotihuacan’s elite.
• Hear historical anecdotes and interesting facts from your local guide.

In the morning, meet your guide and experience an epic adventure in one of Mexico’s most iconic landmarks: the UNESCO-listed Teotihuacan Pyramids! We’ll pick you up from Mexico City and head out on a journey that will take us back in time to the ancient world of the pre-Columbian Mesoamerican people.

As we arrive at Teotihuacan, get ready to be blown away by the stunning views of the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon, and the Temple of the Feathered Serpent . Our expert guide will take you on a playful and inspiring walking tour of the site, where you’ll learn about the fascinating history and cultural heritage of these incredible structures.

Climb to the top of one of the pyramids, the Temple of the Feathered Serpent, for breathtaking views and snap some memorable photos. Our guide will share stories and legends of the people who once inhabited this city and give you insights into the relevance of Teotihuacan in Mexican history.

After a day of new experiences, return to our vehicle and relax on the way back to Mexico City.

How is this tour different?

Authentic    how this tour provides an actual image of the destination, life, and practices of the host community..

We do our best to make our trips educative and fulfilling, in which travelers can interact with local populations, learn about their traditions, and culture, and connect with their core values.

A tour with impact   ? How this tour positively affects the destination and local communities on economic, socio-cultural, and environmental dimensions.

This tour aligns with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals 8 and 12 by empowering local communities and promoting sustainable consumption and production practices. We take tourists to underdeveloped regions, creating opportunities for economic growth while respecting local traditions and educating communities on sustainable approaches.

Other   ? Other advantages this tour offers to travelers.

• You will spend the time of the tour purely on its activities and sightseeing: no visits to souvenir shops and restaurants (unless you ask).
• An ideal choice for small groups: the price of the tour is fixed and varies just slightly depending on the size of the group.
• We are flexible: we can adjust the program and route to your interests while the duration of the tour can always be extended for an extra fee.
• This tour is private : only your group will participate.
• The price per person is variable and depends on the size of your group (please choose the number of participants in the booking calendar ➡️ to see the final price).

Local Expert Guides

Service of a multilingual tour guide:

• Small-group tour: English & Spanish (our guides are bilingual).
• Private tour : Spanish & English + other languages (e.g. French, German, Italian, Portuguese) upon prior request (based on availability).

Transportation

Round transportation from Mexico City:

• Small-group tour : shared (with other participants in the group tour) pickup from a defined location.
• Private tour : private (just for your group) pickup from your accommodation or another place of choice in Mexico City.

Non-alcoholic drinks and snacks

Entrance tickets and guided visit to Teotihuacan Archaeological Zone

Accommodation

Accommodation is not included: find the one exactly for you.

Personal expenses

Flights are not included: check our partner deals .

Travel insurance is not included: find insurance tailored for you.

Customization ? The way how tour organizer can customize this tour for you

We can do the following customizations on your request (subject to availability and needs to be confirmed before the tour): 1. Adjust the starting time of the tour. 2. Adjust the time you spend at each destination of the tour. 3. Add extra places of your choice (e.g. attractions, restaurants, etc.) to the itinerary on a complimentary basis if those visits. (1) fit the default duration of the tour, (2) don’t involve a significant change of the route and extra fees (e.g. entrance tickets, tolls, parking, etc.). Changes other than those will involve an extra fee and must be communicated to the tour organizer at least 72h before the tour (e.g. in the “Special Requirements” field during the booking or via email).

Cancellations

This and most of our 1-day tours can be canceled up to 48 hours before the departure (see cancellation policy for more info).

Frequently asked questions:

How to book.

To reserve the tour, please choose the date and complete the booking form. Once finished, you will receive a booking confirmation in your email.

How can I contact the tour organizer?

You can find the contact phone number and email of the tour organizer in the confirmation email.

Can I talk to someone?

Except for the information on this page, you can see full terms & conditions from each tour organizer before completing your booking.

About Vibe Adventures

Unless expressly stated otherwise, the tour and activity providers (“Organizers”) listed on vibeadventures.com are independent third parties and are not agents or affiliates of Vibe Adventures. Therefore, Vibe Adventures shall not be held liable for any injuries, sickness, accidents, delays, neglect, fraud, poor weather conditions, negative consequences, or expenses arising from or associated with the Organizers, their tours and activities, or those of their affiliates. If the tour does not include insurance, the travelers are responsible for obtaining travel insurance, as well as passports, appropriate visas, and necessary vaccinations.

Cancellations & Modifications

To cancel or modify your booking, please contact the Organizer directly using the email or phone number provided in the booking confirmation. Cancellations and modifications are subject to availability and the approval of the Organizer in accordance with their booking terms and conditions, which are made available to you during the booking process.

If you have any other questions please contact us .

Related tours

La Llorona Xochimilco: Night Show, Legends and Trajineras Tour (6 h)

Temazcal Teotihuacan: Experience An Ancient Ceremony (8h)

Coyoacan Museums: Know Kahlo House, Folk Culture Museum and More (7 h)

Mexico City Market Tour: Immerse in a Colorful and Artistic World (4h)

Chapultepec Castle Tour: Explore the Luxurious Chambers (3h)

Hot Air Balloon Teotihuacan: Plus Guide and Driver Included (Group/ 9 h)

Taco Tour Mexico: Taste the Mexican Tradition (4 h)

Zona Rosa Mexico City Nightlife: Magic LGBT+ Bar Tour (3.5h)

Mexico City Hike: Conquer the Ajusco National Park with a Personal Guide (12h)

See all Teotihuacan tours

Get 5% off this tour with "Back2Travel" promo code or check similar tours 🌎 Keep safe & travel soon!

We have received your request correctly.

You will receive an email with a summary of your bookings.

Can't find it? Leave us your email and we'll send you a summary of your bookings.

Share it straight to social media with your campaign ID and name

Teotihuacán Pyramids Tour

• 8.90 / 10 863 reviews | 10,429 travellers The activity was very good, the transportation and the guide (Alexa) were very good. It's worth it for the convenience and being guided through the complex, but be prepared for the tourist circus that comes later with the souvenir shop and the restaurant (the only option for eating), where you will spend almost the same time as in the temples... 8 Cristina
• Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the service starts

On this tour we'll get up close with the most visited archaeological site in Mexico, immersing ourselves in the Teotihuacan civilization and admiring the mythical  Teotihuacán pyramids.

Teotihuacán Tour

After meeting at the selected meeting point first thing in the morning, we leave Mexico City behind to hit the road northeast, finally arriving at  Teotihuacán, City of the Gods.

We arrive at the  Teotihuacán archaeological site  at the best possible time, early in the morning. This way, we'll  avoid the long lines and masses of tourists which flood into the area every day.

We'll pass through the City of the Gods, seduced by the majesty of the Sun Pyramid, the  Quetzalpápalotl Palace, the Road of the Dead, the Moon Pyramid, and the Quetzalcoatl Temple.

We'll stop in a workshop run by a local family, to enjoy a tasting menu of cactus-based drinks, such as the traditional brews,  tequila, mezcal and pulque .

Before heading back to Mexico City, we'll leave you free time to eat and enjoy the impressive variety of traditional Mexican dishes on offer .

Meeting Points

When making your reservation, you'll be asked to select one of the following pickup points in Mexico City:

• 6:20 am: Miga Cafe ( 174 Liverpool St.; St Col. Juarez CDMX )
• 6:50 am: Hostal Amigo ( 61 Isabel la Católica St.; CDMX )

More Information

The activity takes place with a guide that speaks in English, although it may occasionally be done in two languages.

Transport in air–conditioned bus

Official English–speaking guide

Entry to the Teotihuacán archaeological site

Not included

When to book.

You can book up to the start time, as long as there are places remaining. Book now to guarantee your spot.

Type of voucher

Electronic. Show the voucher on your phone.

Accessibility

Not wheelchair accessible.

Sustainability

All services published on Civitatis are carried out in accordance with our Sustainability Code .

Our providers commit to:

• Provide a safe and satisfying experience.
• Reduce, reuse, recycle.
• Incorporate eco-conscious technologies.
• Uphold fair employment standards.
• Foster the growth of local communities.
• Preserve the integrity of local culture.
• Safeguard both cultural and environmental heritage.
• Ensure ethical treatment of animals.
• Operate with honesty and transparency.
• Encourage sustainable behaviors among customers and staff.

This particular activity contributes as follows:

• Printed material is avoided.
• No single-use plastics are used.
• The activity helps the dissemination of local cultural heritage.
• The activity promotes local production.
• No printing of documentation required.
• Promotes local employment.
• Has a gender equality policy.

Amigo Tours México - México Df Show more

Corporate name: OPERADORA AROZARENA S.A. DE C.V.

Not permitted.

Frequently asked questions

Q - Can you climb the Teotihuacán Pyramids?

A - No. Climbing the pyramids is strictly prohibited.

Q - Could the order of the tour change?

A - Yes, sometimes Teotihuacán's opening hours change so the itinerary may be altered. But once you get to Teotihuacán, you'll be the first to enter.

Q - Why do this activity with Civitatis?

A - At Civitatis we guarantee the best quality and prices, click here if you want to know how we select our activities.

Q - How to book?

A - To reserve the activity, choose the date and complete the form on this page. You will receive your confirmation immediately.

If you have any other questions please contact us.

Free cancellation

You may also be interested in.

Teotihuacán Hot Air Balloon Ride + Tickets

Teotihuacán, Guadalupe Basílica and Tlatelolco Day Trip

Coyoacán, Xochimilco and the Frida Kahlo Museum

Login to add activities to your favorites and access them from any device

This site is reCAPTCHA protected and Google's privacy policy and terms of service apply.

Log in to rate the opinions of other travelers

17 Best Teotihuacan Tours from Mexico City in 2024

looking for the best Mexico City to teotihuacan tours?

You’re in the right place for Teotihuacan tours info, because I live in Mexico City and have personally visited the Teotihuacan Pyramids — both on a tour and on my own . The verdict: I can’t stress the tour enough!

As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Teotihuacan ties with the Chichen Itza Mayan Ruins as the two most important and most-visited of all Mexico Ruins.

With such a historically important place, the best way to visit Teotihuacan Ruins is with a qualified Teotihuacan tour guide to explain everything. (Otherwise, you’re really just looking at rocks rocks 🗿).

Don’t have time to read the whole article? The Best Teotihuacan Tour is this Tour and Balloon Ride Over Teotihuacan , with a near-perfect Five Star Rating.

The 17 best Teotihuacan tours featured here are a mix of different experiences — including this Teotihuacan scavenger hunt , and an authentic lunch at grandma’s house .

If you’re looking for a private tour of Teotihuacan Ruins , or a Teotihuacan hot air balloon tours , you’ll find those here as well.

Regardless of the experience you’re after, there’s a Teotihuacan tour for everyone. Ready to discover the best Mexico City Teotihuacan tours? Let’s get to it!

Quick Guide: Best Teotihuacan Tours

#1 TOP PICK

⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ Tour and Balloon Ride over Teotihuacan ✔️ Teotihuacan entry tickets ✔️ Transportation

Balloon Flight with Transportation from CDMX ✔️ Breakfast at local restaurant ✔️ Transportation

Teotihuacan Balloon Ride Tour ✔️ Breakfast after the flight ✔️ Champagne toast 🥂

Best Hot Air Balloon Teotihuacan Tours

1. tour and balloon ride over teotihuacan.

🎟 NAME: Tour and Balloon Ride Over Teotihuacan | ⭐️ RATING: 4.97 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 10 hours

What’s Included in this tour

• Hot air balloon ride
• Tour of Teotihuacan Ruins & Pyramids
• Tour of Basilica Guadalupe Church
• Breakfast buffet
• Transportation

This tour takes the top spot because it’s the best, most complete Teotihuacan Tour there is — with everything included and no pesky hidden costs.

Some tours don’t include transportation, or aren’t transparent that it’s not included, so you end up having to find your own way to Teotihuacan at 4:30am!

With this hot air balloon flight tour, you get picked up from your accommodation at about 4:30am — which is standard for Teotihuacan balloon tours, as they only fly in the early morning.

After seeing the sunrise from your hot air balloon over Teotihuacan, you’ll enjoy a buffet breakfast.

Next, tour the Teotihuacan Ruins, and climb the three pyramids: Pyramid of the Sun, Pyramid of the Moon and Pyramid of Quetzalcoatl (pronounced quetz-al-coh-uh), named after the Aztec god.

Walk the Avenue of the Dead, explore the Teotihuacan Museum & Sculpture Garden, and more — on your private, guided tour.

If I could give six stars I would. Ale and Montse were a delight to explore with and visit. Highly recommended, would absolutely tour with them again. —Mike (see more reviews )

One the way back to Mexico City, you’ll make one final stop at the Basilica of Guadalupe. This is one of the biggest churches on the entire continent, and considered among the most beautiful churches in Mexico.

Millions make an annual pilgrimage here for the Día de Guadalupe holiday in December.

Best Teotihuacan Tours from Mexico City

2. balloon flight with transportation from cdmx.

🎟 TOUR: Balloon Flight with Transportation from CDMX | ⭐️ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 4 hours

• Sparkling wine toast
• Breakfast at a local restaurant

You will be picked up from your Mexico City accommodation at 5:30am — which is a nice perk!

After arriving at Teotihuacan, you’ll get to see the balloon inflation process before taking flight over one of the most important archeological sites in the world.

Couldn’t have gone with a better option, one of the best experiences. Made memories for a lifetime! Would 100% recommend booking this experience if you haven’t already. —Angeline (see more reviews )

After about 45 minutes in the air, you’ll enjoy a sparkling wine toast as the balloon makes its way to the ground.

After your unforgettable Teotihuacan hot air balloon ride, you’ll head to a local restaurant in the San Juan Teotihuacan pueblo magico (magic town) for breakfast, before heading back to Mexico City.

3. Teotihuacan Balloon Ride Tour

🎟 TOUR: Teotihuacan Balloon Ride Tour | ⭐️ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 3 hours

If you don’t mind getting to Teotihuacan from Mexico City on your own ( here’s how ), you can do this balloon ride, then tour the site yourself.

For those who would find group tours in Teotihuacan too restrictive, this is a great option. There are Teotihuacan tour guides you can hire on site, if you do want a guide to take you around.

Wonderful experience, the view was amazing, we felt safe all the time and had a great time. The breakfast right around the corner was really good as well. —Malte (see more reviews )

Once you arriv e , you’ll complete the tour registration, then take off on your Teotihuacan hot air balloon tour to see the pyramids from above as the sun rises behind them.

Enjoy a toast with Cava Freixenet , a sparkling wine made in Queretaro, Mexico , before descending back to Earth. When you land, breakfast will be there waiting for you.

After enjoying a nice meal, you can stay at Teotihuacan Ruins and tour the site on your own, make your way back to Mexico City, or enjoy the day as you’d like.

Note: There’s a cool restaurant nearby called La Gruta Teotihuacan , located inside a cave! It’s one of the best things to do do near Teotihuacan Ruins.

Unique & Highest Rated Teotihuacan Tours

4. teotihuacan & my grandma’s food.

🎟 TOUR: Teotihuacan & My Grandma’s Food | ⭐️ RATING: 4.95 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 8.5 hours

• Teotihuacan admission
• Private tour guide
• Lunch at Grandma’s House ❤️
• Mezcal & Pulque (liquor) tasting

Meet in the popular La Condesa neighborhood at 7:30am to board your private transportation bound for Teotihuacan. On the way to the pyramids, there will be a stop for coffee shop ☕️

Your private tour of Teotihuacan lasts from about 9am-12pm — enough time to see all the pyramids, and beyond.

I can’t recommend this experience enough. It was THE BEST! This experience was the highlight of my trip… You have to go on this tour! —Barbara (see more reviews )

After a long day of exploring, hosts Hugo and Gabriel will take you to their grandmother’s house for an authentic Mexican lunch!

Enjoy grandma’s 52-ingredient mole (moe-lay, a traditional Oaxaca food ), which is a fifth generation recipe, and more favorites like chilaquiles .

After a satisfying lunch, enjoy your Mexican liquor tasting of mezcal and pulque , and if time permits, you’ll play the festive La Loteria game . (🎲 Love games? Check out this cool Teotihuacan board game !)

From here, you will head back to La Condesa Mexico City for a 3pm-4pm drop off, depending on traffic.

5. Teotihuacan Scavenger Hunt

🎟 TOUR: Teotihuacan Scavenger Hunt Tour | ⭐️ RATING: 4.94 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 8 hours

• Scavenger hunt

Meet at the beautiful Monumento a la Revolución near Centro Historico Mexico City at 8:15am, and head to Teotihuacán Pyramids in your private, comfortable transportation.

At the site, enjoy an amusing guided tour and Scavenger Hunt — on one of the most fun tours of Teotihuacan!

Wow. This was the best experience I have ever done. The pyramids themselves were breathtaking, but Jane’s interpretation took it over the top… it’s clear that she has, and continues to study this place in great depth, but she also makes this a very, very fun experience. —Kerry (see more reviews )

Look for clues to win the Scavenger Hunt all over the site, including the Pyramid of the Sun, Pyramid of the Moon and Pyramid of Quetzalcoatl.

After that, head to the “Teotihuacan Underworld” to explore the off the beaten path tunnels and caves in the non-touristy areas.

After a long day of exploring, enjoy a traditional Mexican food lunch in a unique place that only locals know about!

After eating and relaxing, you’ll head back to Mexico City and be dropped off at the Monumento a la Revolución (Revolution Monument) at about 4:30-5:30pm, depending on traffic.

6. Experience With a Teotihuacan Native

🎟 TOUR: Experience With a Teotihuacan Native | ⭐️ RATING: 4.95 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 8 hours

• Chocolate tasting
• Pulque (liquor) tasting

As they say, having a local is a travel game changer! Join host Alejandro, a Teotihuacan native, as he takes you through his magical homeland to see the area and its famed Mexico City pyramids.

Transportation is included, and you’ll be picked up from the Reforma 222 Mexico City Mall, located on Avenida Reforma.

This experience was magical with a perfect balance of history and the meaning behind where we were standing. It exceeded all expectations… Will take this experience with me forever. —Nori (see more reviews )

Spend the day at Teotihuacan, climbing the pyramids, but also getting a deeper look into the history and spirituality of the site. After the tour, you’ll head to a nearby restaurant for a traditional Mexican food lunch.

After eating, Alejandro will take you to his village and into his home for a chocolate tasking with his family. You’ll also enjoy a sample of pulque , a prehispanic liquor made from the agave plant.

7. Teotihuacan, Tlatelolco, Guadalupe Shrine & Tequila Tasting

🎟 TOUR: Teotihuacan, Tlatelolco, Guadalupe Shrine & Tequila Tasting | ⭐️ RATING: 4.5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 9 hours

• Tlatelolco Ruins
• Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church
• Tequila tasting

Hit three top historical attractions on this full-day guided tour from Mexico City : Tlatelolco Ruins, the Basilica of Our Lady of Guadalupe Church and Teotihuacan Ruins.

Tlatelolco and the Plaza of the Three Cultures is a lesser-visited pyramid Mexico City has, but a true hidden gem for Aztec history buffs.

This was a great trip… You can tell the guide loves the subject material and made it interesting to us. He took care of us very well and we saw a lot. The tequila tasting was a lot of fun, as was the rest of the trip. —Richard D. (see more reviews )

From there, you’ll head to the giant Basilica of Guadalupe church — the biggest church in Mexico City.

The final stops on the tour are the Teotihuacan Mexican Pyramids, where you’ll explore the site with your knowledgeable guide, and a private tequila tasting at a local shop.

8. Magic Teotihuacan & Chocolate Tour

🎟 TOUR: Magic Teotihuacan & Chocolate Tour | ⭐️ RATING: 4.89 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 7 hours

This tour combines the best of all worlds — an amazing archeological site and Mexico, and chocolate!

Join host, Noa, for a truly locals’ experience, starting at the ruins and ending at a traditional chocolate shop in the city of San Juan Teotihuacan, the small town the Teotihuacan Ruins are located in.

This experience was top notch in so many ways… Noa is a wonderful tour guide, [she] took us to a great lunch spot… the food was very delicious and authentic… I would highly highly highly recommend this experience to any and all! —Nour (see more reviews )

🍫 Mexico fun fact : The Maya in Mexico were the first to cultivate the cacao tree, from which comes chocolate.

It has been consumed throughout Mexico for centuries, and has many preparations, including in traditional Mexican drinks . You’ll love the chocolate tasting at the end of this tour to learn more.

9. Teotihuacan Pyramids & Local Families Tour

🎟 TOUR: Teotihuacan Pyramids & Local Families | ⭐️ RATING: 4.89 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 8.5 hours

“This was a great tour… Our tour guide Leonardo was VERY knowledgeable about [ the indigenous tribes of Mexico ] and happy to share all kinds of stories… Along the way we had a tequila tasting and had some delicious food. 100% recommend this tour!” —Jenny T. (see more reviews )

Teotihuacan Private Tours from Mexico City

10. private day tour to teotihuacan from mexico city.

🎟 TOUR: Private Day Tour to Teotihuacan from Mexico City | ⭐️ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 5 hours

• Tasting of traditional Mexican drinks

Enjoy the comfort of door to door service on this tour! Get picked up at your Mexico City accommodation in a comfy van, sit back, and enjoy the ride to Teotihuacan Ruins.

Once there, your private guide will show you around and answer all your questions about this fascinating place.

Highly recommend booking this tour if you want a private, efficient and convenient way to visit Teotihuacan! Our guide was incredibly friendly, knowledgeable and had a true passion for history. —Amanda T. (see more reviews )

As a private tour, you decide what comes next.

With the standard tour, you’ll head back to Mexico City and arrive by about 1pm, so enjoy a nice dinner or nightlife. They also offer tasting of traditional Mexican drinks like tequila and Mezcal.

11. Private Tour to Teotihuacan, Tula & Anthropology Museum

🎟 TOUR: Private Tour to Teotihuacan, Tula & Anthropology Museum | ⭐️ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 9 hours

• Full day guided tour
• Visit to the Toltec Ruins in Tula
• Anthropology Museum Tour

Explore the two most important archeological sites in Central Mexico — Teotihuacan and Tula — on your private tour.

You’ll also visit the National Museum of Anthropology , the largest museum in Mexico which boasts the biggest collection of pre-Hispanic artifacts in the world.

Magical visit to the archeological site at Tula, we were the only ones there making for some great pictures of the ruins. Tepotzotlan is also a nice small town with a very lively colonial main square. —Juan (see more reviews via TEOTIHUACAN TOURS TRIPADVISOR)

While Teotihuacan is certainly the most visited ruins site in Central Mexico, the Tula Ruins are incredibly fascinating in their own right.

Located in the city of Tula de Allende, Hidalgo , the ruins feature fearsome 15-foot-tall (4.5m) stone warrior figures atop an ancient Toltec Pyramid.

12. Teotihuacan Pyramids with Tequila Tasting Private Tour

🎟 TOUR: Teotihuacan, Tlatelolco, Guadalupe Shrine and Tequila Tasting Tour | ⭐️ RATING: 4.5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 5-7 hours

• Archeologist tour guide
• Visit to Tlatelolco Ruins
• Visit to Basilica de Santa Maria de Guadalupe
• Visit to Obsidian Workshop

You’ll pack a lot into this private tour with a visit to two Mexico City archeological sites — Tlatelolco and Teotihuacan. You will also get to visit Basilica de Santa Maria de Guadalupe, an important religious building in Mexico.

With an archeologist as your guide, you’ll learn so much about prehispanic cultures, and have the best time touring since you set the pace.

Our driver and guide were wonderful. They had a fantastic knowledge of the history of Teotihuacan and the science behind the architecture… Highly recommend this tour! —Sean (see more reviews )

After visiting Basilica de Santa Maria de Guadalupe, you’ll visit an obsidian workshop to see local craftspeople turning this volcanic glass into pieces of art.

The shop also offers a tequila tasting, with local and artisanal Mexican tequilas. You then have the option to dine at a local Tlacaelel Mexican cafe.

Short Half Day Teotihuacan Tours

13. teotihuacan bike and walking tour.

🎟 TOUR: Teotihuacan Bike and Walking Tour | ⭐️ RATING: 4.76 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 5 hours

• Bike & Safety equipment
• Transportation is available for an additional fee

Enjoy one of the most unique Teotihuacan Mexico tours available!

You’ll spend the first two hours of the tour visiting Teotihuacan itself, exploring the ancient buildings, climbing the pyramids and more. After this, you’ll jump on your bike and start exploring the surrounding towns in the Teotihuacán Valley.

“The bike tour is an amazing way to see Teotihuacan and all of its surroundings, so you really get the full experience!! I would recommend this tour to everyone!!” —Julia (see more reviews )

In the Mexico pueblo magico (magic town) of San Martín de las Pirámides, you’ll visit a local clay workshop and learn about its importance in the Teotihuacan culture.

From there, head to an old pre-Hispanic observatory inside a cave, followed by a meal in a local Teotihuacan restaurant.

14. Teotihuacán Express Tour

🎟 TOUR: Teotihuacán Express Tour | ⭐️ RATING: 4.92 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 8 hours

• Certified tour guide

The perfect tour for those who don’t have a lot of time, or want to get back to Mexico City early enough to still enjoy a nice dinner and some nightlife.

Though it’s an express tour , you won’t feel cheated as it’s led by a certified guide from the National Institute of Anthropology and History of México.

This experience was perfect. We wanted to visit the pyramids with enough understanding of what we were looking at and enough time at the end of the day to still be able to return to Mexico City for more activities. — Maithe (see more reviews )

You’ll be picked up from your accommodation at about 6:30am and driven straight to Teotihuacan — beating all the traffic!

Enjoy a tour with your private guide, and also some time to explore Teotihuacan on your own. The last stop is at a local Teotihuacan restaurant, to enjoy tacos and other favorites.

Teotihuacan Tours with Archeologists

15. mexico teotihuacan vip exclusive access.

🎟 TOUR: Teotihuacan VIP Exclusive Access Tour | ⭐️ RATING: 4.94 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 8 hours

• Mezcal (liquor) tasting

Led by husband and wife team, Jane and Sergio, this is a truly unique tour of Teotihuacan Ruins.

As a historian studying the site, Jane has exclusive access to areas other guides aren’t allowed to visit — like the sacred tunnels and mystical caves at Teotihuacan!

Jane is a wealth of knowledge and information. It was an extremely insightful experience. I learned so much about the Mayans, Aztecs and Teotihuacan people and their culture. Lunch at our hidden restaurant was fantastic!!! It was a full day, but a great investment of my time. —Derrick (see more reviews )

After seeing the Teotihuacan temples, caves and other unique places, you’ll head to a local family-run restaurant to enjoy traditional Mexican food (vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options available).

After that, enjoy a mezcal tasting at a community craft shop to sample some locally-made liquors.

16. Teotihuacan Early Access Tour with Tequila Tasting

🎟 TOUR: Teotihuacan Early Access Tour with Tequila Tasting | ⭐️ RATING: 4.5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 8 hours

• Tequila, Mezcal & Pulque (liquor) tasting

One of the best experiences for those who love ancient ruins, and want to see more than just the Teotihuacan Ruins.

Start the day on your private transportation as you head to the Tlatelolco Ruins. From there, you’ll head to Teotihuacan, where you’ll spend the bulk of the day.

The tour guide was very informative. The tour was excellent. I would strongly recommend! The ruins were breathtaking. —Jorge R. (see more reviews )

You’ll of course see and climb the Teotihuacan Pyramids, but also spend time at the smaller monuments to see their intricate murals and architectural nuances — with special insights from your archeologist guide.

End the day with a Mexican liquor tasting, to sample local tequila, mezcal and pulque .

17. Teotihuacan Archaeology Tour

🎟 TOUR: Archeology Tours Teotihuacan | ⭐️ RATING: 5 out of 5 Stars | ⏳ TOUR LENGTH: 2-4 hours

What’s Included in this mexico city tour

This tour is led by Jorge Archer, a researcher and author with a Master’s Degree in Anthropology and about 15 years of experience studying the Teotihuacan Ruins.

What a thrill to explore such an incredible sight with someone who actually works on it. —Chaney K. (see more reviews )

History and architecture buffs, and those interested in prehispanic ruins and Teotihuacan Aztec history, will love joining an expert to tour Teotihuacan.

Teotihuacan Frequently Asked Questions

Is teotihuacan open right now.

Yes — Teotihuacan is open every day of the year, 9am-5pm.

The Teotihuacan Culture Museum is open daily, from 9am-4:30pm, and the Museum of Teotihuacan Murals is open Tuesday through Sunday, 8am-5pm.

Does Teotihuacan have a capacity restriction ?

No — In 2020 and 2021, Teotihuacan had a limited capacity of 30%, which is only 3,000 visitors per day. However, after 2022, these restrictions lifted.

Do I have to wear a mask at Teotihuacan?

No — Masks at Teotihuacan are optional (and all public places in Mexico City), there are no capacity restrictions, and you can climb the pyramids while touring Teotihuacan Mexico City.

What does Teotihuacan mean?

In the Nahuatl (Aztec) language, the Teotihuacan meaning is “ the place where the gods were created ,” or “ the place where men become gods .”

If you have ever seen Teotihuacan called the Mexico City of the Gods, now you know why! This is just one of many fun facts about Teotihuacan you’ll learn on your tour .

Where is Teotihuacan Mexico City?

Wondering, How far is Teotihuacan Pyramids from Mexico City? Teotihuacán Ruins are located about 25 miles (40 km) northeast of Mexico City.

🗺️ Teotihuacan map & Teotihuacan location

If you’ve heard called the “pyramids in Mexico City,” that’s a bit of a misnomer. While these are the best pyramids near Mexico City, they aren’t located in the city itself.

The Teotihuacán Archaeological Zone is in the town of San Juan Teotihuacán, a pueblo magico (Mexico magic town) in Estado de México. This is one of the 32 Mexico states , seen in the map of Teotihuacan above.

In fact, if you have the time on your Mexico City itinerary , spend some of it exploring San Juan Teotihuacan.

Some of the tours on this list, like this Teotihuacan Tour & Lunch at My Grandma’s House , include excursions in Teotihuacan town itself.

How do you get to Teotihuacan?

When traveling from Mexico City to Teotihuacan Ruins, you have four options: 1) Take a Teotihuacan tour , 2) rent a car in Mexico City and drive, 3) take the bus, or 4) take a taxi or Uber to Teotihuacan.

Of course, the tours to Teotihuacan from Mexico City listed above will be the easiest, most stress free way to visit Teotihuacan Pyramid Mexico City archeological site — but there are other options.

🚙 Mexico City Rental Car

Driving in Mexico City is not for the faint of heart!

However, for those who want to rent a car in Mexico and drive to Teotihuichan, it’s an easy drive if you follow this route to Teotihuacan from Mexico City, which will take about 1.5 hours.

The Teotihuacan parking fee is $3 USD.

🚕 Taxi or Uber to Teotihuacan

Wondering, Can you Uber to Teotihuacan from Mexico City? Yes, you sure can! You can also take a taxi to Teotihuacan from Mexico City as well.

In fact, besides taking a tour, an Uber ot taxi is the most convenient way to get to Teotihuacan. Prices will vary, but figure about $1,000 pesos ($50 USD), round trip.

There is a designated Uber Zone at Teotihuacan, which has the best cell signal and where Uber drivers know to pick passengers up.

🚌 Teotihuacan Bus from mexico city

The bus from Mexico City to Teotihuacan departs about every 30-45 minutes from Terminal del Norte (North Terminal). If you’re trying to save money, or will be visiting Mexico City on a budget, choose this option.

When you arrive at the bus terminal, look for Gate 8, and buy your ticket from the booth near the end of that concourse. Round trip tickets are about $200 MXN pesos ($10 USD).

Teotihuacan Travel Tips: Make sure your bus is going to the Teotihuacan archeological site — not the pueblo of San Juan Teotihuacan.

What’s the best time to visit Teotihuacan?

The best tip for visiting Teotihuacan is to arrive early. They open at 9am, and it’s best to arrive at that time.

Arriving early to Teotihuacan serves two practical purposes. First, you beat the traffic driving to Teotihuacan. Though it’s only about 25 miles from Mexico City, it can take up to two hours to drive there in bad traffic.

Getting to Teotihuacan early also means you beat the midday sun as best as possible.

As such an important archeological site, most trees at Teotihuacan have been cleared so archeologists, historians and anthropologists can conduct studies. While great for them, it means shade is at a premium for visitors.

🌡️ What’s the Teotihuacan weather like?

Central Mexico has what’s known as the Eternal Spring climate, so the Teotihuacan weather feels like it’s springtime year-round. The rainy season lasts from April to September, and it will likely rain each afternoon for an hour or two.

What should I bring to Teotihuacan?

A water bottle is essential — and these Water-To-Go Bottles not only keeps you hydrated but will also filter your drinking water so you don’t get sick in Mexico .

This Water Buffalo Hydration Backpack , a combo water bottle and backpack, is the most practical of all things to take to Teotihuacan.

You can store your things, and keep it on your back so you’re hands-free when climbing the pyramids, and use the handy straw to take sips of water when needed.

You’ll want to wear light, breathable clothing because it’s hot year-round at Teotihuacan Ruins. Oh, and don’t forget your sunglasses and sun hat with a strap (→ here’s a sun hat for men ).

The site is very large, so wear your most comfortable sneakers — and consider gel inserts — the perfect accessory to tour Mexico!

Don’t forget your oil-free, sweat-proof sport sunscreen !

What are the Teotihuacan opening hours?

Teotihuacan City of Gods is open daily, 9am-5pm . The last Teotihuacan admission at 3pm, so you must arrive by 3pm or you won’t be allowed in.

The adjusted Teotihuacan hours during Covid were 9am-3pm, and only 3,000 were people are admitted each day. However, these restrictions were lifted in 2022.

How much is Teotihuacan admission?

Admission to Teotihuacan City of the Gods costs $80 MXN pesos ($4.50 USD). You can buy your Teotihuacan Pyramids tickets when you arrive.

Accessibility & Facilities at Teotihuacan

There are five entry gates at Teotihuacan Ruins, and you can buy admission tickets at each. The restrooms are located near these entry gates, as are the small refreshment snack stands.

If you didn’t bring your own water bottle , make sure to buy one before heading inside.

Much of the site is paved, and accessible for wheelchairs and strollers.

There is reserved parking at Gates 2, 3 and 5 for visitors with disabilities, and Gate 3 has ramps and walkways for visitors with mobility difficulties or who use wheelchairs. Teotihuacan parking fee is $3 USD.

Teotihuacan Facts About the Mexico Ruins

What is teotihuacan.

Teotihuacan is an ancient, prehispanic city and now a UNESCO World Heritage Site. It has some oof the most famous and best ruins in Mexico.

This archeological site dates back to the mysterious Teotihuacan civilization and the Teotihuacanos. This civilization predates the Aztecs, though archeologists say the Aztecs did inhabit Teotihuacan in the 1400s.

How do you pronounce Teotihuacan?

Wondering, What’s the Teotihuacan pronunciation?! That’s a common question, so let’s clear it up. The correct Teotihuacan pronunciation tay-oh-tee-wok-on .

How old is Teotihuacan Ruins archeological site?

The exact age isn’t known, but many Teotihuacan Pyramids history experts say it was founded as early as 400 BC — making it about 2,500-years-old.

At its peak, the Teotihuacan population was as high as 200,000 people, one of many cool Teotihuacan history facts!

Who built Teotihuacan?

Though it’s attributed to the Teotihuacanos and named Teotihuacan, no one knows for sure that they built the site.

Since little is known about these ancient peoples, the best guest historians have ( at least for now ), is that the Teotihuacano civilization built it, and the Toltec and Aztec civilizations later inhabited it.

How many pyramids are at Teotihuacan Ruins?

There are three Teotihuacan pyramids : Pyramid of the Sun, Pyramid of the Moon and Pyramid of Quetzalcoatl (quetz-al-co-wat-ull).

The Teotihuacan Pyramid of the Sun is the largest pyramid at Teotihuacan, but the Teotihuacan Pyramid of the Moon is only slightly smaller.

The Pyramid of Quetzalcoatl is the smallest of the three Teotihuacan pyramids in Mexico. It is dedicated to the Aztec god, Quetzalcoatl, a feathered serpent god.

What’s the largest pyramid in Mexico?

The largest Mexico pyramid is the Great Pyramid of Cholula in the town of Cholula, Puebla. It is actually the largest pyramid in the world by volume.

💀 Avenue of the Dead at Teotihuacan Ruins

From the Teotihuacan entrance to the pyramids, you’ll walk down the 1.25-mile-long (2km) Avenue of the Dead.

There are about 10 smaller structures with Teotihuacan art along the way, so it might be more accurate to say Teotihuacan has three large pyramids, and about 10 smaller pyramid structures.

Note: In Spanish, you’ll see this site called Piramides de Teotihuacan, Piramides Teotihuacan, Pirámides Teotihuacán, Teotihuacan Piramides, Teotihuacan Pirámides — though they all refer to the Teotihuacan Ruins.

Can you climb the pyramids at Teotihuacan?

Yes — You can climb the most of the structures and the majority of pyramids at Teotihuacan.

There are a few smaller structures roped off, but all the three large pyramids are open for those who want to climb some ancient ruins in Mexico !

Do note, it’s a much steeper climb than it looks, so be extra careful when climbing the pyramids.

🤔 Do I need travel insurance for mexico?

Many wonder, Is travel insurance mandatory for Mexico? While Mexico travel insurance isn’t mandatory, it’s certainly something you will want.

World Nomads , one of the biggest names in the business, has plans that cover adventure activities (like climbing pyramids in Mexico ) for a few dollars a day.

Final Thoughts: Best Teotihuacan Tours from Mexico City

When planning out an itinerary to visit Mexico City , you’ll want to include the one of these amazing tours to Teotihuacan. For most visitors, a Mexico City pyramids tour is a must.

A Teotihuacan small group tour is the way to go because without a knowledgeable guide explaining everything to you — you’re essentially just looking at rocks 🗿

For my money, the best Teotihuacan Pyramids Tour is this Teotihuacan Day Tour and Hot Air Balloon Ride with a near-perfect 5 Star rating.

With an accredited guide (or even an anthropologist guide ), your Teotihuacan tour from Mexico City will really come to life.

For more information, visit the Teotihuacan Pyramids official website here . This site offers a wealth of info about the most visited archaeological site near Mexico City.

Mexico Travel Planning Guide

Should i buy mexico travel insurance.

YES — With basic coverage averaging just $5-10 USD per day, enjoy peace of mind with a plan from Travel Insurance Master , one of the biggest names in travel insurance. ( Read more )

Can you drink the water in Mexico?

No — You’ll want to buy this Water-To-Go Bottle , which filters your drinking water so you don’t get sick from drinking water in Mexico.

Also, it helps keep you hydrated while traveling Mexico. ( Read more )

Is it safe to rent a car in Mexico?

Yes — Renting a car in Mexico is one of the best ways to see the country! I always rent with Discover Cars , which checks international companies and local Mexican companies, so you get the best rates. ( Read more )

Will my phone work in Mexico?

Maybe — It depends on your company, so check with your provider. If you don’t have free Mexico service, buy a Telcel SIM Card . As Mexico’s largest carrier, Telcel has the best coverage of any Mexico SIM Cards. ( Read more )

What’s the best way to book my Mexico accommodations?

For Mexico hotels, Booking.com is the best site , but for hostels, use Hostel World . If you’re considering a Mexico Airbnb, don’t forget to check VRBO , which is often cheaper than Airbnb.

What do I pack for Mexico?

Head to the Ultimate Mexico Packing List + FREE Checklist Download to get all the info you need on packing for Mexico.

What’s the best site to buy Mexico flights?

For finding cheap Mexico flights, I recommend using Skyscanner .

Do I need a visa for Mexico?

Likely Not — U.S., Canadian and European Passport holders don’t need a visa for Mexico; but check here to see if you need a Mexico travel visa. Most travelers will get a 180-Day FMM Tourist Visa passport stamp a upon arrival.

• Search Please fill out this field.
• Manage Your Subscription
• Give a Gift Subscription
• Sweepstakes
• Destinations

9 of the Best Pyramids to Visit in Mexico

Mexico is home to some truly amazing archeological sites — here are nine pyramids to plan your next trip around.

Leonid Andronov/Getty Images

The world is full of ancient wonders — so many that you could spend a lifetime trying to visit them all. But you don’t have to travel far to see some of the best architectural and cultural marvels humans have created. You only need to head south to Mexico to explore its vast, incredible world of ancient civilizations and their pyramids.

You’ve likely heard of the Maya people, who ruled (and still live) in southern Mexico and Central America. You might have also heard of the Aztecs, whose great capital city was the foundation for what is Mexico City today. Their iconic cities like Chichén Itzá and Tenochtitlan are among the most famous attractions in Mexico. But Mexico has been home to so many other Indigenous civilizations, and all left an indelible mark on the archaeological and cultural history of the country. Today, Mexico is home to more than 16 million Indigenous people represented across 68 ethnolinguistic groups. All of these groups have made an impact on modern-day Mexico, but the pyramids in particular are extremely impressive.

Meet the Expert

Dr. Edwin Barnhart is the director of the Maya Exploration Center. He received a Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin Anthropology Department in 2001 and has over 30 years of experience as an archeologist. 

"The Maya and the Aztecs are the two most people know about, but you can't ignore all these other wonderful cultures that existed and also built pyramids, some of which were the foundation of what the Maya did," said Dr. Edwin Barnhart, director of the Maya Exploration Center.

The Olmec culture is considered in many ways to be the "mother culture" of Mesoamerica. The Olmec civilization lasted from around 1200 B.C.E. to around 400 B.C.E., and they were the ones to build the first big cities. As early as 1500 B.C.E., the Maya had settled in villages around Mesoamerica. The Classic Period of the Maya civilization lasted from about 250 C.E. until about 900 C.E. The Zapotec civilization had its empire between 700 B.C.E. and 1521 C.E., and Zapotec people still live primarily in and around the state of Oaxaca. 

El Castillo, Chichén Itzá, Yucatán

Matteo Colombo/Getty Images

Let's start with perhaps the most famous pyramid in Mexico: El Castillo in Chichén Itzá. Chichén Itzá is one of the most famous Maya cities in the world, and at its center is the spectacular nine-stepped pyramid, El Castillo. A feat of engineering and an astronomical marvel, the pyramid was designed so that each year on the equinoxes, the sunlight would create the shadowy illusion of a snake descending each of the pyramid's steps. The equinoxes are the most popular times to visit Chichén Itzá, so expect huge crowds and a very enthusiastic atmosphere. 

How to Visit: The roads to Chichén Itzá are very well-maintained. Most tourists come on a day trip from Cancún or the Riviera Maya, and many tour companies offer round-trip transportation and guided tours. You can also drive yourself, as the roads are safe and well-marked.

Temple of the Inscriptions, Palenque, Chiapas

AlbertoLoyo/Getty Images

One of the lesser-visited archaeological sites in Mexico is the city of Palenque, buried deep in the thick jungles of the southern state of Chiapas. This UNESCO World Heritage Site is what remains of a stunning Maya city, which peaked between 500 and 700 C.E. One of the most important Maya cities, Palenque's most famous temple is the Temple of the Inscriptions, a massive stone temple known for its hieroglyphs. 

"The Temple of the Inscriptions was one of the only Maya temples that was built to house a tomb, the tomb of Pakal [Palenque's most famous ruler]," said Barnhart. "His pyramid had this amazing 20-ton sarcophagus with images of him falling into the underworld on the top. His body was covered with jewelry and gifts, and it was one of the first discoveries that told us that the Maya had these treasures."

How to Visit: Most visitors come as backpackers via the ADO bus system, which has a broad network throughout Southern Mexico. Now, however, with the launch of the Tren Maya , it's getting easier for visitors to access, particularly as there is a train stop in Palenque.

Related: 10 Hidden Natural Wonders in Mexico When You Want to Avoid the Crowds

Pyramid of the Sun and Pyramid of the Moon, Teotihuacán, State of Mexico

Taking a quick trip away from the Maya world and up to the Valley of Mexico puts us in the heart of Teotihuacán. No one knows for sure who built Teotihuacán, as it shows evidence of Toltec, Totonac, Maya, Mixtec, and Zapotec cultures. One of the largest ancient cities in the Americas, it was built about 1,000 years before the arrival of the Aztecs. Today it is most famous for its two main pyramids: the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon. 

How to Visit: Teotihuacán is about an hour from Mexico City and makes a popular day trip for visitors. It’s best visited as part of a tour so you can have the expertise of a guide.

Great Pyramid of Cholula, Cholula, Puebla

While you're visiting Mexico City, you may want to take the two-hour trip out to the “magical town” of Cholula, a suburb of Puebla. This beautiful, historic city is most famous for the canary-yellow church that sits atop a hill. Except, it's not a hill at all; the church is sitting on top of the largest pyramid in the world.

A clear example of colonialism, the Spanish built their Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de los Remedios on top of the pyramid, and the church still stands today. But what remains of the pyramid is the monumental mound that alludes to its great size and power.  The temple was built between the 3rd century B.C.E. through the 9th century C.E., and dedicated to the Aztec god, Quetzalcoatl. Its base is 984 by 1,033 feet, with a height of 82 feet — making it the largest in the world by volume, even larger than the Great Pyramid in Giza.

How to Visit: Cholula is just outside the main city of Puebla and is easily reached by car.

Related: 10 Small Towns in Mexico for Natural Beauty, Arts, Culture, and Tequila

Pyramid of the Magician, Uxmal, Yucatán

OGphoto/Getty Images

The Maya people never had one central capital. Instead, they operated with autonomous city-states. One of their “capitals” was the city of Uxmal, located outside modern-day Mérida, and its most famous pyramid is the Pyramid of the Magician.

"The site at Uxmal was at its height for only 150 years," said Barnhart, “and it has a different look. It does not have those terraces going up the sides. It's got a smooth outside that goes up to a superstructure, and its sides are curving. It's like the design of a common Maya house in the Yucatán."

Legends swirl around the creation of the pyramid, including one that says the structure was built in a single night by a magical man, born from an egg to a witch. He constructed the pyramid in one night to challenge the current king and became king of Uxmal himself, hence the name “Pyramid of the Magician.” (Of course, as is the case with many legends, the specifics depend on who is telling the story.) 

How to Visit: Uxmal is a day trip from Mérida . Several tour companies offer guided tours, or you can take a taxi or drive yourself an hour to the archaeological zone.

Structure 2, Calakmul, Campeche

Iren_Key/Getty Images

One of the most impressive and important Maya sites is also among the least visited. That site is Calakmul — a rival to the massive city of Tikal in Guatemala — shrouded by the thick jungles of the state of Campeche within the Calakmul Biosphere Reserve. 

A UNESCO World Heritage Site, Calakmul was a hugely important city for more than 1,200 years. Excavations have revealed gorgeous stucco friezes and mural paintings, as well as burial chambers for kings and nobility. Structure 2 at Calakmul is one of the tallest Maya pyramids in the world, standing at 148 feet. Four tombs have been located within the pyramid, as well. 

How to Visit: Calakmul is more challenging to visit, but not impossible. It requires a drive through southern Yucatán, so you will need to either rent a car or hire a guide to take you.

Related: Why Your Next Trip to Mexico Should Go Beyond the Obvious Hot Spots

El Torre, Ek Balam, Yucatán

Geography Photos/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

On the way to Chichén Itzá is another lesser-known Maya site called Ek Balam. This Maya city, just outside of the modern-day Spanish-influenced city of Valladolid, was at its height between 700 and 1000 C.E., though it operated for more than 1,000 years. Only the center of Ek Balam has been excavated, with 45 structures mapped out. 

El Torre, also known as The Tower, is one of the largest Maya structures in the region, measuring more than 500 feet long, 200 feet wide, and 100 feet tall. Its inscriptions are not carved into the rock like other pyramids. Instead, the creators used stucco and limestone to shape beautiful imagery. El Torre also houses the tomb of Ukit Kan Lek Tok, one of the rulers of the city.

"The Tower is one of the few you can still climb, but its real claim to fame is the stucco facade about halfway up the pyramid. It's called the 'White Reading House' based on the hieroglyphs, and archaeologists think it was a royal library. The doorway is carved like the mouth of a monster, with a lower jaw with teeth and an upper jaw. In the eyes are sitting full human figures, called the Ek Balam Angels. It's probably one of the best pieces of Maya art in the entire world," said Barnhart.

How to Visit: Ek Balam is about two hours from the Riviera Maya, and about 25 miles north of Valladolid. It is becoming more popular with tour groups, but visitors can also drive themselves.

Pyramids at Monte Albán, Oaxaca, Oaxaca

atosan/Getty Images

Up in the hills about 10 minutes from downtown Oaxaca is one of the most beautiful archaeological sites in Mexico. Monte Albán was inhabited for more than 15 centuries by various Indigenous groups, including the Olmecs, Zapotecs, and Mixtecs, and for 1,300 years, Monte Albán was the capital of the Zapotec world. These groups built impressive terraces, dams, canals, and pyramids, many of which still exist today. 

Within the complex are many different pyramids, which today look like raised platforms topped by temples. The beauty of Monte Albán is the many different structures that visitors can wander around, walking in the footsteps of the remarkable people who lived here centuries ago. Surrounding Monte Albán are gorgeous views of the mountains and Oaxaca city below.

How to Visit: Monte Albán is easy to reach from Oaxaca by bus or taxi.

Related: A Guide to the Ancient and New Wonders of the World

Pyramid of the Niches, El Tajín, Veracruz

One of the most unique and breathtaking archaeological sites in Mexico is the site of El Tajín, located in Veracruz. Its creators are still unknown, but experts theorize it was built by the Totonac and Huastec Indigenous peoples. Eventually, the Aztecs took control of the region around 1200 C.E.

The Pyramid of the Niches, though short in stature, is a true work of art. It is made up of six platforms, each one marked with niches that were likely used like a calendar. 

How to Visit: The site of El Tajín is remote. The closest city is Veracruz along the Gulf Coast. From there, it is a four-hour drive to the archaeological site. Tour operators offer full-day trips to the ruins.

Mexico Pyramid Tours

Experience the famous Aztec Teotihuacan Pyramids when you visit the ancient City of the Gods. Art enthusiasts will adore the Spanish Baroque stylings of the Shrine of our Lady of Guadalupe.

Maybe Mayan is your preferred flavour? A visit to Chichen Itza will transport you to a time when the Mayan Empire built such wonders as the Pyramid of Kukulkan as a testament to their power and influence.

Like What You See?

See it in person!

View price & availability:

GetYourGuide

Mexico City: Teotihuacán Early Access & Tequila

Teotihuacán Tours

Mexico City: Teotihuacan and Tlatelolco Day Trip by Van

Chichén Itzá Tours

From Mérida: Chichén Itzá, Izamal, Valladolid & Cenote Trip

From tulum: chichen itza, cenote, and valladolid tour, chichén itzá: skip-the-line entrance ticket, cancún: chichén itzá, cenote & valladolid w/ lunch & tequila, chichen itza: guided group walking tour, chichen itza, cenote and valladolid all-inclusive tour, amazing chichen itza lights show, includes valladolid, buffet and cenote tour, puebla, cholula & tonantzintla day trip, coba ruins day trip from cancun or riviera maya, chichen itza from riviera maya, from mexico city: teotihuacan air balloon flight & breakfast, mexico city: teotihuacan, guadalupe shrine & tlatelolco tour.

Who Built Mexico’s Pyramids? Visit These 10 to Learn About Their Origins.

Follow in the footsteps of toltecs, zapotecs, mexica, and maya, while learning more about the country’s past..

• Copy Link copied

The Pyramid of the Niches in El Tajin was likely used to track the days of the year.

Photo by Chloe Arrojado

There are plenty of wonders of the world to visit in your lifetime, but you only have to travel to the southern point of North America to find yourself faced with incredible acts of architecture. Mexico’ s Mayan and Aztec pyramids deserve a spot high on your travel list. Each one—unique in appearance and once holy spaces for ancient civilizations—offers up a moment of complete awe and a rare look into history. After all, a hike among pyramid ruins is the perfect balance to a morning spent at a cenote .

Mexico’s pre-Columbian civilizations can be hard to keep straight, but they shared a few common traits: Most of their archaeological sites include ball courts, they considered corn an essential crop, and they all built pyramids.

Their handiwork can now be found throughout Mexico, offering a window into the country’s ancient past. Read on for what you need to know about Mexico’s famous pyramids, including 10 of the most spectacular, culturally important ones in the country.

How many pyramids are there in Mexico?

The short answer is: Nobody knows. Sadly, the pyramids in the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlán are long gone, but dozens of others across Mexico still stand.

Who built the pyramids in Mexico?

Pre-Columbian cultures like the Olmecs, Mixtecs, Toltecs, Zapotecs, Aztecs (or Mexica), and Maya created these impressive structures. For the most part, each civilization had a specific building style, although they all used materials like clay, stone, and mortar.

How old are the pyramids in Mexico?

The most significant pyramids were constructed over roughly two millennia, from around 900 B.C.E. to about 1000 C.E.

Where to find pyramids in Mexico

Map of the top 10 pyramids in Mexico to visit

Courtesy of Google Maps

Several top pyramids are located along Mexico’s eastern coast. Others are clustered inland, around Mexico City and farther south in Oaxaca .

Here are 10 of our favorite pyramids to visit in Mexico.

1. La Iglesia and El Castillo, Coba (Quintana Roo)

La Iglesia is one of two impressive pyramids in the Maya city of Coba.

Photo by Matyas Rehak/Shutterstock

The ancient Maya city of Coba , which peaked between 800 and 1100 C.E. and was once believed to have had 50,000 inhabitants, is home to two impressive pyramids—the Iglesia and the Castillo, which is the second largest pyramid on the Yucatán peninsula. Half-ruined and covered in plants, both structures look as if they’ve recently been unearthed (indeed, much of the site has yet to be excavated), creating a mysterious, almost magical atmosphere.

How to visit

Coba is just over two hours by car from Cancún and 45 minutes from Tulum. If you go without a tour, you can hire a guide at the entrance to the ruins.

2. Castillo de Kukulcán, Chichén Itzá (Yucatan)

The Maya city of Chichén Itzá centers around the Castillo de Kukulcán pyramid.

Photo by Iren Key/Shutterstock

The Castillo de Kukulcán, with its nine stepped platforms, is the centerpiece of Chichén Itzá , a Mayan city that flourished from around 700 to 900 C.E. The pyramid functioned as an enormous calendar and was designed so that, on the equinoxes, the play of sunlight and shadow would create the illusion of a snake descending to Earth. While visitors are no longer allowed to climb the steps or access the Temple of Kukulcán at the top of the pyramid, they can tour other ball courts, temples, and palaces throughout Chichén Itzá.

The roads to Chichén Itzá are safe and well-maintained, but it’s easiest to visit with a tour. Halfway between Cancún and Mérida (roughly two to three hours from either), this UNESCO World Heritage site is often crowded with tourists and vendors. The plus is that you can experience Chichén Itzá as it was during its peak—a bustling city.

3. Pyramid of the Magician, Uxmal (Yucatan)

The pyramids at Uxmal were built in the decorative Puuc style.

Photo by Jakub Zaljic/Shutterstock

The Maya were never centralized in one capital, as were the Aztecs and the Toltecs. Instead, the civilization resembled ancient Greece , with competing, independent city-states that shared a language and religious beliefs even as they developed different styles of architecture and their own distinct characters. The contrast between Chichén Itzá and Uxmal is impossible to miss. The structures at Uxmal, including the Pyramid of the Magician, were built in the Puuc style, which is known for its highly stylized motifs and a decorative richness not typical of other Maya cities.

A 70-minute drive on two well-maintained highways will take you from modern Mérida to ancient Uxmal.

4. Pyramid of the Inscriptions, Palenque (Chiapas)

The Pyramid of the Inscriptions at Palenque is covered in Maya hieroglyphs.

Photo by Anton Ivanov/Shutterstock

The buildings at Palenque, in the state of Chiapas, are impressive less for their size than for the elegance of their design. The 89-foot-high Pyramid of the Inscriptions is topped by a temple with piers covered in Maya hieroglyphs—hence the “inscriptions” in its name. It’s estimated that only 10 percent of Palenque has been excavated so far, though archaeologists continue to work on the site. Most recently, they uncovered a stucco head representing the corn deity Yum Kaax.

With the opening of the Palenque airport in 2014, it’s become easy to visit this once remote site. Interjet offers twice-weekly flights (on Wednesdays and Saturdays) from Mexico City .

5. Great Pyramid of La Venta (Tabasco)

Ancient Olmec statues can be found at the base of the La Venta Pyramids.

Photo by Matt Gush

Located in the state of Tabasco, La Venta is home to Mexico’s oldest known pyramid, built around 900 B.C.E. At 100 feet, the structure isn’t particularly tall. Since it was built of clay instead of stone, its original rectangular shape has been softened by the ages, making it appear more like a rounded hill. Still, it’s fascinating to behold, as is the sophisticated urban planning of La Venta, which served as a forerunner to the city of Teotihuacán, Tula, and other ancient capitals.

You have to work to visit La Venta. The site is located in a wet, humid corner of Mexico about 90 minutes by car from Villahermosa (there are daily, direct flights from Mexico City), which is already off the beaten path. Because it’s located in the jungle, be sure to bring insect repellent when you visit La Venta.

6. Monte Albán Pyramids (Oaxaca)

Monte Albán served as the capital of the Zapotec civilization for more than a millennium.

Situated along the Pacific, the state of Oaxaca was, and still is, the center of the Zapotec people. This Indigenous group has been in the area for at least 2,500 years and is credited with developing one of the earliest writing systems in Mesoamerica.

Monte Albán served as the capital for more than a millennium, from around 500 B.C.E. to 800 C.E., and traded frequently with Teotihuacán—another Mesoamerican city with a similarly large ceremonial center. Today, visitors can explore the site’s “truncated” pyramids, which look like raised platforms topped by temples, as well as several famous tombs and stone carvings.

Five miles from the city center of Oaxaca , Monte Albán is easy to reach by bus or taxi. If you choose to go with a taxi, it’s recommended to also arrange a return trip with your driver.

7. Pyramid of the Niches, El Tajin (Veracruz)

The Pyramid of the Niches gets its name from the carved niches thought to have been used to track the days of the year.

Photo by Noradoa

In the state of Veracruz, El Tajin is one of the most important sites from the so-called epiclassic (or late classic) period, dating from around 900 C.E. The city’s residents were avid ballplayers—more than 60 ball courts have been excavated here. You’ll also see one of Mexico’s most unusual buildings, the Pyramid of the Niches. The relatively short pyramid, 59 feet high, consists of six platforms, each lined with carved niches that were most likely used to track the days of the year.

El Tajin is remote, but if your travels take you to the coastal city of Veracruz on the east coast of Mexico, it’s a four-hour drive to the site. There are tour operators who offer day trips from Veracruz (generally an all-day, 12-hour trip to account for the long drive). If you prefer to avoid a day full of driving, the ruins are about a 30-minute drive from the small town of Papantla (accommodations are limited).

8. Great Pyramid of Cholula (Puebla)

The ancient city of Cholula is home to the largest pyramid by volume in the world.

Photo by Diego Grandi/Shutterstock

The largest pyramid in the world (in terms of volume) is not in Egypt, but outside the city of Puebla . Upon first glance, however, the Great Pyramid of Cholula looks like something else entirely, since it’s covered in vegetation and topped with a 16th-century church constructed by the Spanish. Visitors can access some of the restored sections of the pyramid, then explore the nearly five miles of tunnels excavated by archaeologists throughout the surrounding ancient city.

Cholula is four miles outside of Puebla, which is famous for its colonial buildings, cuisine, and the recently opened International Museum of the Baroque . The historical site is easily reached by taxi or rideshare.

9. Pyramid of the Sun and Pyramid of the Moon, Teotihuacán (state of México)

The sprawling city of Teotihuacan is dominated by two massive pyramids.

Photo by Alex Couto/Shutterstock

Teotihuacán, which flourished from roughly 100 B.C.E. to 550 C.E., was one of the most influential cities in Mesoamerica, with a population of nearly 200,000 at its peak. Dominated by the enormous Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon, and a citadel, which sit along the 2.5-mile-long Avenue of the Dead, the site awed even the Aztecs, who wondered what vanished civilization could have created such a monumental city.

Located an hour north of Mexico City, Teotihuacán is a popular day trip and best visited as part of a tour. Many tours stop en route at the Basilica of Guadalupe for a glimpse into another aspect of Mexican culture. Visit midweek for smaller crowds.

10. Pyramid of Quetzalcoatl, Tula (Hildago)

The Pyramid of Quetzalcoatl in Tula is topped with imposing statues of Toltec warriors.

Photo by Natalia Lukiyanova/Shutterstock

The Toltecs stepped into the vacuum created by the fall of Teotihuacán, establishing their capital at Tula (or Tollan), which reached its peak between 950 and 1150 C.E. The most impressive structure here is the Pyramid of Quetzalcoatl—which translates to “feathered serpent”—fronted by a colonnade and topped by imposing, 13-foot-tall statues of Toltec warriors, but you’ll also want to explore the vast ceremonial plaza, the palace, and the ball courts.

Tula is another easy day trip from either Mexico City (roughly 90 minutes by car) or the colonial city of Querétaro (just under two hours).

This story originally appeared online in August 2019. It was updated on September 29, 2023, to include new information.

Cancun Pyramids Tours

Are you looking for the best Mayan Ruins Tours from Cancun? Cancun Pyramids Tours offers exclusive excursions to the top Mayan Pyramids near Cancun.  For the best 10 years, we’ve continually worked for service, excellence and outstanding value. This year is no different – and we’d like to go online.

Chichen Itza All-Inclusive Tour

Book one of the Best Chichen Itza tours from Cancun. We visit one of the seven wonders of the world, a beautiful cenote and the magic Village Valladolid.

USD per person

Half Day Tulum & Cenotes Tour

Visit two of the biggest draws in the Yucatan on this tour to the Tulum Archaeological Site and Cenote Chen Há and Mariposa from Cancun

Chichen Itza, Cenote, Valladolid, Tequila & Lunch

full-day tour and experience this incredible archeological site with a local guide.

Plan Your Excursion to the Pyramids in Cancun Mexico

Enjoy the best tours to the pyramids in Cancun. If you value comfort, safety measures and professional exclusive service, then you have reached the right place.

Check availability in real time with digital ticket confirmations.

Reschedule or cancel up to 24 hours before the tour with no charge.

Book with total trust. SSL encrypted website and Stripe Payment Gateway.

Unique Cancun Pyramids Tours for every traveler

Cancun lets you experience the best of two worlds: Cancun’s bright lights and the world’s oldest stone structures . The thriving metropolis of Quintana Roo, Mexico, is bordered by some of the most fascinating historic towns in the world. These buildings were constructed centuries ago by the Mayan civilization, which reached their zenith between 250 and 900 A.D. 

We are very fortunate to have some archeological sites inside Cancun city, but there are bigger Mayan cities in the surroundings. We must outstand Chichen Itza, one of the 7 wonders of the world only a 3-hour drive from Cancun. We visit it in our 3-1 Tour or you can also do it privately . However, there are other magnificent sites nearby, such as Tulum and Coba. You can visit and climb both with our Tulum and Coba Tour . As a note, Coba is actually the tallest Mayan pyramid.

Our tours can be used to recharge energy, take beautiful photos on colorful villages or hidden landscapes like cenotes, but with the comfort and service that you would feel at your resort. Follow us on  Instagram  to learn more about us.

Cancun Pyramids Tours Latest Posts

Our Top 5 Best Cenotes Near Cancun You Must Visit

Everyone who has visited Cancun knows that it is a beautiful place full of exciting activities like zip-lining, many wonderful sights to see like the Mayan

All About The Mayan New Year

This ancient Mayan settlement, which flourished in the ninth and tenth centuries, in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula is one of the world’s seven wonders, and one of

Can You Climb Chichen Itza?

Chichen Itza is an ancient Mayan step pyramid that flourished in the ninth and tenth centuries, found in the heart of this city, and was built as a

• [email protected]
• Km 6.5 Cancun, Hotel Zone, MX.
• Privacy Policy
• Terms and Conditions
• Cancellations and Refunds
• Chichen Itza Private tour
• Cenote in Chichen Itza
• Wonder of the world in Cancun
• Thanksgiving in Mexico
• Dia de Muertos in Cancun
• 7 Wonders of the World

Made with by Mundus

• Login or Register

Professionals

• Annual Meeting
• Grants & Awards
• Professional Directory

AIA Societies

• Find a Society
• Society Grants & Awards
• Society News

For the Public

• International Archaeology Day
• Interactive Digs
• National Lecture Program
• Events Calendar
• Site Preservation
• Archaeology Magazine

• Introduction to Archaeology
• Lesson Plans
• Skype a Scientist
• Become a Member
• Member Benefits
• Archaeology Archive
• Member Login
• Dollars at Work
• Ways to Give

AIA Tours: land

• Planning Stages
• Lecturers/Hosts
• Mailing List
• eNewsletter

Maya Pyramids & Temples of Yucatan

Tour Dates: January 2025 in the planning stages (9 days)

Tour Leader(s): Jeff Karl Kowalski ,

This tour is in the planning stages for a January 2025 departure. For more information, and to be notified in advance when the tour brochure is ready, call 800-748-6262 or email [email protected] .

This exciting, nine-day holiday provides the best-paced itinerary available to see the sun-drenched Yucatan peninsula’s ancient sites, traditional Maya villages, and colonial architecture. Maya art and architecture abound, with visits to Chichén Itzá, Ek Balam, Uxmal, Dzibilchaltun, and more: iconic as well as off-the-beaten-path sites with soaring pyramids, distinctive temple complexes, and wonderful sculpture. There is free time to bird watch, shop for crafts, or relax, reflect, and enjoy our excellent accommodations. Enjoy two luxurious nights at the Mayaland Hotel (next to Chichén Itzá) and three at the Hacienda Uxmal (next to Uxmal).

Maximum of just 12 guests.

Tour Prices per person (8 nights) TBA

For more information or questions, please email us at  [email protected] (and include your full name) or call us toll-free at (800) 748-6262 (toll: 603-756-2884).

Black spiny tailed iguana at Chichen Itzá © Ken Thomas

Great Museum of the Maya World © J. Magno

Uxmal © Art Enyedy

Bonampak site © Art Enyedy

Ek Balam Pyramid © Art Enyedy

Day 1: Depart the U.S. on flights to Merida, Mexico Day 2: Merida: City tour, The Great Museum of the Maya World | PM at leisure | Welcome dinner Day 3: Ek Balam | Chichén Itzá | PM at leisure Day 4: Chichén Itzá | PM at leisure Day 5: Izamal Convent | Kinich Kakmo | Uxmal Day 6: Uxmal Day 7: Labna | Kaxil Kiuic | Umal Day 8: Dzibilchaltun | Progreso | Merida | PM at leisure | Farewell dinner Day 9: Fly home

View Detailed Itinerary

For reservations or questions, please email us at  [email protected] (and include your full name) or call us toll-free at (800) 748-6262 (toll: 603-756-2884). To reserve your space using the online form, click here.

Archaeological Institute of America

Back to top.

Copyright © 2024, Archaeological Institute of America. All Rights Reserved. | Privacy Policy | Yelling Mule - Boston Web Design

• Share full article

Advertisement

Supported by

The Maya Train Will Get You to All of Yucatán’s Best Spots. But Not Yet.

In December, the train began running on its first route through Mexico’s Yucatán Peninsula. On a five-day journey a few months later, the author encountered enthusiasm, and scheduling hiccups.

By Elisabeth Malkin

Elisabeth Malkin has been visiting the Yucatán Peninsula for three decades.

I stepped off the platform at the gleaming new Maxcanú train station, eager to see the magnificent Maya archaeological site of Uxmal. All I needed was a taxi to take me there, a trip of about 30 miles away.

There are no taxis, said the stationmaster, as we stood on the polished limestone floors of the high-ceilinged station, which was cool and breezy despite the brilliant late-morning sun outside. And I was the third person in two weeks to get off at Maxcanú expecting to reach Uxmal, he said.

I was midway through a five-day trip to explore the brand-new Maya Train and several of its destinations in the Yucatán Peninsula of Mexico . Designed to run 965 miles (1,554 kilometers) around a loop of 34 stations when completed, the train will whisk passengers in cool comfort through colonial cities, archaeological sites, splashy resorts and tropical forests.

Now I was stunned. Wrangling a taxi has never been a problem in Mexico. But the drivers gathered in the main square of Maxcanú offered only beat-up vans that hopscotch through small towns, where I might or might not find a taxi to Uxmal. The next van was leaving in 45 minutes.

Yucatán’s layers of history have long held me spellbound. During earlier car trips, I have clambered up deserted Maya temples and palaces, stepped into the cool naves of massive 16th-century churches and visited restored haciendas, testaments of the ostentation — and hardship — of the peninsula’s 19th-century plantation economy. Traveling by train, I thought, would allow me to steep myself in more of that history.

But as I found in Maxcanú, a train won’t necessarily get you to where you want to go.

During my February trip, I traveled on the only route then available, an east-west leg that opened in December and runs from Cancún to Mérida, and then south through the port city of Campeche to the Maya site of Palenque (a short route between Cancún and Playa del Carmen opened last month, with three trains a day). I encountered scheduling confusion, unfinished stations and a dearth of trains — just two operating daily each way between Cancún and Campeche, and only one to Palenque. Overnight sleepers and special dining trains seem years away.

President Andrés Manuel López Obrador considers the Maya Train his showcase development project, and wants to inaugurate the rest of the train before he leaves office on October 1. Based on my experience, that goal seems elusive.

A $29-billion route through the jungle

I started my journey in Cancún, where in the pre-dawn gloom the station hovered like a glowing spaceship. An attendant scanned the ticket I had bought online and a half-dozen more pointed me toward my tourist-class car, which was about a quarter full. I planned to go to Campeche, about 300 miles away, stopping once each day. At 120 kilometers (about 75 miles) an hour, the train covers the route in about six hours, the same as a car. (When construction is complete, the train’s speed should increase to 160 kilometers an hour.)

The car’s wide windows looked out at a wall of low jungle. The blue-green seats were comfortable and there was ample space between the rows. I bought a very good cappuccino at the snack bar, but declined the plastic-wrapped sandwiches. The rest of the merchandise was fruit cups, milk boxes and junk food.

The train will ultimately cost much more than the $29 billion budgeted so far, and it’s not the first time ambitious planners have alighted on the region. Cancún was once a tiny fishing village, selected half a century ago as a tourist hub. Last year 10 million international tourists flew into its airport, more than the airports of Mexico City, Los Cabos and Puerto Vallarta combined.

But uncontrolled growth has stressed the Caribbean coast’s fragile environment. The Maya Train, scientists warn , will push those problems south, threatening the area’s water supply, its unique system of underground limestone caves and its vast nature reserves.

Mr. López Obrador has charged ahead, handing the train over to the military , and arguing that it will spread Cancún’s wealth and attract new visitors. Mexico received more than 42 million overseas tourists last year and they spent almost $31 billion .

Local governments see an opportunity. “The train will allow people to disperse throughout the peninsula,” said Michelle Fridman, the tourism secretary for Yucatán state, which promotes dozens of attractions far beyond highlights like Mérida and Chichén Itzá .

Now that the train is operating, transport companies will begin to connect stations with lesser-known sites nearby, she said.

It’s fair to ask whether the train is the most effective way to develop the peninsula’s tourism. Tour companies already run trips to many sites from major cities, which are well served by buses. Driving a rental car through most of the area is considered safe , according to U.S. State Department travel guidance .

Route of Mexico’s Maya Train

Canceled trip.

It took two hours (and one time-zone change) to reach Valladolid, a colonial city of handsome streets and ancient churches, where I bought the rest of my tickets at the station. A tourist-class ticket from Cancún to Valladolid costs 472 pesos (around $28) for foreigners and 355 pesos (around $21) for Mexicans. First class, with wider seats, costs 755.50 pesos and 566.50 pesos, and discounts are available for older travelers and residents of the five states along the train’s route. (A first-class bus from downtown Cancún to Valladolid costs between 222 and 344 pesos, depending on the time of day, and takes half an hour longer.)

It was impossible to run the new Maya Train tracks into dense city centers and the Valladolid station, like the rest, was outside the urban core. A waiting bus took disembarking passengers downtown, a 15-minute ride for 35 pesos.

That day I toured Ek Balam , the site of a ninth-century Maya kingdom that is dominated by a 100-foot palace distinguished by a facade of carvings depicting winged warriors, stylized animal features and geometric patterns bordered by giant fangs. Admission to the site includes entry to the X-Canché cenote, one of thousands of limestone sinkholes that were sacred to the Maya.

Later that afternoon, I was wandering through the Museum of Ethnic Clothing, a private collection of traditional dress, embroidery and hats, when a WhatsApp message from the ticket office blinked on my phone. My train scheduled for the following day was canceled.

I decided to deal with the problem in the morning and enjoy the city. As I wandered past the antique shops and boutique hotels of the elegant Calzada de los Frailes, it was clear that Valladolid’s tourism, and the infrastructure to handle it, was well established. The Maya Train is simply an alternative way to reach a city that tourists discovered years ago.

‘We’re on the Tren Maya!’

In the morning, I found that my train had not been canceled, but the station for which I had a ticket, Tixkokob, was closed. I got off instead one stop earlier at Izamal, known for its ocher streets and the giant Franciscan convent of San Antonio de Padua, built atop the ruins of a pyramid.

During the 90-minute ride, I heard widespread enthusiasm among fellow travelers who expressed a willingness to give the train time to work out the kinks. “We’re an experiment,” said Oliva Escobedo Ochoa, 64, who was vacationing from her home in central Mexico.

Leticia Iliassich, 57, who is Mexican, was traveling with her Croatian husband along with relatives from Mexico and Croatia. They had initially been scheduled on an earlier train to Mérida that had been canceled. “We knew that it was a new project,” she said. “We don’t mind.”

The group had already sent a video to friends declaring, “We’re on the Tren Maya!”

At the Izamal station I hitched a 15-minute ride into the town center with a man who had asked me to take his photo alongside the train and his father. From there I negotiated a taxi to Hacienda San Lorenzo Aké, a working hacienda that still turns the fiber from an agave plant called henequén into coarse rope. Global demand for henequén, known as Yucatán’s “green gold,” brought fantastic wealth to the region in the mid-19th century, speckling the peninsula with more than 1,000 haciendas. ( Many are now sumptuous hotels.)

Where geometry, nature and the divine merge

It was during my third day that I found myself stuck in Maxcanú, after a 90-minute train ride from Izamal. The stationmaster, an army captain, offered me a ride to Uxmal, just as he had to the stranded tourists before me.

Eying Uxmal’s 4 p.m. final ticket sale, I accepted.

My situation made it clear just how distant the Maya Train’s promises are for tourists seeking to explore more of Yucatán. In time, that will change, said Ms. Fridman, the tourism secretary. “The idea is to have more hotels along the train line,” she said. “That will happen little by little.”

But Uxmal , among the most stunning of the Maya sites, made up for the inconvenience. Uxmal’s grand buildings are faced with intricate decorative masks as well as friezes in which geometry, nature and the divine merge. New plaques at each structure offer detailed information in English and Spanish, part of the government’s investment in improving displays at Maya sites for the train project.

Most tourists either take day trips by car or bus to Uxmal from Mérida or stay at one of three nearby hotels. As I finished dinner at my hotel, the dining room began to fill up: 47 Polish tourists had arrived.

Panama hats and a cramped van

My plan for the day was to go by taxi to Bécal, a town where Panama hats are woven in limestone caves to keep the fibers soft, and then pick up the afternoon train in nearby Calkiní for the port city of Campeche.

But I spent so much time watching the hat-making demonstration and then fitting my new hat and buying gifts that we set off with little time to reach the station. To my chagrin, I missed the train, the last one of the day.

On Calkiní’s central square, I found a van that was leaving for Campeche. Cost: 65 pesos. Time: about 1 hour and 20 minutes, similar to what I would have spent on the train. Of course, I was trapped in a cramped seat and had to listen to the driver’s choice of sentimental ballads, but I was dropped off in downtown Campeche, close to my hotel.

The next day, I toured the Museum of Maya Archaeology , an expertly curated collection that included haunting jade funeral masks, glyphs and delicate ceramic figures.

José Madrigal, 45, an engineer from Fremont, Calif., was trying to make Maya pottery interesting for his twin sons. The boys had just turned 5 and their birthday present had been a ride on the Maya Train. “They love trains,” Mr. Madrigal said. Then the family moved on, keeping up a brisk clip through the museum. They had another train to catch.

Should you take the train?

Yes, if you are traveling between larger stations. The train also offers a way to get to Palenque, which is harder to reach and has roads with security concerns. Travelers can stow bicycles on board.

To see train times, check the destinations on the website . You cannot buy tickets online more than a week in advance. But when you finally board, the ride is smooth — and the coffee is excellent.

Follow New York Times Travel on Instagram and sign up for our weekly Travel Dispatch newsletter to get expert tips on traveling smarter and inspiration for your next vacation. Dreaming up a future getaway or just armchair traveling? Check out our 52 Places to Go in 2024 .

Open Up Your World

Considering a trip, or just some armchair traveling here are some ideas..

52 Places:  Why do we travel? For food, culture, adventure, natural beauty? Our 2024 list has all those elements, and more .

Mumbai:  Spend 36 hours in this fast-changing Indian city  by exploring ancient caves, catching a concert in a former textile mill and feasting on mangoes.

Kyoto:  The Japanese city’s dry gardens offer spots for quiet contemplation  in an increasingly overtouristed destination.

Iceland:  The country markets itself as a destination to see the northern lights. But they can be elusive, as one writer recently found .

Texas:  Canoeing the Rio Grande near Big Bend National Park can be magical. But as the river dries, it’s getting harder to find where a boat will actually float .

More From Forbes

This luxury golf resort in mexico offers much more than great play.

• Share to Facebook
• Share to Twitter
• Share to Linkedin

At Mayakoba you can have it all: One of Mexico's best golf courses, stunning beaches, luxury hotels ... [+] (this is the Fairmont) and the resort's 6-mile canal and lagoon sytem, plied by environmentally friendly e-boats.

There are a lot of standout golf courses South of the Border—and a lot of luxury resorts—but when the PGA Tour decided to add a tournament in Mexico for the first time, they went to Mayakoba. When the rival LIV Tour decided to go to Mexico for the first time, they also went to Mayakoba. If you want to play golf in Mexico, you might want to join the best players in the world and choose Mayakoba.

But unlike many top golf resorts, this one is about more than golf. Much more.

Mayakoba is home to 28 Forbes Stars (four 5-Star and two 4-Star). I have been several times, and even got the unique chance to visit a couple of years before it opened. The developer held an event to outline what seemed like an outlandish vision—turning roughly 600-acres of challenging terrain into a forward thinking, environmentally sensitive, sustainably focused, luxury resort with four different hotels, each with a significant spa, plus multiple beaches and dozens of bars and restaurants. Shared amenities include 3-miles of nature trails, bike paths connecting it all, a stunning Greg Norman designed golf course, dedicated golf academy (with Jim McLean golf school), and El Pueblito, a village center modeled after the historic colonial plazas of Mexico. In addition to the many shops and eateries within each of the hotels, El Pueblito has a mix of sidewalk restaurants and shops surrounding a parklike Plaza. It hosts art exhibitions, craft markets, live entertainment and cultural activities throughout the year and has a family friendly arcade and dedicated cooking school.

The aptly named El Cameleon (Chameleon) golf course changes settings dramatically throughout, ... [+] including this coastal beachfront stretch.

The scope of Mayakoba is highly unusual in North America, most similar to the mega-resorts of Hawaii (Kapalua, Wailea, Waikoloa, etc.) which couple multiple hotels with golf courses and other amenities on a large parcel of land. But unlike Hawaiian resorts—or any resorts I know of anywhere—the hotels, beaches and facilities at Mayakoba are all linked by a series of navigable canals/lagoons. These in turn host a fleet of electric boats and greatly reduce the need for cars within the property. For guests who want to move about under their own power, all of the hotels have loaner bikes, and the path system allows for easy exploration. When you do need a four-wheel lift, such as to the golf course, shuttles are on demand and very responsive.

The minimization of vehicles is part of the ongoing effort to preserve the lush water and jungle ecosystem. There are more than 300 species of birds and native wildlife, plus mangrove forests, and among the first employees of Mayakoba were the team of naturalists who started mapping habitat and planning for sensitive development before ground was even broken. Biologists worked with the architects, and while each hotel has a beach and some have beachfront villas, the hotels were all intentionally set back to lessen waterfront density and minimize coastal environmental impact. Almost a third of the entire property is protected acreage, including the mangrove forests—which have grown and improved in health since the resort opened—and all four hotels hold notable environmental certifications. Mayakoba has won many awards for sustainability, including the Ulysses Prize from the United Nations World Tourism Organization.

Apple iPhone 16 Unique All New Design Promised In New Report

Huawei s pura 70 ultra beats iphone with pioneering new feature, meet the fintech billionaire making a fortune rewarding home renters.

Walking the fairways or boating the lagoons - why choose when you can do both?

I say challenging terrain because most of the Riviera Maya and the Yucatan Peninsula on which it is located is topped with a thick layer of limestone—about70,000 square miles of the stuff. It is costly and difficult to excavate and build on, especially when digging out massive canals and infrastructure. With little top soil, even the simple act of growing grass is difficult. I’ve seen many proposed hospitality projects over the years that sounded great until reality set in, and the logistics behind the creation of Mayakoba suggested that its completion might be unlikely. But a couple of years later, the resort opened, I returned, and it was everything they had hoped for and more. In the years since, it has only gotten better. In the past three years alone, there was $120 million in improvements, which are highly visible.

The greatest Mayan ruins are found here, includng Tulum, Coba and this one, Chichen Itza.

One of the big pushes has been the expansion of “Mayakoba Experiences,” which include offsite tours and transportation. The resort operates its own fleet of luxury SUVs with full-time employee drivers, uncommon in the industry. Airport transfers include onboard coolers stocked with beer, soft drinks and food (the arrival experience is hard to beat!) and off-site tours include local highlights such as Mayan ruins. They also added the $1.7 million VanDutch Yacht, equipped with Sublue underwater scooters and offered for charters from a two-hour snorkeling trip to full-day cruise with chef-catered meals. The resort has a variety of other watercraft, with fishing, diving, sunset cocktails and all sorts of ocean excursions available.

One of the most interesting experiences is the opportunity for guests to participate hands on in the coral reef restoration project Mayakoba launched a decade ago. Working with two non-profit foundations, there are three coral nurseries in the Puerto Morelos National Park, from which healthy coral fragments are transferred to the offshore reef restoration sites. Guests can snorkel the farms, help with the relocation, and since 2015 more than 2,000 corals have been added.

All of Mayakoba is interconnected by biking paths, and it's a great way to get around.

One thing that I love about Mayakoba is that all of its four hotels have a distinct personality and all are owned by the same local ownership (a Mexican hotel group) as the resort itself, which is very unusual. In most cases a hotel lot is sold to a developer who then contracts with a management brand. This unique setup has allowed the owners to control the quality, reinvest regularly and provide an exceptional consistency of service and products across the entire property. I can think of two different resorts with golf and multiple hotels that opened with Ritz-Carltons as their flagships, then repeatedly downgraded over the years to less and less luxurious brands. But while many hotels flip flop and change management every few years, Mayakoba has stayed the course, and repeat visitors know what they are going to get. The past three years have seen the owners invest $120 million in improvements that range from new beach clubs, restaurants, spas and luxury villas at individual hotels to a brand new dive and watersports center for all resort guests. The golf course also got a major facelift in 2023.

The lodging array also gives travelers addicted to loyalty programs a couple of options, Hyatt’s World of Hyatt (28 brands including luxury names such as Miraval, Alila, Park Hyatt and Thompson) and Accor’s Live Limitless (Fairmont, Delano, Raffles, Banyan Tree SLS, Sofitel, OneFineStay, Swissotel, etc.)

With close to three dozen bars and restaurants, you won't go hungry. This is the fresh seafood ... [+] display at one of the eateries at the Banyan Tree resort.

On the other side of the country, Cabo San Lucas is home to multiple luxury hotels from many of the world’s best known brands, and it can be very hard to choose. But in the Riviera Maya, the vast majority of larger resorts are all-inclusive, with a slim handful of small luxe boutique properties thrown in. If these are not what you are looking for, there is little competition outside Mayakoba, making it easily top pick in the large region. There’s even less to choose from for golfers not seeking all-inclusive, and in any case, the Greg Norman designed El Cameleon is the region’s best (I have written extensively on golf in the Riveira Maya and played the other nearby courses). It means The Chameleon, and is so named because it changes character every few holes, with sections that are oceanfront, in mangrove forest, in jungle, and even featuring rocky cenote canyons. It’s like a tour of the region’s ecosystem while enjoying great golf.

If you have not played golf at Mayakoba, you have probably never played over a fairway cenote ... [+] (sinkhole cave).

Mayakoba is also home to the first and only Jim McLean Golf Academy in Mexico . McLean is one of the world’s top golf instructors (ranked number four by Golf Digest) . The school has two-bays equipped with the latest instructional technology, and Mayakoba also has a state-of-the-art practice facility.

In addition to golf, Mayakoba has a full dive and water sports center with SCUBA, jet skis, kayaking, stand up paddleboarding, snorkeling, sailing, fishing and more. You can also kayak or hydrobike on the six miles of crystal-clear canals and lagoons through the resort’s protected mangrove forests. The tennis and racket sports center has regular courts, pickleball and fast-growing padel.

The e-boats and canal system connects hotels, restaurants, and can even take you to your guest room

Mayakoba’s lodging pre-eminence in the area is even more important because the Riviera Maya itself is one of the world’s greatest tourism regions, a place I frequently recommend to inquiring friends, with something for almost every taste. It is home to the world’s second longest barrier reef (after Australia), while inland it is full of cenotes, holes in the limestone filled with water that offer great diving and snorkeling. The watersports are world class, from diving to fishing, and the region is full of the most famous Mayan ruins and pyramids (too many to list but highlights include Tulum, Coba and Chichen Itza). There are miles and miles of beautiful beaches, the charming anchor town of Playa del Carmen, the offshore island of Cozumel, many cultural attractions, and excellent food all over the place.

Whether you want to golf, lay at the beach, dive, fish, sail, indulge in culinary exploration or travel back in time, this is the place. The gateway airport of Cancun (south of Cancun itself, as is the Riviera Maya) is a modern airport with a lot of flights from all over the U.S., and a new international airport just opened at the region’s southern end, Tulum. Mayakoba sits pretty much in the center, and while it has always been easy to get to, now it is even easier.

$120 million in recent renovations added this new beach club and adjacent beachfront luury suites at ... [+] the Banyan Tree Mayakoba.

The four hotels within Mayakoba are all excellent but span a nice variety of price points. They are easy to move between but separated enough so that you feel like you are in one individual resort wherever you stay. This is not one of those spots with hotel after hotel lined up along the beach, and nothing is high-rise. Each is self-contained, spread out, and has a feeling of immersive privacy. In past visits I have stayed at all except the Rosewood. Most recently I visited this year and stayed at the Banyan Tree. There are also residences for sale within the Rosewood and Fairmont properties, and some of these are in the rental pool in addition to hotels rooms, suites and villas. Owners have access to all of the facilities across the four hotels.

Overwater luxury villas at the Forbes 5-Star Rosewood Mayakoba.

The two most luxurious are the Rosewood and Banyan Tree, both of which earn the highest possible Forbes 5-Star rating. Both also have Forbes 5-Star spas attached. Rosewood is one of the best U.S. based luxury hotel brands, and I have never been to one that disappointed. The Rosewood Mayakoba completed a $20 million renovation in 2019, and has nothing but 129 suites and lavish villas, and even the smallest suite, the Lagoon Studio Suite, has a private plunge pool and outdoor shower and spans 788 square feet inside and over 1,000 in total. Units have private docks and the check-in experience includes arrival at your room by boat. There are even overwater suites, and the hotel sits on a mile-long stretch of white sand beach. The 5-Star spa, Sense, has eight “island suites”, and a sensory garden. There are seven bars and restaurants with an emphasis on varied Mexican cuisine, as well as a chef’s garden.

Banyan Tree is likewise one of the top Asian luxury brands, based in Singapore but launched in Thailand. It is known for its villa-based architecture, excellent cuisine, and emphasis on spa and wellness, and the Mayakoba location does not disappoint, with villas from 3,153 to 5,511 square feet. The hotel was massively renovated in 2022, adding the expansive new Sands Beach Club, 34 new beachfront pool suites, and 7 new floating rooftop pool lagoon villas. Every unit has its own private plunge or full-sized pool and private garden-style outdoor living area, and some have full outdoor bathrooms with showers and soaking tubs. It has a large and elaborate private beach club, beachfront villas, and an exceptional spa—every therapist comes here from Thailand.

If an outdoor shower just isn't enough, luxury villas at the Banyan Tree add an outdoor soaking tub ... [+] - and private pool (not shown).

For its number of rooms, the dining options are unbelievable, with a dozen bars and restaurants, and a varied, eclectic selection. They even have live cigar rollers in the lobby bar on weekends. In addition to Mexican there’s a Latin steakhouse with South American flair and open fire cooking, a high-end Italian eatery, an immersion cultural experience serving Mayan cuisine with entertainment, an adult-only tapas and paella spot and even a Kosher restaurant. But the signature is the waterfront Saffron, serving Thai cuisine in honor of the brand’s roots, and this is the most popular eatery within all of Mayakoba, drawing guests from every hotel. Specialized dining options include romantic canal dinners on the resort’s electric boats and private in-villa barbecues, cooked in your garden.

Saffron, the waterfront Thai eatery at the Banyan Tree, is the signature restaurant for the entire ... [+] Mayakoba resort.

The Forbes 4-Star Fairmont Mayakoba is the largest hotel here, with 401 rooms and suites, including a collection of larger beach and lagoon casitas. Sitting right on the course, it was the first to open and the most golf-centric. It also got a resort-wide renovation in 2022, adding the new Maykana Beach Club, home to a whopping five new dining concepts, plus a new rooftop bar, El Cielo, and updates of its 188 suites. The 37,000-square-foot newly renovated Spa also gets Forbes 4-Stars and features 20 treatment rooms, mineral pools and steam rooms.

You can travel from the Caribbean to South Pacific, but you won't find many hotel beaches better ... [+] than the one at Andaz Mayakoba.

The Andaz Mayakoba (Hyatt) is technically the entry level choice, and the only one without Forbes stars, but I stayed here and absolutely loved it. The food was great, and while all of the beaches at the hotels here are exceptional, with gently sloping shallow water stretching far from land, sandy bottoms and protective outer barriers, this was my favorite—and one of the best hotel beaches I’ve seen in the world. The central pool complex spills down to the sand, and there’s just an escapist, tropical flair to the low rise resort. The Andaz features 214 guestrooms, including 41 luxury suites with private plunge pools, multiple restaurants and bars, and of course, a large spa and state-of-the-art gym.

While the lodging choices are very varied, the good news is that there is no wrong choice. You could go to Mayakoba over and over again, stay in different places, do different things and eat at different restaurants, and it would take a lot of vacations to see and do it all. You’re not likely to fit in every great experience available here, but it would be fun to try.

• Editorial Standards
• Reprints & Permissions