Teotihuacan Pyramids Mexico City. Pyramid of the Sun, Pyramid of the Moon, Temple of Quetzalcoatl, The Citadel and many smaller pyramids. 31 miles/50 kms north of Mexico city, there is frequent bus service to the Pyramids. I recommend not going with a tour company as they do not give you sufficient time at the pyramids. It is fairly easy and safe to get to Teotihuacan on your own.
Teotihuacan Pyramids Mexico City
1. Pyramid Of The Sun
Facing west, the pyramid is 216 feet/66 meters high and the largest structure in Teotihuacan. Climbing to the top of the Pyramid of the Sun, is not a task for the feeble. It is approx. 250 steep steps to the top (broken into 3 landings). The view from the top is breathtaking in all four directions.
Pyramid of the Sun, Teotihuacan, Mexico City
2. Pyramid Of The Moon
Facing south, the pyramid is 140 feet/43 meters high and the second largest structure in Teotihuacan. Climbing up the Pyramid of the Moon is only allowed up-to the first level, with very very steep steps. The view from here is spectacular as well. You can see all the smaller pyramids and look straight down the “avenue of the dead”.
Pyramid of the Moon, Teotihuacan, Mexico City
Pyramid of the Moon, Teotihuacan, Mexico City
3. Temple Of Quetzalcoatl
The Temple of the Feathered Serpent Quetzalcoatl occupies a prominent place in the Citadel. A kind of truncated pyramid that is adorned with numerous stone heads of the Feathered Serpent deity. The Citadel is at the southern end of the Avenue of the Dead. A large open space (38-acres) that offers a respite from the massive presence of the Pyramid of the Sun and Pyramid of the Moon. The Citadel contains multiple elite residential complexes and is dominated by the Temple of Quetzalcoatl.
Temple of Quetzalcoatl, Teotihuacan, Mexico City. Image credit-Khan Academy
4. Smaller Pyramids
Teotihuacan is arranged in a grid layout that covers about 8 square miles/20 square kms. It contains around 2,000 single-story apartment compounds, as well as various pyramids, plazas, temples and palaces of nobles and priests.
Avenue of the Dead, a 1.5 mile/2.4 km long road linking all buildings
Smaller Pyramids line either side of the Pyramids
There are drainage tunnels linking each area and you can actually crouch and crawl through them (not recommended) from one courtyard to another.
Drainage tunnel linking courtyards in Teotihuacan, Mexico City
Mural of a Puma under shelter on the east side of the Avenue of the Dead, just before entering the Plaza of the Moon.
5. How to get here
Find your way to Autobuses del Norte station. Inside the station, head all the way towards the left, to Puerta (gate) 8. Here, you will find a window selling tickets to “Pyramides” or “Zona Arqueológico”. All luggage is x-rayed at every bus station and passengers on the bus are physically video-recorded for safety reasons. The bus ride is about an hour. If you’re lucky, you might even have live music entertainment on the journey. You need at least 4 hours in Teotihuacan to truly appreciate all the details.
Totonacs of Papantla, Veracruz performing the “voladores” ritual (Dance of the Flyers) at the entrance of the Pyramids
When departing, take the exit directly across from the Pyramid of the Sun. This will take you to a small lane that has shops on either side. Shop around till you find better prices for souvenirs. At the end, there is a public toilet which is exceptionally clean. Once you exit the site, the restaurant on the right is very reasonably priced for food, drinks and is clean! The bus stop back to the city is right there too.
TIPS
- Travel light as there is plenty of walking and climbing to do
- Carry water it gets hot and you get thirsty
- Bargain the prices down for souvenirs
