Hey travelers! Welcome to my article on Teotihuacan. My name is Nadine Navas, better known on Instagram as @mrsxnavas. Since I was a kid, my parents traveled a lot and very far with me. I come from a small village in Germany and so for this reason I have always been interested in what else is out there in the world – especially big cities and other cultures.
I also love to learn languages and talk to locals in their native tongue. For these reasons, I started early to pursue my travel goals. I worked to save money which I then used to travel. During my studies I had the opportunity to spend a semester in Mexico, where I spent more than six months. My semester abroad showed me what a wonderful country Mexico is.
Coming Back to Mexico for the Second Time
This trip introduced me to every corner of the country and I tried my best to understand the culture. I also met my boyfriend in Mexico, which is why I came back again recently. My latest trip there started in Mexico City, including a few days in Teotihuacan. After that, I traveled to San Luis Potosi.
Huasteca Potosina is a region inside San Luis Potosi and is known for its nature. I also spent a few days here. I visited the capital and took excursions in the surrounding areas. There is a lot to see such as these wonderful waterfalls. From there, I traveled on to Puerto Vallarta – my favorite place in all of Mexico. This is a resort town located on Mexico’s Pacific coast.
From there you can take trips to other areas like Sayulita. So I spent another two weeks chilling in Puerto Vallarta. Next, I went to Lago Chapala – the largest lake in Mexico. It was quiet, but there was still a lot to see. A trip to the Pueblo Magico Mazamitla in the mountains is a good idea too. After that, I headed back to Mexico City. All in all, I spent four weeks in Mexico.
Day Trip from Mexico City to Teotihuacan
Teotihuacan is a famous place. One of the most important prehistoric ruins in the world is located here. It was especially interesting for me to see the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon. The Pyramid of the Sun is the third largest pyramid in the world and is 1,800 years old!
For a long time I wanted to visit a place like this and since Teotihuacan is only 45 kilometers from Mexico City – taking a trip there was a no-brainer! I booked a hotel in Mexico City and took the trip on my own to Teotihuacan by car. The trip is short. A tour guide can be booked on the spot.
However, I explored the ruins by myself and read info about the structures from the information boards. There are also many vendors on site who are selling souvenirs, jewelry and stones. It’s definitely worth at least talking to the vendors as they usually have lots of knowledge about the place.
Highlight of Teotihuacan: Pyramid of the Sun
My favorite place in Teotihuacan was the Pyramid of the Sun. Unfortunately, due to the regulations, it wasn’t possible to climb up to the top. This is normally something that you can do under normal circumstances. Nevertheless, it was still so impressive from below as it’s situated at the end of a long road. This road is called the Road of the Dead.
It’s hard to imagine how these structures were built back then without modern technology and engineering. For me, the idea of how people lived and performed rituals there centuries ago absolutely fascinates me. You can feel that Teotihuacan is full of power and energy everywhere you go.
Top Recommendations for Teotihuacan
I highly recommend staying overnight in Mexico City and then taking a day trip to Teotihuacan. There are countless hotels and Airbnbs in Mexico City, with all types of budgets available. I suppose you do have hotels in Teotihuacan too, but there isn’t a lot to see and do apart from the ruins.
You can either do the trip on your own (as I did) or book a tour/bus from Mexico City. For students, the entrance to the pyramids is free. Therefore, my tip for all of the students out there: take your student ID with you and show it at the entrance gate. The entrance fee for everyone else is still low.
After entering the ruins, you should take your time exploring everything inside the gates. I recommend bringing sunscreen and a hat for those hot days. It can get incredibly hot in Teotihuacan and there isn’t much shade around the ruins. You should also bring some water to stay hydrated, but there are small shops where you can buy drinks and snacks if need be.
Once the restrictions have lifted, I suggest climbing up the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon. I also recommend walking down the Street of the Dead. Look around at the local vendors and get some information about the rituals and special stones too. Then you should end your trip by going to a local restaurant nearby and eating some tacos!
Facts about this Archaeological Complex
Teotihuacan is a UNESCO World Heritage Site where people lived before the times of Christ. At that time, the area was a large city – probably one of the largest in the world. Today, it’s assumed that up to 200,000 people lived here all at the same time. After the city was abandoned, years later the Aztecs rediscovered the city and named it Teotihuacan.
This name means “where one becomes god”. One can only guess at what rituals took place but some claim that victims were brought to the pyramids for sacrifice to the sun. An interesting fact: you will see dogs roaming around. Locals say these dogs are the souls of the dead people who lived here and they came back as dogs in order to protect the area.
