Mexico is one of the popular cities that keeps a rich balance between its culture and historical materials.
The pyramids of Mexico are one of the most amazing attractions that tourists find when they visit the city. Along with heritage pyramids, one can also find mountains, dense forests, and long extended deserts.
The majority of the pyramids in Mexico are built between 900 B.C Era to 1000 C.E. The pyramids of Mexico have architectural glaze as well as cultural relevance to the Mexican city.
Mexico is one of the best North American cities for tourists to explore things that are yet unexplored.
Read this article to find out more about the beautiful pyramids in Mexico and interesting facts surrounding the pyramids.
How many pyramids are there in Mexico at present?
There is no surety about the exact number of pyramids in Mexico.
However, a larger portion of the pyramids is still lost, which the archeological survey department is searching for. But several pyramids in Mexico still stand tall and strong.
Who built the pyramids in Mexico?
The ‘Aztec pyramids’ were built by the Aztecs, whereas the ‘Teotihuacan pyramids’ are believed to be made by the Toltec civilization, but there is no accurate proof of it. It is based on the beliefs of the scholars and texts of the colonial era.
The ‘Mayan pyramids’ are largely based in eastern Mexico, and it is said to be built by a Mesoamerican civilization called ‘Maya.’ It was built somewhat around 1500 B.C.
Olmecs, Mixtes, and Zapotecs are also part of the pre-colonial civilization which has built pyramids in Mexico.
Though the pyramids were made by different civilizations, still all of them used similar materials like clay and stone to shape the pyramids.
Every civilization has incorporated its own culture in shaping the pyramids, and that is the reason the pyramids have different shapes, structures, widths, and heights.
Pyramid of the Sun – The largest pyramid
The biggest pyramid present today in Teotihuacan city is the Pyramid of the Sun. It is a type of Mesoamerican pyramid that was shaped in pre-Colombian America.
The pyramid of the sun covers a total area of 3,381.71 ha.
Historians believe that the language that the Teotihuacan people spoke was long lost in the past. The city of Teotihuacan is believed to be built around 100 B.C.E, while popular constructions were still taking place till 250 C.E.
The city is also popularly known today for its residential areas where multiple families once resided together.
The city lasted for around 550 C.E, after which the city was burned down and also perished due to extreme climatic weather.
The Pyramid of the Sun is about 1,800 years old, and it symbolizes fertility according to the Artec texts that have been found.
It is also believed that a set of scientists had the chance to peek inside the Pyramid of the Sun through certain scientific instruments, and they claim that they have seen a world of secret rooms and chambers inside the building.
When to visit?
The Pyramid of the Sun was closed for a few months because of the pandemic, but now visitors can head towards this amazing archeological view in Teotihuacan city as it is open now.
The site is available for tourists every day from 9 AM to 5 PM, but the last entry allowed is at 3 PM.
Ticket Details –
The visitors have to pay 80 Mexican Pesos to get inside the site. The visiting charges are not applicable for tourists who have residential proof of Mexican citizenship only on Sundays.
Pyramid of the Moon – The second-largest pyramid
The pyramid of the moon is also situated in Teotihuacan city, Mexico, and is a public site.
The pyramid was built around 200 – 450 AD. The Pyramid of the Moon is found at the end of the Avenue of the Dead. The pyramid is built layer after layer and is now used for burial purposes.
The burials in every layer of the pyramid were done in a planned way so that layers could be added to the existing pyramid with every burial.
Structures that are even older than the Pyramid of the Sun can be found in the Pyramid of the Moon.
The Pyramid of the Moon was earlier used as a base center for performing rituals like animal sacrifice and worshipping of the Teotihuacan Goddess and other elementary Goddesses.
This second-largest pyramid in Mexico has a deep association with fertility, water, earth, and rain. There are seven layers of the pyramid present now.
When to Visit?
Visitors can visit the Pyramid of the Moon whenever they are planning to visit the Pyramid of the Sun, as it takes two to three hours to entirely explore the Pyramid of the Moon.
The tourist spot is open every day from 9 A.M to 6 P.M
Ticket Details –
The ticket price for the Pyramid of the Moon is the same as the Pyramid of the Sun.
The visitors can visit both the Teotihuacan pyramids in one ticket if they want to explore the site for a full day.
The Pyramid of the Magician: Piramide del adivino
The ‘Pyramid of the Magician’ is located at Uxmal, which is an ancient city of Mayan civilization. The pyramid is a step pyramid in Mesoamerica.
The Pyramid of the Magician is also known as the ‘Pyramid of the Dwarf’ and the ‘Pyramid of the Soothsayer.’
The pyramid is 40 meters tall, and it is the tallest pyramid present in the city of Uxmal.
The tall building is said to be built by Itzamna, who is a classical Mayan deity, or by his mother, but there is no appropriate fact that can support the original name of the builder.
The recognized material used to construct the ‘Pyramid of the Magician’ is limestone.
The construction of the building is marvelous as it is made in a manner to be both tall and low based on the structure.
There are a total of five temples in the entire pyramid, and the fifth temple is known as the ‘Pyramid of the Magician.’ The pyramid has a uniquely constructed height, slope, and rounded-edged sides.
The pyramid is named after the Mayan folk God, Itzamna, who was believed to be a magician and created the entire pyramid in one night using his magic powers.
When to Visit?
The tourists can explore the ‘Pyramid of the Magician’ and Uxmal during the day time.
The steep slopes of the Yucatan pyramid are what make it unique in every way, so the tourists can take three to four hours to explore the whole area of Uxmal town.
However, the magical site is open every day from 8 A.M to 5 P.M, and it also offers light and sound show for tourists in two languages – English and Spanish.
Ticket Details –
On Sundays, there are no charges for Mexican citizens to visit the site as a reason it gets a lot crowded on Sundays.
The entry charges are 234 Mexican Pesos to visit the site, and for parking, it is 30 Mexican Pesos.
Temple of the Inscriptions, Palenque
The pyramid of the Inscriptions is also known by the name “House of the Nine Sharpened Spears.”
The architecture is of the pre-Colombian era of the Maya civilization and is found in the pre-Columbian area named Palenque.
The pyramid is the largest steeped building at Palenque, Chiapas, Mexico.
The pyramid serves as a memorial of the great ruler, K’ inch Janaab’ Pakal, who ruled for over 70 years in Palenque.
The pyramid is 89 feet high and has eight different levels, with a temple with Mayan inscriptions (hieroglyphs) and piers covering the top.
The construction of the temple started when the ruler, K’ inch Janaab’ Pakal, was living in his last decade, and later his son and successors took over and completed the building.
The pyramid is a very beautiful one, as one can find hieroglyphic texts in two piers, pictures of human figures holding an infant, who is a one-legged snake in the other two piers.
The entire construction of piers A to F is made of stucco, which is made of water, various construction materials, and bonds.
The temple of the Inscriptions is famous for its outstanding inscription text samples, the piers, and most importantly tomb Pakal and the things that had been found inside it.
The temple of the Inscriptions, Palenque, is also one of the most famous pyramids in Mexico.
When to visit?
Tourists can visit the Temple of Palenque any time during the day. However, they must invest at least one to two days in the temple of Palenque.
Ticket Details –
The tourists need to pay the visiting amount two times during their visit to the temple of the Inscriptions, only if they wish to explore everything inside.
If you are planning to visit the Palenque National Park, then the charge would be 35 Mexican Pesos.
If the tourists are planning to visit both the park and the actual ruins, then the entry amount is 75 Mexican Pesos.
Monte Alban Pyramid (Oaxaca)
Mount Alban is situated in the Oaxaca state, Mexico.
The capital state of Oaxaca city is situated in the east direction of Monte Alban, which is only 9 kilometers away from the capital.
What makes the great Monte Alban unique among the pyramids in Mexico is the large number of detached stones all through the plaza of Monte Alban.
Monte Alban is so huge that it can store the entire Oaxaca city population inside it for the ceremonial purposes of the state.
However, all the important ceremonial and upper-class residentials are located within the proximity of the pyramid.
Monte Alban’s building L has traces of the postures of ‘Danzantes,’ who are also called dancers in modern times; those structures like postures are of naked men standing in unusual twisted poses and represent the Olmec culture.
Whereas in the main plaza of the pyramid is situated building J, right at the center, and it represents different stone cravings like that of a structure carved upside down. It also has cravings for arrows that are not very common in nature.
Today, Monte Alban serves as a major pre-Columbian tourist attraction spot and is one of the notable pyramids in Mexico.
The museum of Monte Alban has original carved stones inside it that visitors can explore.
When to Visit?
Monte Alban is one of the busiest spots in Oaxaca, Mexico, due to its historical and archeological relevance.
So, tourists must know the timings before paying a visit to the pyramid.
Monte Alban is open every day for tourists from 8 AM to 5 PM.
Tourists can book a cab, shuttle, or public transport or can even walk to the spot of Monte Alban.
Ticket Details –
To enter the gates of Monte Alban, tourists must pay an entry charge of 75 Mexican Pesos.
However, entry charges are not taken from Mexican citizens, only on Sundays.
Calakmul (Campeche)
Calakmul is also called ‘Kalakmul,’ which is situated in the Campeche state of Mexico.
The Calakmul biosphere was once one of the most powerful Mayan archaeological centers that are nearly 35 kilometers from the Guatemalan border.
Calakmul is recognized as one of the world heritage sites by UNESCO.
Calakmul is of the classical period, and it maintained a tough rivalry with Tikal. The political rivalry was between the two superpowers of Maya.
Calakmul is also considered the snake kingdom, especially for the typography of a snake’s head on the emblem of the pyramid.
There are a total of 6,750 Calakmul structures that have been identified so far, and the largest of all the other structures is the pyramid of Calakmul itself.
When to Visit?
Calakmul is a huge ruin, so if you are planning to visit there, then you need to enter the biosphere of Calakmul.
The best time to visit the pyramid is between April and July.
The Mayan ruins and biosphere are open every day between 8 AM to 5 PM. However, tourists are always asked to visit the ruins at least 2 hours before 5 PM, or else they might be denied entry if they cross the entry hours.
Ticket Details –
There are two entry fees that you need to pay when visiting the ruins of the Calakmul biosphere.
There is an entry charge of 65 Mexican pesos at the gate of the Calakmul National Park. The other 55 Mexican Pesos need to be paid at the gate of the Calakmul ruins.
Coba, La Iglesia and El Castillo
Coba is an ancient and popular Mayan city which is situated at Quintana Roo, Mexico.
All the important events of the mesoamerican culture of the Late Classical Period between 600 A.D to 900 A.D has been captivated in sculptures made of stone and wood.
The two pyramids of Coba – La Iglesia and El Castillo are famous for their structures. These two pyramids are the largest pyramids of the Yucatan peninsula.
When to Visit?
Coba is just a 45 minutes drive from Tulum, so if you are planning to visit Coba to see the two mesmerizing pyramids of Mexico, then you can book a cab from Tulum to reach Coba.
Coba is open for visitors every day between 8 AM to 5 PM but tourists can spend some extra time in the peaceful atmosphere till 7.30 PM by paying some extra charges.
Ticket Details –
The entry charge for each person is 65 Mexican pesos, but if there are more people in a group, then the entry charges decrease accordingly.
However, tourists can opt to stay longer than the regular visiting time of the Coba by paying 220 Mexican pesos extra per person.
Tourists can hire local guides who have mastered studying the history of the place.b The guides charge almost 500 Mexican pesos for approximately four people. Guides can help if you are interested in knowing the mysterious facts of Coba.
La Venta – The Great Pyramid (Complex C)
La Venta is located in Tabasco, Mexico, and is one of the most prominent pyramids in Mexico.
It is a pre-Columbian tourist spot from the Olmec era. At present, La Venta does not have all the original manuscripts or the historical facts preserved in the pyramids, as it has been moved to the museum in the capital of Tobasco.
The Great Pyramid of La Venta is located at the center of the building and is made out of clay. That is the reason that the tops of the pyramid are visible to human eyes even from a great distance.
The Great Pyramid in Mexico is 110 feet tall and has an earth filling of approximately 100,000 cubic meters.
The shape of the pyramid is conical, and that is the reason that scientists believed that the pyramid represents volcanos and mountains, but in recent research, it has been found that the conical shape of the pyramid is due to soil erosion from almost 2,5000 years.
The actual shape of the pyramid was rectangular, but it changed its shape with changing times.
When to Visit?
The La Venta museum at Parque is open every day between 8 AM to 4 PM for tourists.
Ticket Details –
Tourists are suggested to book tickets prior to their visit to the museum of Parque – La Venta.
The online ticket system is made so that tourists get a full refund of the total amount paid 24 hours before the visiting day; this is convenient for the tourists as they will get their money back if they decide not to visit the place for any given cause.
Pyramid of the Niches: El Tajin
El Tajin is one of the important cities of Mesoamerican culture and is located in the southern portion of Mexico.
El Tajin has been declared a world heritage site.
The pyramid of the Niches in El Tajin once served as a golf city in Mexico.
But the one thing that is very mysterious about the Pyramid of the Niches is that the whole building of the pyramid was painted in black and red; the reason behind it is not known to the world yet.
When to Visit?
El Tajin is open for tourists from 8 AM to 5 PM every day.
Ticket Details –
Presently, El Tajin is charging an entry amount of 674 Mexican pesos.
The Great Pyramid – Cholula
The Great Pyramid of Cholula, Mexico, is considered to be the biggest pyramid in the world if it is measured by its volume.
There stands a church named ‘Lady of Remedies’ on the top of the Great Pyramid of Cholula, which makes it unique in style.
Tourists can explore the maintained parts of the pyramid.
When to Visit?
The Great Pyramid of Cholula is open to tourists every day of the week from 7 AM to 7 PM.
Tourists can also climb the steep steps to the top of the pyramid.
Ticket Details –
Tickets are available in both online and offline modes, so tourists can opt to book tickets in advance to skip the line at the entry gate.
Conclusion
The mentioned pyramids in Mexico are famous for their style, civilization, architecture, shapes, and sizes and attract a lot of tourists every year.
In fact, there are several places to visit on the American continent, like Miami, Texas, and Richmond, that should also be visited once in a lifetime.
Here in this article, we have listed 10 of the most amazing pyramids in Mexico that you should not miss out on.
