Just outside greater Mexico City, the ruins of Teotihuacan are a place of massive pyramids and profound mystery.
The ancient city is so old that the Aztecs, the dominant group in the Valley of Mexico at the time of the arrival of the Spanish, didn’t even know who built it.
Today, there’s much speculation about the origins of Teotihuacan, although not many facts. Archeological research is ongoing, with new tunnels and chambers still being discovered and explored.
I was fortunate enough to visit Teotihuacan several times during the many years I lived in Mexico.
I’ve taken public transportation from Mexico City to get there, and I’ve driven on my own. I’ve taken friends who were visiting Mexico for the first time, and I’ve gone all by myself. Each visit was an unforgettable experience.
Visiting Teotihuacan is one of the top day trips from Mexico City and one of the best things to see in Mexico. Don’t miss it.
Learn everything you need to know about visiting the Teotihuacan Ruins in this guide.
Teotihuacan Ruins Facts and History
As mentioned, it’s unclear which culture founded Teotihuacan and constructed its immense pyramids and temples. The two most likely groups are the Toltecs and the Totonacs.
The Toltecs were from central Mexico, and they’re best known today for their improbably huge statues and head carvings, which can be seen at archeological sites such as Tula.
Their peak came between that of Teotihuacan and the rise of the Aztecs, and they exerted a deep influence on many Mesoamerican cultures.
The Totonacs are from what is the state of Veracruz today. The people still exist, and part of their belief system is that their ancestors were the ones responsible for building Teotihuacan.
Evidence does show, however, that Teotihuacan was home to several cultures from various parts of pre-Hispanic Mexico, including the Toltecs, Totonacs, Mayans, Mixtecs, and Zapotecs.
Compounding the mystery of its origin is the mystery of its language. The residents of Teotihuacan had a written language, but researchers haven’t yet deciphered it.
Consequently, the original name of the city also isn’t known. Teotihuacan is a Nahuatl word that means “the place where men become gods.” It was given by the Aztecs, who arrived in the Valley of Mexico around 1250 CE, centuries after the demise of Teotihuacan.
Teotihuacan was probably settled as early as 400 BC. The peak of the city, when it was home to more than 100,000 people, was from 100 BC to 650…
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