Teotihuacan is definitely one of Mexico City’s largest tourist attractions and for good reason. Upon approaching these ancient ruins your mind will immediately start wandering, as you ponder what it must have been like when the city was thriving. The most interesting thing to me about places like this is often the speculation of it all. We take for granted the written history we have available and often overlook the fact that there are still so many places in existence that we, as humans, can only make educated guesses about the ancient inhabitants way of life, sports, religious practices, motivation, and building techniques. While I’m unable to answer any of these questions (I’ll leave that to the archaeologists, anthropologists, and historians), I can tell you what to expect when visiting the pyramids in present day.
Get there early
There are many conflicting opening times if you search the internet, but we arrived shortly after 8 am and the site was open. The main advantages to an early visit is beating the crowds, the vendors, and the heat. Note: Teotihuacan is open 7 days a week (regardless of what other schedules that exist) but good luck finding the official website, I’m still not sure I ever have.
Vendors, vendors, and more vendors
The minute you enter the park you will be greeted by many solicitors, peddling water, trinkets, motorcycle tours, and menus to the many restaurants onsite. If none of this interests you, keep your windows up and head for the lot directly in front of the Pyramid of the Sun where you will pay your entrance and parking fees.
Apply your sunscreen!
There is zero shade…. zero. Screen up, wear a hat and cover what you can with light clothing to prevent overheating. Teotihuacan is large, and you will most likely spend at least 4 hours there walking the grounds in direct sunlight.
Wear some good walking/hiking shoes
As I mentioned before, the site is huge and the climb to the top of the pyramids can get rather steep at some points. It’s best you wear some comfortable shoes for your hours of trekking and exploring. The distance between the Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the moon is almost half a mile alone.
Walking to the PirĂ¡mide de la Luna on the Calz De Los Muertos
Watch out for jaguars
Just kidding! But there will be vendors demonstrating neat little wind instruments/whistle’s shaped in the likeness of the big cat made to imitate a jaguar’s roar. Learning to play these whistles is no doubt an acquired skill, because while vendors will use them to make a noise that will have you checking over your shoulder for a nearby jaguar, recent child recipients of the toy blow into it, with a resulting sound similar to wind ripping though a narrow canyon. These instruments definitely require some technique and practice to master which is precisely why I don’t own one (Aleah wouldn’t allow it)!
