Teotihuacán: A magical place you must visit

Teotihuacán is in fashion. Perhaps for some it's because of this quest to return to ancestral knowledge, for others because it's cool to recharge with positive energy, or simply because it's recently become a destination for biking and partying on the party buses that make nighttime tours outside the archaeological site.

Regardless of the reason, Teotihuacán is a magical place. Its history is felt as one walks along the Avenue of the Dead and observes the precision and majesty of this civilization, considered one of the oldest in Mesoamerica. Its cosmogony is complex, so we share 5 tips to understand its historical and mythical grandeur:

1. Conception of the city:

The so-called "City of the Gods" is designated a World Heritage Site for being unique in its kind and for its urban design with an astronomical orientation, whose central axis is the Pyramid of the Sun and from there its layout was divided from north to south and from east to west.

2. The Pyramid of the Sun:

The greatest challenge for visitors to Teotihuacán is climbing the Pyramid of the Sun, the third tallest in the world. After waiting in long lines and several stops, we finally reached the top. From there, we were able to appreciate the entire architectural complex. Sitting on the highest point of what is actually the base of the Temple of the Sun, I was able to enjoy the extraordinary energy that permeates it. I remembered the hundreds of people who gather there every year on March 21st, for the arrival of spring. It has been documented that the ancient Teotihuacans did not follow these customs. It was a tradition that emerged in the 1970s with the New Age movement. Perhaps the confusion lies in the fact that the pyramid is conceived as a cosmic clock that shows the path of the sun. Therefore, when the star reaches a completely zenithal position—on the day of Tonatiouh, which usually occurs around June 21st—the sun sets exactly in front of the pyramid.

3. Pyramid of the Moon:

After catching our breath, we continued our journey toward the Pyramid of the Moon, dedicated to the goddess of water and fertility. Reaching the top is not permitted for conservation reasons, but we reached the highest point where access is available. From there, we admired the cosmogonic duality of the pre-Hispanic world: sun and moon, water and fire, life and death. Such ancient wisdom, so easy to write down and yet so complex to assimilate.

4. Masters of jade and obsidian:

Walking through the citadel and the Plaza of the Sun and the Moon, you'll find a wealth of jade and obsidian handicrafts for sale, precious stones chosen by the Teotihuacans for artistic and ornamental creation. Vendors sell masks, chac-mols, eagle and jaguar knights, pendants, bracelets, and earrings. There's something for every budget, from figurines made with the original minerals to replicas. Yes, there's also piracy in the craft sector. Of course, the best-selling pieces are the pyramids.

5. Gastronomy:

The chroniclers of New Spain tell us that they were capable of eating anything that flew, jumped, walked, or crawled, and the gastronomic offerings found in Teotihuacán are a good example of this, from rabbit mixiotes to the typical escamoles, including snail tacos. And if the location is your concern, you can eat modestly at the establishments located at the exit of the Pyramid of the Sun , or in the food court, where you can also taste prickly pear, nopal, or xoconostle liqueur. But if your budget allows, don't miss the opportunity to eat at La Gruta , an emblematic restaurant that will surprise you because you literally enter a cave to taste pre-Hispanic dishes and enjoy a folkloric dance show.

On our way back, our walk to the parking lot was accompanied by the music of flutes and the imitation of jaguar growls emitted by the vendors. We brought those notes with us and left our respect and admiration for this culture from which we still have much to learn.

Road Tip :

The easiest and most efficient way to get to Teotihuacán is via the José Vasconcelos Bicentennial Circuit to the Melchor Ocampo Inner Circuit toward Montevideo. From there, take the Mexico-Pachuca Highway and connect with the OHL México Mexiquense Outer Circuit to the Pyramids-Texcoco Highway.