Discover 12 Ancient Pyramids in Mexico (You Can Still Visit Them!)

When people think of pyramids, their minds immediately go to the pyramids in Egypt. These are grand structures that have amazed people for centuries. But those aren’t the only pyramids that exist on this planet. There are pyramids in Sudan, Peru, India, and one of the most magical countries in the world, Mexico. Mexico is famous for many things — its delicious cuisine, for one — but also the pyramids located all over the country. These pyramids were built by native tribes that inhabited the area centuries ago.

Let’s take a look at the 12 ancient pyramids in Mexico. You can still visit them and take in the stories and histories of these pyramids while you’re there.

Temple of Kukulkan (Chichén Itzá)

Perhaps the most famous of Mexico’s pyramids, Chichén Itzá is a Mayan city that inhabited the area of what is now Yucatan around 700 to 900 C.E. The Temple of Kukulkan is the grand pyramid that is the wow factor when visitors come to see Chichén Itzá. The pyramid was a calendar for the Mayans and was designed so that when equinoxes occurred, the pyramid would create shadows in the sky of a snake descending onto Earth. Quite apocalyptical, but very genius. Due to environmental and preservation concerns, you can’t climb to the top of the pyramid anymore. You can get to Chichén Itzá, which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, from major cities from either Yucatan or Quintana Roo.

Pyramid of The Moon

Built around 200 to 450 C.E., the Pyramid of the Moon is located in the ancient city of Teotihuacan. Teotihuacan has many pyramids in its city and sometimes pyramids were built on top of each other. It is believed that the Toltecs or the Teotihuacanos built the pyramid, but the Aztecs discovered it long after it was abandoned and in ruins. The Pyramid of the Moon was built for the goddesses the Toltecs or the Teotihuacanos believed in. It is the second-largest pyramid in Latin America.

Pyramid of The Sun

Built directly across the Pyramid of the Moon, the Pyramid of the Sun is also found in the ancient city of Teotihuacan. This pyramid, however, was built before its counterpart. When the Aztecs arrived in the area, it was them who named it the Pyramid of the Sun, as Teotihuacan was already an abandoned city. There is not much documentation on why the ancient tribes built the Pyramid of the Sun, but it is believed that it was built for a god or goddess they believed in.

Great Pyramid of La Venta

Built around 900 B.C., it is one of Mexico’s oldest pyramids. The Great Pyramid of La Venta is unique because it was built from clay, not stone. It’s only 100 feet, but it is quite beautiful anyway. The pyramid is more round, instead of in a triangle shape, but archeologists have suggested that could be because of natural erosion over time. La Venta is a precursor to other more “modern” Mayan pyramids. In the ancient city where the pyramid lies, you can also explore other monuments like altars and giant heads.

Pyramid of the Magician (Uxmal)

The Pyramid of the Magician is a great structure of grand majesticness. It’s hard to miss when you arrive because it’s tall and grandiose. The pyramid and the surrounding city were abandoned and by the time the Spanish arrived to conquer Mexico, the place had been hidden with vegetation. It was built so that it would align with the planet Venus. The pyramid is located in the Mayan ancient city called Uxmal, which means “thrice built” in the Oxmal language. The whole experience while you are in the ancient city of Uxmal will be awe-inspiring. The city is built in a Puuc style.

Pyramids of Coba

Located in the ancient Mayan city of Coba, there are various pyramids here that are truly impressive. The pyramids and city were built before 800 C.E., and the city at one point during its height had about 50,000 people living there. The site features several pyramids including Nohoch Mul, Ixmoja, La Iglesia, The Ancient Pyramid, and the Pyramid of the Painted Lintel. Each of them is unique in their way and some of them have been recently uncovered by archeologists. The site of Coba is still being excavated by archeologists, as most of the site is still covered by centuries of dirt and vegetation.

Great Pyramid (Calakmul)

Calakmul was an ancient Mayan city that was one of the most powerful cities in the Mayan kingdom. The Great Pyramid is one of the largest in the area and archeologists discovered four tombs inside it. The site is situated in a jungle, which is a spectacular venue to see and learn about the ancient Mayan civilizations. When you go, you will be in the middle of the jungle so you’ll be able to see howler monkeys and many tropical birds flying in the sky.

Pyramid of the Niches (El Tajín)

Tajín is known today as a condiment that consists of chili peppers, salt, and lime. But centuries ago, Tajín was an ancient site that also had a majestic pyramid. The Pyramid of the Niches is only 59 feet high, but there are carved niches that were used to count the days of the year. Archeologists have also uncovered over 60 ball courts in the site and they continue to discover more monuments and statues.

Pyramids of the Inscriptions

Located in the state of Chiapas, the Pyramids of the Inscriptions are several pyramids in the ancient site of Palenque. These pyramid structures aren’t that tall, only 89 feet, but there were temples built on top of these pyramids, which is what makes them extremely unique. The pyramids’ temples have Mayan hieroglyphics written all over them. This is why they were named the Pyramids of the Inscriptions. Palenque is an archeological zone that is still being excavated and archeologists believe that only 10% has been uncovered so far.

Monte Albán Pyramids

The Zapotec people built the pyramids located in Monte Albán. About 2,500 years ago, they inhabited the area of what is now Oaxaca. Fascinatingly enough, one of the few tribes that had developed a writing system in the western part of the world. Monte Albán was the capital of the Zapotecs. It is believed they were trading partners with those tribes that lived in Teotihuacan. When you visit, you can explore all the ruins in the ancient city, which houses tombs, temples, and even stone carvings.

Great Pyramid of Cholula

Just a short drive from the city of Puebla lies the largest pyramid in the world when it comes to volume. The Great Pyramid of Cholula is covered in plants and there is a Spanish colonial church on top of it. So, when you first look at it, it may not be much, but as soon as you start uncovering what has been covering the pyramid for centuries, you will see that this great pyramid is majestic. The Great Pyramid is also named Tlachihualtepetl, which means “made by hand mountain” in Nahuatl.

Pyramid of Quetzalcoatl

This pyramid was built by the Toltecs because when they were driven out by extreme weather that may have contributed to the fall of Teotihuacan, they needed to establish a new capital. They decided to go to the nearby area of what is now the state of Hidalgo and created their capital, called Tula. This pyramid was built around 950 to 1150 C.E. and the Pyramid of Quetzalcoatl, which means “feathered serpent” in Nahuatl. The surrounding area has statues of Toltec warriors and other monuments that you’ll find interesting to discover.

The photo featured at the top of this post is © Mariordo /CC BY-SA 3.0 – License / Original