Mexico City to Teotihuacan and Tepotzotlan: Private day trip

Founded around 200 BC, Teotihuacan rapidly grew into the largest and most influential city in Mesoamerica. At its peak, it was home to over 100,000 people (with some estimates as high as 250,000), thousands of buildings, and had conquered multiple Mayan city-states. And then, it collapsed in the 7th or 8th century, and had been long-abandoned when the Aztecs found it in the 13th century. Today, Teotihuacan is one of the most impressive and enigmatic archaeological sites in the world, with the 65-meter-tall Pyramid of the Sun (the 3rd largest in the world), 43-meter-tall Pyramid of the Moon, and a number of smaller temples lining the Avenue of the Dead at the heart of the city. Between the two main pyramids, you’ll find the Palace Museum of Quetzalpapálotl - a 6th century complex with intricate carvings and murals. While you can explore Teotihuacan on your own, for more in-depth insights, you can also arrange a guided tour.

When the Spanish arrived to the area in 1520, they leveled the indigenous settlement at Tepotzotlan and used it as a base for spreading Christianity to the area. The Jesuits established 3 schools here in the late 16th century, and today, the complex is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. A living survey of colonial architecture, the complex showcases everything from elegant Renaissance to opulent Baroque architecture, and the entire building is now a Museum of the Viceroyalty of New Spain. Inside, you’ll not only find a small exhibition of indigenous artefacts, but some of the country’s most precious folk and religious art (loaned from Mexico City’s Cathedral). Make sure to save a large chunk of time for the Templo de San Francisco Javier - one of Mexico’s most opulent examples of Churrigueresque architecture, where the almost overwhelmingly ornate altars are completely covered in gold gilt.