Mexico’s pre-Columbian civilizations can be hard to keep straight, but they shared a few common traits. Most of their archaeological sites include ball courts, they considered corn an essential crop, and they all built pyramids.
Their handiwork can now be found throughout Mexico, offering a window into the country’s ancient past. Read on for what you need to know about Mexico’s famous pyramids, including 10 of the most spectacular, culturally important ones in the country.
How many pyramids are there in Mexico?
The short answer is: Nobody knows. Sadly, the pyramids in the Aztec capital of Tenochtitlán are long gone, but dozens of others across Mexico still stand.
Who built the pyramids in Mexico?
Pre-Columbian cultures like the Olmecs, Mixtecs, Toltecs, Zapotecs, Aztecs (or Mexica), and Maya created these impressive structures. For the most part, each civilization had a specific building style, although they all used materials like clay, stone, and mortar.
How old are the pyramids in Mexico?
The most significant pyramids were constructed over roughly two millennia, from around 900 B.C.E. to about 1000 C.E.
Where to find pyramids in Mexico
Map of the top 10 pyramids in Mexico to visit
Courtesy of Google Maps
Several top pyramids are located along Mexico’s eastern coast. Others are clustered inland, around Mexico City and farther south in Oaxaca. Find 10 of our favorites this Google map (pictured above), then keep reading for more info.
1. La Iglesia and El Castillo, Coba (Quintana Roo)
La Iglesia is one of two impressive pyramids in the Maya city of Coba.
Photo by Matyas Rehak/Shutterstock
The ancient Maya city of Coba, which peaked between 800 and 1100 C.E. and was once believed to have had 50,000 inhabitants, is home to two impressive pyramids—the Iglesia and the Castillo, which is the second largest pyramid on the Yucatán peninsula. Half-ruined and covered in plants, both structures look as if they’ve recently been unearthed (indeed, much of the site has yet to be excavated), creating a mysterious, almost magical atmosphere.
How to visit
Coba is just over two hours by car from Cancún and 45 minutes from Tulum. If you go without a tour, you can hire a guide at the entrance to the ruins.
2. Castillo de Kukulcán, Chichén Itzá (Yucatan)
The Maya city of Chichén Itzá centers around the Castillo de Kukulcán pyramid.
Photo by Iren Key/Shutterstock
The Castillo de Kukulcán, with its nine stepped platforms, is the centerpiece of Chichén Itzá, a Maya city that flourished from around 700 to 900 C.E. The pyramid functioned as an enormous calendar and was designed so that, on the equinoxes, the play of sunlight and shadow would create the illusion of a snake descending to Earth. While visitors are no longer allowed to climb the steps or access the Temple of Kukulcán at the top of the pyramid, they can tour other ball courts, temples, and palaces throughout Chichén Itzá.
How to visit
The roads to Chichén Itzá are safe and well-maintained, but it’s easiest to visit with a tour. Halfway between Cancún and Mérida (roughly two to three hours from either), this UNESCO World Heritage site is often crowded with tourists and vendors. The plus is that you can experience Chichén Itzá as it was during its peak—a bustling city.
3. Pyramid of the Magician, Uxmal (Yucatan)
The pyramids at Uxmal were built in the decorative Puuc style.
Photo by Jakub Zaljic/Shutterstock
The Maya were never centralized in one capital, as were the Aztecs and the Toltecs. Instead, the civilization resembled ancient Greece, with competing, independent city-states that shared a language and religious beliefs even as they developed different styles of architecture and their own distinct characters. The contrast between Chichén Itzá and Uxmal is impossible to miss. The structures at Uxmal, including the Pyramid of the Magician, were built in the Puuc style, which is known for its highly stylized motifs and a decorative richness not typical of other Maya cities.
How to visit
A 70-minute drive on two well-maintained highways will take you from modern Mérida to ancient Uxmal.
4. Pyramid of the Inscriptions, Palenque (Chiapas)
The Pyramid of the Inscriptions at Palenque is covered in Maya hieroglyphs.
Photo by Anton Ivanov/Shutterstock
The buildings at Palenque, in the state of Chiapas, are impressive less for their size than for the elegance of their design. The 89-foot-high Pyramid of the Inscriptions is topped by a temple with piers covered in Maya hieroglyphs—hence the “inscriptions” in its name. It’s estimated that only 10 percent of Palenque has been excavated so far, though archaeologists continue to work on the site. Most recently, they uncovered a stucco head representing the corn deity Yum Kaax.
How to visit
With the opening of the Palenque airport in 2014, it’s become easy to visit this once remote site. Interjet offers twice-weekly flights (on Wednesdays and Saturdays) from Mexico City.
5. Great Pyramid of La Venta (Tabasco)
Ancient Olmec statues can be found at the base of the La Venta Pyramids.
Photo by Matt Gush
Located in the state of Tabasco, La Venta is home to Mexico’s oldest known pyramid, built around 900 B.C.E. At 100 feet, the structure isn’t particularly tall. Since it was built of clay instead of stone, its original rectangular shape has been softened by the ages, making it appear more like a rounded hill. Still, it’s fascinating to behold, as is the sophisticated urban planning of La Venta, which served as a forerunner to Teotihuacán, Tula, and other ancient capitals.
How to visit
You have to work to visit La Venta. The site is located in a wet, humid corner of Mexico about 90 minutes by car from Villahermosa (there are daily, direct flights from Mexico City), which is already off the beaten path. Because it’s located in the jungle, be sure to bring insect repellent when you visit La Venta.
6. Monte Albán Pyramids (Oaxaca)
Monte Albán served as the capital of the Zapotec civilization for more than a millennium.
Photo by Jakub Zaljic/Shutterstock
Situated along the Pacific, the state of Oaxaca was, and still is, the center of the Zapotec people. This Indigenous group has been in the area for at least 2,500 years and is credited with developing one of the earliest writing systems in Mesoamerica.
Monte Albán served as the capital for more than a millennium, from around 500 B.C.E. to 800 C.E., and traded frequently with Teotihuacán—another Mesoamerican city with a similarly large ceremonial center. Today, visitors can explore the site’s “truncated” pyramids, which look like raised platforms topped by temples, as well as several famous tombs and stone carvings.
How to visit
Five miles from the city center of Oaxaca, Monte Albán is easy to reach by bus or taxi. If you choose to go with a taxi, it’s recommended to also arrange a return trip with your driver.
7. Pyramid of the Niches, El Tajin (Veracruz)
The Pyramid of the Niches gets its name from the carved niches thought to have been used to track the days of the year.
Photo by Noradoa
In the state of Veracruz, El Tajin is one of the most important sites from the so-called epiclassic (or late classic) period, dating from around 900 C.E. The city’s residents were avid ballplayers—more than 60 ball courts have been excavated here. You’ll also see one of Mexico’s most unusual buildings, the Pyramid of the Niches. The relatively short pyramid, 59 feet high, consists of six platforms, each lined with carved niches that were most likely used to track the days of the year.
How to visit
El Tajin is remote, but if your travels take you to the coastal city of Veracruz on the east coast of Mexico, it’s a four-hour drive to the site. There are tour operators who offer day trips from Veracruz (generally an all-day, 12-hour trip to account for the long drive). If you prefer to avoid a day full of driving, the ruins are about a 30-minute drive from the small town of Papantla (accommodations are limited).
8. Great Pyramid of Cholula (Puebla)
The ancient city of Cholula is home to the largest pyramid by volume in the world.
Photo by Diego Grandi/Shutterstock
The largest pyramid in the world (in terms of volume) is not in Egypt, but outside the city of Puebla. Upon first glance, however, the Great Pyramid of Cholula looks like something else entirely, since it’s covered in vegetation and topped with a 16th-century church constructed by the Spanish. Visitors can access some of the restored sections of the pyramid, then explore the nearly five miles of tunnels excavated by archaeologists throughout the surrounding ancient city.
How to visit
Cholula is four miles outside of Puebla, which is famous for its colonial buildings, cuisine, and the recently opened International Museum of the Baroque. The historical site is easily reached by taxi or rideshare.
9. Pyramid of the Sun and Pyramid of the Moon, Teotihuacán (state of México)
The sprawling city of Teotihuacan is dominated by two massive pyramids.
Photo by Alex Couto/Shutterstock
Teotihuacán, which flourished from roughly 100 B.C.E. to 550 C.E., was one of the most influential cities in Mesoamerica, with a population of nearly 200,000 at its peak. Dominated by the enormous Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon, and a citadel, which sit along the 2.5-mile-long Avenue of the Dead, the site awed even the Aztecs, who wondered what vanished civilization could have created such a monumental city.
How to visit
Located an hour north of Mexico City, Teotihuacán is a popular day trip and best visited as part of a tour. Many tours stop en route at the Basilica of Guadalupe for a glimpse into another aspect of Mexican culture. Visit midweek for smaller crowds.
10. Pyramid of Quetzalcoatl, Tula (Hildago)
The Pyramid of Quetzalcoatl in Tula is topped with imposing statues of Toltec warriors.
Photo by Natalia Lukiyanova/Shutterstock
The Toltecs stepped into the vacuum created by the fall of Teotihuacán, establishing their capital at Tula (or Tollan), which reached its peak between 950 and 1150 C.E. The most impressive structure here is the Pyramid of Quetzalcoatl, fronted by a colonnade and topped by imposing, 13-foot-tall statues of Toltec warriors, but you’ll also want to explore the vast ceremonial plaza, the palace, and the ball courts.
How to visit
Tula is another easy day trip from either Mexico City (roughly 90 minutes by car) or the colonial city of Querétaro (just under two hours).
This story originally appeared online in August 2019. It was updated on October 20, 2022, to include new information.
