Vacation

Submitted by Andy B on Monday, 04 September 2017 Page Views: 2202

Multi-periodCountry: Mexico

**Tula.** submitted by LivingRocks : The Atlantes statues at Tula. (Vote or comment on this photo)

Mexico’s ancient civilizations were the most sophisticated in the Americas, here is our guide to the best ancient cities, temples and sacred places to help plan a visit.

You have the option to go to the main museums in Mexico, get on a booked tour, or if you are more adventurous, backpack into the wilderness where some of the most extraordinary sites can be found.

Many remarkable sites have been restored by archaeologists and are now accessible to visitors, but thousands more are still untouched.

A brief guide to Mexico’s Ancient Civilizations

Olmec – This was the ‘mother culture’ in Mexico, centred on the Gulf coast, between 1200 BC - 400 BC. Best known for the Olmec heads, which are giant stone sculptures of human heads.

Teotihuacán – In this city located just 50kms from Mexico City, you can find huge pyramids. It was a flourishing civilization in the first 7 centuries AD.

Maya - The Maya lived in southeast Mexico thrived between 250 AD 250 and 900 AD. They’re well known for their majestic temples and stone sculpture. Elements of this culture are present to this day.

Toltec – This refers to the culture of several central Mexican city-states, and it flourished around 750 AD to 1150 AD. The Tula warrior sculptures are the most notable monuments of this civilization.

Aztec – This civilization centered in Tenochtitlán (now Mexico City) from 1325 AD to 1521 AD. The Aztecs ruled central Mexico and the most famous site of this civilization is the Templo Mayor.

Most of the archaeological sites are found in the centre of Mexico as well as in the south and southeast parts of the country.

Some areas can be very popular so book premium vacation rentals in advance, to ensure you get the best deal. Naturally the most famous sites are often filled with visitors, while there are also others that are tucked away on remote hilltops and dense jungles.

The best months to visit these areas are:
Chiapas: October - May
Gulf coast: November - April
Yucatán Peninsula: November - April
Central Mexico: October - April
Oaxaca: October - March

Major pre-Hispanic sites and museums

If you’re not sure which sites to visit, make sure to include these:
Palenque
Teotihuacán
Chichén Itzá
Monte Albán
Uxmal

Here’s a list of the most important museums that house many impressive and valuable pre-Hispanic artefacts:

Villahermosa’s Parque-Museo La Venta: This is a museum and a zoo and here you can find fine sculptures from La Venta and several Olmec heads.

Campeche’s Museo de la Arquitectura Maya This museum offers an excellent overview of the Maya sites as well as their different architectural styles.

Xalapa’s Museo de Antropología: This museum which boasts of a 29,000-piece collection is mainly devoted to ancient cultures that flourished in the Gulf coast and you can find seven Olmec heads and other sculptures.

Mexico City’s Museo Nacional de Antropología This is the National Museum of Anthropology and it features sections dedicated to all the ancient civilizations. You can also find invaluable treasures here like the famous Aztec sun stone. There’s also a replica of the treasure-laden tomb of King Pakal.

If you like visiting ancient sites, a trip to Mexico has to be high up on your list of places to go, you're sure to have some great stories to tell on your return.

With thanks to Rental Escapes for supporting this article.

Contributor Bio for Andy B: Megalithic Portal Founding Editor.

<< Suggestions for women travelling alone

Can you spot an ancient sites enthusiast by their clothing? >>