If These Walls Could Talk

By Lara Becker

Ifyou’re looking to travel somewhere with powerful history, spectacular landscapes, and a great story to tell, look no further than Mexico. What many may not realize is that beyond the glorious local eats and picturesque beaches, intricate pyramids also stand tall throughout the country. Although most of these pyramids were built centuries ago, many of them remain in pristine condition. They give a great sense of pride to the ancestors and current communities across Mexico, greeting guests every day from a towering horizon.

When you think of pyramids, you might think of Egypt. But a journey across the border to Mexico can yield fascinating results.

A compelling backstory

The bulk of the Mexican pyramids exist along the country’s eastern coast. The majority of these were carefully sculpted between the years 1,000 BC to 900 BC. They were made to reflect the spirits of specific gods or goddesses, and also to represent different eras and styles of architecture.

Mexican culture credits the Aztec, Maya, Toltec and Olmec people with creating these pyramids; they built the structures as a way to honor their deities. Each of these groups used different tactics to construct its buildings, but commonly utilized stone, mortar, and clay. Many of the pyramids also house the tombs of royal ancestors, who were buried with their jewels and gold-plated accessories.

It’s unknown how many pyramids, in total, still exist here, but there are at least a dozen popular sites to see and marvel at.

Where to begin

Keller Williams Luxury Magazine spoke with Zachary Rabinor, founder and CEO of Journey Mexico, the country’s leading travel agency, to get an expert’s perspective on the pyramids.

Journey Mexico is an in-country travel agency with headquarters in Puerto Vallarta, Cancun, Mexico City, and Texas in the U.S.

Journey Mexico specializes in personalized vacation packages for guests looking for an immersive travel experience. It sees travel as an agent of change — a transformative experience when guests can gain a deeper understanding of where they are traveling.

Some Mexican pyramids are known for their excellence in architecture, while others are slightly less intact, but represent shrines to great leaders. Others are symbolic of the forward- thinking civilizations from centuries in the past. Pairing with a travel companion can be beneficial to discovering the best way through the pyramids, and to gain their knowledge of the hidden gems inside each masterpiece.

“The pyramids in Mexico are an enthralling insight into the country’s endlessly fascinating and highly successful ancient cultures,” Rabinor says. “Mexico has a whole host of majestic pyramids to discover, each with their own unique history and architecture.”

Some of the most popular pyramids to visit in Mexico include the following.

Tlachihualtepetl:

The Great Pyramid of Cholula

Arguably the most well-known is The Great Pyramid of Cholula, also known as Tlachihualtepetl. This structure is known as the largest pyramid in the world by volume, explains Rabinor.

The base of the pyramid is actually four times larger than Giza, and nearly twice its volume. He adds that during the Spanish conquest, The Great Pyramid housed a large church at its peak, providing a common gathering space during a turbulent time.

Tlachihualtepetl was first excavated very

The City of the Gods

recently, as late as the 1950s. Due to this, there could very well be more mysteries behind these walls, waiting to be uncovered.

Teotihuacán

Teotihuacán translates to “City of the Gods,” and was the largest ancient city of Aztec Mexico, located only 30 miles away from Mexico City. It was a bustling place of economic prosperity and ahead-of-its-time invention, such as irrigation systems for advanced farming.

Teotihuacán has 2 main pyramids remaining: The Pyramid of the Sun and the Pyramid of the Moon. The Pyramid of the Sun is also amongst the largest of the pyramids, and is partly made of red volcanic rock. The Pyramid of the Moon faces the Avenue of the Dead, a sacred street thought to house tombs. The city itself is still stunning, says Rabinor, who notes “There’s nothing quite like watching the sun rise over Teotihuacán.”

Uxmal: Pyramid of the Magician

Uxmal is another highly recommended pyramid to visit along your journey, and a favorite of Rabinor’s. It is known as The Pyramid of the Magician, after a legend that says a magiciandwarf built it overnight.

Uxmal was actually a provincial capital of the Puuc region at the time of the Mayas. It was often used as a gathering place to watch high priests or leaders climb the stairs to its peak, where political discourse and discussion could be had.

Sculptures and detailed carvings can be seen at Uxmal, which offsets the greenery and vegetation surrounding its high walls.

Tlachihualtepetl: The Great Pyramid of Cholula

Chichén Itzá: The Temple of Kukulcán

Another well-known pyramid is Chichén Itzá, which houses a shrine to Kukulcán. Kukulcán was known as the serpent god, and was believed to implement systems of civilization and medicine for all Mesoamericans.

His influence had long-lasting contributions to the success of communities here, and of architectural excellence.

“One of the most extraordinary aspects of many pyramids are their precision and accuracy surrounding astronomy,” Rabinor notes. “During certain times of the year, such as the equinox, visitors can bear testament to these phenomenons.”

It is common to watch the equinox occur at Chichén Itzá — there is a spectacular phenomenon created by the sun, where a 10-foot serpent slithers down the side of the pyramid. It’s a feat of science so ahead of its time, that you’ll hardly believe your eyes.

Wonders of the World

Most Mexican pyramids can be visited by guests today through underground tunnels or stairs leading to the top.

Although the pyramids were all excavated in an effort to allow the public inside, the secrets embedded through each stone crack still leave some historians puzzled. In turn, there’s still a lot of history here yet to be discovered, which is what makes these wonders of the world so vibrantly interesting.

“The sites each take you on a journey, from pristinely restored down to the finest detail, to a wilder setting enveloped by remote jungle,” Rabinor says. “Each one is its own adventure.”