Top 20 largest archaeological sites in Mexico2026 ranking

In my opinion, the Tulum Mayan ruins have the most beautiful setting for ruins in all of Mexico. Let me explain. They are located on a cliff overlooking the Caribbean Sea. The water is turquoise, and when the sea is rough, it is even more impressive. However, the site itself is less impressive than Chichen Itza, for example. For the visit itself, I recommend hiring a guide, otherwise you won't understand a thing.

Not too far from the capital, and served by some really cheap bus lines, plan on a big half-day (including travel time) to visit this huge archaeological site. There are several ancient pyramids and a few other structures that are more or less well-preserved. You cannot go inside the pyramids, but you can climb the steps of some of them. While climbing, you will get an impressive view of the site.

Chichen Itza is one of the seven wonders of the modern world. Even if it does not quite measure up to other wonders like Machu Picchu, it really shows off the building skills of the Mayans. Having a guide is essential to enjoy a half-day visit to the site. They will explain things like how the shadow of the feathered serpent god works on El Castillo, the main temple. I found the part about the Mayan ball court particularly interesting.

Such a great memory from this visit. When we arrived, a French-speaking guide offered to show us the pyramids of the archaeological site and then the ones still buried in the jungle. We weren't really sure if it was a scam or not, but we accepted his offer anyway. We saw quite a few things, like pyramids and ruins, but also howler monkeys at the tops of the trees. The guide turned out to be super nice, interesting, and funny. "It's pretty cool, right?" he kept saying to us :) We don't regret visiting the site, and getting a guide!

Unlike quite a few other archaeological sites in Mexico, these are very well preserved. It gets pretty crowded. Did you know that during the equinoxes, the play of sunlight and shadow makes it look like a snake is moving down the edges of the pyramid!

El Tajin seems far from the traditional tourist circuits, but it is definitely worth the trip. There really are not many archaeological sites like it! The Pyramid of the Niches with its niche-shaped architecture, the numerous ball courts, and the great Xicalcoliuhqui! A magnificent backdrop of vegetation, worthy of Indiana Jones.

Visiting the Templo Mayor ruins isn't exactly impressive in itself, since there is not much left of this pyramid that used to be 45 meters high! But the historical value of the site is very significant. It is right here that the Aztecs founded the city of Tenochtitlán, the Center of the World! The location was not chosen by chance. The god Huitzilopochtli had indicated that when the Aztecs saw an eagle devouring a snake perched on a prickly pear cactus, they would establish their capital and settle down. You can still see the bases of the temples, a few statues of Quetzalcóatl, a Chac-Mool, bas-reliefs painted with eagles, and a stunning "Tzompantli," which is a platform where the heads of…

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If you are sad about not being able to visit the Mayan wonder of the world Chichén Itzá, you can find comfort at Teotihuacán. It is the first Mexican site to be named a UNESCO World Heritage site, back in 1987. Today, the site welcomes thousands of visitors every year, especially during the Spring Equinox, when pre-Hispanic rituals are still performed to this day. Avoid Sundays or peak season, though, because you will sometimes have more than a 1 hour wait to climb the Pyramid of the Sun, which offers a breathtaking panoramic view!