Kiribu

Mexico is famous for a number of things, Tequila being my favourite. However, the region now covered by Mexico has also hosted a number of pretty sweet civilisations. Here I list a few awesome archeological sites worth visiting when you are next passing by.

Most people head straight for the Yucatan, but don’t skip Mexico City as it was the seat of the Aztec (Also known as the Mexica) empire, famously overthrown by Hernán Cortés and his Spanish Conquistadores in the early 15th century. There are still plenty of ruins left from the old Aztec City, also known as Tenochtitlan and well worth exploring. The fantastic National Museum of Anthropology is also worth a few hours of your time.

A short journey outside Mexico City is Teotihuacán, with its awesome pyramids to the Sun and Moon. This city was one of the largest cities in the world around 1500 years ago. Teotihuacán is seen as a mythical place by many of the later empires, for example the Aztecs believed that the Sun was created there.

Oaxaca is a small town South-East of Mexico City where you will find Monte Albán, which was inhabited by the Zapotecs as long ago as 500 BCE, and is one of the earliest cities of America. It has some impressive monuments, including ball courts and many carved statues.

Further East is the spectacular Palenque, which has a real feel of being a lost city as it is shrouded and partly overgrown by the forest. There are some great monuments in this Maya city with some very fine architecture.

You can’t visit Mexico without spending some time at the beach, and there’s no better way to combine beach and culture than to visit the fabulous coastal ruin of Tulum! Another Maya city, this small site is very well maintained with some idyllic views over the sea and is only around 130 km (80 miles) from the resort of Cancun. There are also plenty of resorts a few miles outside the site.

Probably the most famous site of all, and unmissable, Chitzen Itza. Recently voted one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, this massive Maya site has some amazing monuments. El Castillo, the large stepped pyramid with its bizarre acoustics, and the Great Ball Court are some of the highlights.

Unfortunately, you can no longer climb the steps on El Castillo, but if you would like to be a little more hands on with Mexican ruins, check out Uxmal. A little way west of Chitzen Itza towards Merida, Uxmal is another Maya city, and still in excellent condition. The stepped pyramid at Uxmal is unusual due to its oval shape, and if you fancy some climbing, head up the steep steps of the Gran Pyramid!

There are many, many other sites throughout Mexico, and also into neighbouring countries, but hopefully this selection is enough to keep most travellers happy!

See more pictures of Mexico here.