TEOTIHUACAN PRIVATE TOUR

Your English-speaking local expert will be waiting for you at your hotel or Airbnb lobby in Mexico City with a great smile at 8:00 a.m. We can change the pickup time if you wish, but we recommend this time so we arrive early and avoid the crowds and the midday heat inside Teotihuacán.

We take the toll highway to Teotihuacán — this route guarantees the safest and shortest travel time. We’ll arrive around 9:15 a.m. Since this is your private tour, we won’t make any additional stops unless you want to.

On the way, your local expert shares stories about Mexico City, Mexican traditions and local life, plus a broad look at Mexican cultures, so once you’re at the ruins you can focus on the architecture and specific facts of ancient Teotihuacán. The ride is about an hour, with plenty of cold water in the van.

Once at Teotihuacán, we take advantage of arriving early — the first stops are the Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon and the Temple of Quetzalcóatl. You’ll get an intimate encounter with the pyramids and be able to take incredible pictures without crowds — it will feel like the site was opened exclusively for you.

Everything is done at your pace and you can stay as long as you want. Your guide, fluent in English and certified by the INAH, gives an extensive narrative about the site, Teotihuacán culture, and the myths and theories behind this ancient city — and loves answering questions.

The site opened to the public in 1910, discovered by Leopoldo Batres, one of Mexico’s first archaeologists, who worked under president Porfirio Díaz. Highlights include the Temple of Quetzalcóatl, the Pyramid of the Sun, the Pyramid of the Moon, the Avenue of the Dead and the Puma Mural. It starts getting hot around 10:30 a.m., so bring water and stay hydrated.

After Teotihuacán, on the way back to the city you can choose to visit the second-most-visited Catholic site in the world, the Basílica de Guadalupe — a compound of buildings dedicated to Mexico’s most iconic religious tradition, tied to the legend of the vision of the Virgin Mary at the Hill of Tepeyac.

The Basílica opened to the public in the 1700s. Highlights include the New Cathedral, the original 1700s Cathedral, the Capilla de los Indios, the Capilla del Pocito and the Capilla del Cerro del Tepeyac. Weekends can be a little busier, with baptisms and mass taking place.

Another option for your visit is one of the city’s most emblematic buildings, the Monument to the Revolution. Construction began in 1906 by French architect Émile Bénard, originally planned as a luxury building to mark the 100th anniversary of Independence and house the new Mexican Congress.

Political, economic and structural issues changed the plans, and the result was a monument at the center of a large square representing the people’s constant revolution. Construction finally finished in 1933 under a different architect. Today you can go inside, see the structure and foundations up close, and enjoy a 360° view of the city from the top.

When you’re ready, we head back to your hotel or Airbnb — traffic into the city can add 30 to 45 minutes to the ride. The tour is planned to be back around 4:00 p.m., but since everything runs at your pace, the exact return time is up to you. You’re free to head back early or skip any activity you don’t want to do.