Cuicuilco
One Of The Oldest Mesoamerican Ceremonial Centres In The Valley Of Mexico, A Circular Stepped Pyramid Built From About 800 BC And Partly Buried By Lava From The Xitle Volcano Around AD 250, Standing In A Park Of Black Volcanic Rock In The South Of The Capital. A Small Site, A Half Hour Stop With A Site Museum, Close To The University City · Tlalpan, Ciudad de México
Cuicuilco is one of the oldest ceremonial centres in the Valley of Mexico, a circular stepped pyramid first raised from about 800 BC, long before Teotihuacan. Around AD 250 the Xitle volcano erupted and buried much of the site under lava, so the pyramid now rises from a plain of black volcanic rock in the south of Mexico City, beside Insurgentes Sur. A raised path lets you walk on the cooled lava, and a small museum shows pottery and tools from the area. It is quiet, often nearly empty, and a visit takes about an hour. It suits history fans, archaeology students and anyone interested in the early valley cultures. It is worth a short stop if you are near the University City or Coyoacan. It is not worth a long trip for someone expecting the scale of Teotihuacan or the Templo Mayor, because the pyramid is modest and the stairs are closed. Midday sun is strong and shade is thin, so bring a hat.
Cuicuilco archaeological zone on Insurgentes Sur near the Periferico Sur, in the south of Mexico City; coordinates approximate, Tlalpan, Ciudad de México, Mexico
The zone is normally open in daytime, commonly from morning to late afternoon, but the hours, the closing day and the entry price are set by the national institute and may change, so confirm before you go. Many INAH sites close one day a week, often Monday. Entry is usually a small ticket, with free days for Mexican nationals and residents on Sundays, which should be confirmed. The small museum may close earlier than the grounds. Climbing the pyramid is CLOSED, and the zone shuts at dusk.