Tula
Zona ArqueolóGica (INAH) · Tula de Allende, Hidalgo
The Toltec capital, about an hour and a half north of Mexico City, and the place the Aztecs believed civilisation came from. To be Toltec, in Nahuatl, meant to be a master craftsman; the Aztecs claimed descent from these people and looted the ruins for relics. What stands on top of Pyramid B are the Atlantes - four basalt warriors nearly five metres tall, in butterfly breastplates and feathered headdresses, which once held up the roof of a temple. Tula's striking resemblance to parts of Chichen Itza, more than a thousand kilometres away, is one of the great unsolved arguments in Mesoamerican archaeology. Be honest with yourself about the setting: the site is compact, hot and unshaded, and the nearby oil refinery and industrial town do not help the mood. It is a sharp, rewarding half-day for anyone who likes archaeology, not a full-day resort stop, and it pairs well with Teotihuacan or the Hidalgo hot springs. The site and museum keep INAH hours and close on Mondays.
Zona Arqueológica de Tula, Tula de Allende, Tula de Allende, Hidalgo, 42800, Mexico
The archaeological zone and its museums keep INAH daytime hours; the museums generally close Mondays. INAH Sunday free admission applies to Mexican nationals and residents only. ⚠ THE ATLANTES ON PYRAMID B ARE VISIBLE FROM THE PLAZA; the platform beside them has been reachable by stairs - ask on arrival, as access rules change. ⚠ THERE IS LITTLE SHADE AT ABOUT 2,000 METRES. ⚠ BUSES RUN FROM MEXICO CITY'S TERMINAL DEL NORTE, about 1.5 hours. ⚠ HOURS AND PRICES NOT VERIFIED FOR THIS FILE.