The Aztec civilization and their legacy gets all the attention in Central Mexico, and with a reason: the Templo Mayor, Xochimilco, and Malinalco are all testament to their impressive achievements. However, one of the civilizations that existed before the Aztecs, the Toltec culture, also left a noteworthy footprint. Tula, located around 90 km from Mexico City, is the former capital of this lesser known civilization and its archaeological site receives far less visitors than Aztec sites in and near Mexico City.
Tip: Arrive early (the site opens at 9am) and you will have the site all to yourself. By starting early, you can also combine the trip with a visit to other places in Hidalgo or the State of Mexico, such as the Magical Towns of Tepotzotlan or Tepeji.
Archaeological site
The main attraction of the Tula town is the archaeological site of Los Atlantes de Tula. This site hosts Mexico’s response to the Easter Island statues. On the main pyramid, the impressive columns of the four Toltec warriors stand tall at 4.70 meters and are elegantly decorated. The pyramid itself is surrounded by intricate carvings of coyotes, snakes and jaguars on its preserved Serpent Wall. Beside the main pyramid there are also other remains of this ancient city, such as ball-courts, palaces and other smaller pyramids, but they are not so well preserved as the main pyramid. However, the site is relatively small and the skills of the ancient craftsmen can be admired through a short, relaxing stroll.
Tip: For an excellent view of the mighty warriors, you can climb the neighboring pyramid.
The gardens
Near the entrance to the site is a small garden hosting different varieties of cacti and succulents. You can take a short 15-minute walk to enjoy the various species of thorny plants – but don’t touch them!
Museum
The on-site museum (museo de sitio) houses the best preserved Toltec pieces from Tula and neighbouring areas. Though small, it is worth a quick look to admire some of the statues recovered from the site, especially the statue of Tlaloc (God of Rain) – this representation of Tlaloc inspired Chaac Mol, the Maya counterpart, which can be seen in Chichen Itza and other major Maya sites.
Shopping
As with many other archaeological zones in Mexico, the Tula site has a lively market that primarily caters to tourists. There are some interesting souvenirs to be bought here. The most unique item to buy here is a replica of the Atlantes (warrior columns) – you can find miniature ones carved out of obsidian and even replicas that are 2 meters in height (good luck taking those ones home!).
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