The Instituto Nacional de Antropología e Historia (INAH) takes care of the ancient ruins and pyramids throughout Mexico. Well… at least those that qualify for this support and maintenance. I’ve heard about hundreds of hidden pyramids that remain on private property under grass (and even small vegetable gardens), there’s never enough resources to protect them all. And of course it’s not easy task to fight with the landowners and residents, or convince them to turn over their land for the good of cultural/historic preservation. I mean, who really cares about that? If I grew my lunch on top of a pyramid, I probably wouldn’t want to give it up either. The INAH gets a lot of flack.
I like the fact that Mexican citizens and residents pay a discounted rate when visiting these sites (or sometimes it’s free for them.) In this case, making foreigners pay more to see Mexican national treasures seems MORE than fair.
Some of my favorite pyramids in Mexico:
Calixtlahuaca, Estado de México
This rounded pyramid is uniquely shaped and located, a short drive from the industrial city of Toluca.
Teotihuacan, Pirámide de la Luna, Estado de México
Teotihuacan is a requisite visit when traveling to D.F., I’ve been there 3 or 4 times with visitors. They are slowly opening up some of the inner tunnels and temples inside the pyramids, so every time there’s more to see.
For a city mouse, the coolest of all is the Templo Mayor, an Aztec/Mexica temple discovered underneath buildings of Mexico City in 1978 during routine electric work. Major example of syncretism because the Spanish constructed their cathedral on the already-sacred spot of the Aztec temple.
Literally lying just below the surface.
