The state of Illinois is home to one of the most significant and impressive archaeological sites in all of the United States: Cahokia, known for its large earthen pyramid. But like its neighboring
The stunning ruins of Copán in western Honduras attract visitors from around the world. Yet out of all the top tier Mayan sites, it’s by far the most difficult to reach. That’s where this
The Mayan site of El Puente is just one of three or four archaeological sites in Honduras that’s accessible to the public. Yet it’s so obscure that even many locals have never heard
While the mighty city-state of Copán had elite residences situated right next to its royal precinct, many of its nobles lived further away in a district we now call Las Sepulturas. Incredibly, Las
Along with the likes of Chichén Itzá, Palenque and Tikal, the ruins of Copán in Honduras are among the most impressive ever left behind by the ancient Maya. Situated at the southeastern edge
Not only was Cihuatán the largest ancient city in what’s now El Salvador, but its history is both unique and mysterious. The city wasn’t founded until 900 AD, at a time when many other
Joya de Cerén may have never been the seat of a mighty king, nor did it contain a single pyramid. But today, the UNESCO World Heritage Site is pivotal when it comes to
Scattered around the modern town of Chalchuapa, the Chalchuapa Archaeological Zone is home to no less than ten known ancient Mayan sites. But among them, only Tazumal and Casa Blanca are currently open to the
Before there was Guatemala City, there was Kaminaljuyu, one of the largest and most prosperous cities in the region – if not the Mayan world as a whole. Kaminaljuyu is quite old by
Zaculeu is one of Guatemala’s lesser-known Mayan sites but also one of its most unique. The ruins are situated just outside the city of Huehuetenango, located between Xela and the Mexican border. That
By the time of the Spanish conquest, most of the great Mayan cities had already collapsed. But traditional Mayan culture was still alive and well in the 16th century, as evidenced by sites
Few scenes capture the imagination like Tikal’s towering pyramids looming over a vast and dense jungle. But Tikal’s pristine environment also means that it’s not the easiest place to reach. And with rather
The Mayan civilization was home to many mighty cities, but few were quite as influential as Tikal. Not only was Tikal a political and cultural powerhouse for centuries, but its iconic towering pyramids
Guatemala’s Petén region is home to several accessible archaeological sites. But aside from the world-famous Tikal, Yaxha is the only other site that can easily be reached by tour. And that’s probably because
Belize’s various Mayan sites aren’t always that easy or cheap to reach. One major exception, however, would be Cahal Pech – just about thirty minutes on foot from the tourism hub of San
Caracol in southern Belize was one of the Mayan world’s most dominant cities, and is accordingly the country’s largest Mayan archaeological site. But it’s also the most difficult to reach, so most visitors
Xunantunich is one of Belize’s best archaeological sites, and it’s also one of the easiest and cheapest to reach. Like many Mayan sites in Belize, the Xunantunich ruins are comprised of just a
Inhabited from around 200 BC to 900 AD, Altun Ha would reach its zenith around 500-600 AD. And though it was likely just a medium-sized city in its day, the Altun Ha ruins are now one
Lamanai was one of the longest continually inhabited cities of the Mayan world. And its three grand pyramids reveal how important it must’ve been in its prime. Located in central Belize, most people
Located 25 km southeast of Mérida is a site that even many Mayan ruins enthusiasts have never heard of. The site of Acanceh was first established back in the Preclassic Period (700 BC–50 AD).
Situated between the modern city of Mérida and the Gulf Coast, Dzibilchaltún long played a pivotal role in the regional salt trade. While not the most elaborate Mayan ruins you’ll find in the region, the
The Ruta Puuc, or ‘Puuc Route,’ is a term used to collectively refer to five Mayan sites located south of Mérida. Not only do they share similar histories, but each former city-state was built
Established as recently as December 2016, Utah’s Bears Ears National Monument consists of a staggering 1.36 million acres. While it does indeed include beautiful scenery, the land is largely being protected due to
With the native languages and traditions of Baja now largely extinct, the peninsula’s numerous cave paintings are all that remain of the ancient cultures that once lived here for millennia. In fact, sites
About 60 km north of Mazatlán is one of Mexico’s most obscure – and most unusual – archaeological sites. You won’t find a single pyramid or tomb at Las Labradas, but you will encounter
Like the state of Colima as a whole, the archaeological sites of La Campana and El Chanal, both located in the state capital, are seldom talked about. But these were once the most
Guachimontones, reachable as a day trip from Guadalajara, is the state of Jalisco’s flagship archaeological site. It’s most known for its unique round pyramid (itself known as a ‘guachimontón’), of which there are
Located about 56 km south of the city of Zacatecas is one of Mexico’s most overlooked and mysterious archaeological sites. Was La Quemada merely an outpost of a mightier civilization further south, or was
Monument Valley is arguably one of the most beautiful places in North America – if not the entire planet. But visitors are only allowed access to a small portion of it without a
Shortly after the collapse of sites like Chaco Canyon and Mesa Verde, the unique Ancestral Puebloan city of Hovenweep arose in what’s now southeastern Utah. Hovenweep National Monument is mainly known for its
The Great Sage Plain, which encompasses southwest Colorado and southeast Utah, was settled between 500 and 1300 AD. In its heyday, it was the most densely-crowded part of the Ancestral Puebloan world. Today,
Despite having been occupied for a relatively brief period of time, the cliff dwellings of Colorado’s Mesa Verde National Park make up what’s arguably the most breathtaking archaeological site in the United States.
The Four Corners region of the Southwest United States is arguably the most archaeologically rich part of the country. While Chaco Canyon and Mesa Verde are easily the top highlights, many visitors miss
Situated in a remote corner of northwest New Mexico are what were once the United States’ largest manmade structures. Established by the Ancestral Puebloans over a millennium ago, Chaco Canyon (officially known as
Just about an hour outside of Santa Fe, Bandelier National Monument is a unique archaeological site consisting of dozens of cave dwellings carved into the walls of the scenic Frijoles Canyon. In the
While many visiting Tulum stop at the Tulum Archaeological Zone and nearby Cobá, the area is home to a third Mayan site that remains off the radar for most travlers. Muyil, which is located
Just 7 km south of Kabah, the ancient Mayan city of Sayil shares a lot in common with neighboring sites in the Puuc region. The city, however, was founded in the 8th century AD
Located around 50 km from Mérida near the town of Maxcanu, Oxkintok is one of the more obscure Mayan archaeological sites. But it’s arguably among the best. The extensive ruins are home to
Texcotzingo, a former Aztec botanical garden, spa and royal palace, is one of Central Mexico’s most obscure archaeological sites. But it shouldn’t be. This fascinating hilltop site was founded by Nezahualcoyotl, the legendary
Built during the final days of the Aztec Empire, the temple complex of Malinalco is unlike any other in Mesoamerica. Carved into the side of a hill at over 100 m above the
Situated within the suburb of the same name, Tenayuca is considered to be the best-preserved Aztec temple, as it was one of the few that the Spanish never touched. Despite being accessible via Mexico
Established in 1964, Mexico City’s National Museum of Anthropology is easily the country’s top museum, and also among the best in the world. The museum is home to over 600,000 objects belonging to
While hardly a household name today, the Tarascan Empire was the only kingdom in central Mexico that the Aztecs failed to conquer. And what remains of the former Tarascan capital of Tzintzuntzan, known
Occupied from around 540-1050 AD by the Otomí civilization, Cañada de la Virgen is a small archaeological site located nearby the tourism hotspot of San Miguel de Allende. Excavations didn’t begin until 2002,
Located in the El Pueblito district of Querétaro is one of Mexico’s largest – yet most obscure – ancient pyramids. Just a quick Uber ride away from the city center, the El Cerrito
Despite its isolated location far from any major city, El Tajín continues to attract hordes of visitors. According to official statistics, in fact, El Tajín was Mexico’s seventh-most visited archaeological site in 2021.
Located in the Veracruz state capital, the Xalapa Museum of Anthropology is the state’s primary museum. Many who visit, in fact, consider it to be the country’s top archaeology museum after the National
While not many foreign visitors have heard of the Totonacs, they were one of the main groups thriving in Mesoamerica at the time the Spanish arrived. Sites like Quiahuiztlán and Cempoala, therefore, are among
Located in the state of Tlaxcala, the sister sites of Cacaxtla and Xochitécatl are an easy day trip from Puebla. Visitors to the region with the slightest interest in Mesoamerican art or history shouldn’t miss
Tehuacán el Viejo is arguably one of Central Mexico’s most obscure archaeological sites. And frankly speaking, sites like Cholula, Cantona and Cacaxtla are all more essential day trips from Puebla. With that said, Tehuacán
Located near the border between Puebla and Veracruz, Cantona is one of Mexico’s most unique – and lesser-known – archaeological sites. The Cantona ruins are incredibly dense yet shockingly vast. And as archaeologists
Located in Izta-Popo National Park, about halfway between Mexico City and Puebla, hiking Mount Tlaloc is one of the region’s most unique outdoor adventures. At the summit, not only will you find beautiful
Ask most people what the largest pyramid in the world is, and they’ll likely tell you the Great Pyramid of Giza. Narrow it down to Mexico, and you might hear Teotihuacan’s Pyramid of
Considered the first great city of the Valley of Mexico, Cuicuilco even predates the foundation of Teotihuacan. But no, you don’t have to travel to some small, obscure village to find its remains. The
When one thinks of the Olmecs, the massive stone heads found in states like Tabasco and Veracruz typically come to mind. But while the largest Olmec cities were indeed located along Mexico’s Gulf
Located about 38 km southwest of Cuernavaca is one of Mexico’s most underrated archaeological sites. Formed during one of the region’s most tumultuous periods, Xochicalco’s downfall came suddenly after just 250 years as
While Monte Albán and Mitla may be the two most-visited archaeological sites in Oaxaca, they’re certainly not the only. Just a short drive from Mitla is Yagul, known for its natural scenery and
Located about an hour east of the city of Oaxaca, Mitla is the second-most popular site of the Zapotec civilization. But the experience of visiting Mitla and Monte Albán couldn’t be more different. Monte
Located on a hilltop just 7 km from the city of Oaxaca, Monte Albán was the capital of the Zapotecs, one of Mesoamerica’s most influential pre-Hispanic civilizations. And it remains one of the country’s
The deep blue Montebello Lakes aren’t what most people expect when they picture Mexico, but the stunning National Park is becoming an increasingly popular destination for those visiting Chiapas. In the following guide,