Cuicuilco
Cuicuilco
4
This location was reported permanently closed
About
Some of the ruins at this ancient archaeological site date back to 500 B.C.
Suggest edits to improve what we show.
Improve this listingTours & experiences
Explore different ways to experience this place.
What is Travellers’ Choice?
Tripadvisor gives a Travellers’ Choice award to accommodations, attractions and restaurants that consistently earn great reviews from travellers and are ranked within the top 10% of properties on Tripadvisor.
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
The area
Address
Neighbourhood: Tlalpan
Reach out directly
Best nearby
We rank these restaurants and attractions by balancing reviews from our members with how close they are to this location.
Restaurants
659 within 3 miles
Attractions
180 within 6 miles
Contribute
Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as waiting time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
We perform checks on reviews.
Tripadvisor’s approach to reviews
Before posting, each Tripadvisor review goes through an automated tracking system, which collects information, answering the following questions: how, what, where and when. If the system detects something that potentially contradicts our community guidelines, the review is not published.
When the system detects a problem, a review may be automatically rejected, sent to the reviewer for validation, or manually reviewed by our team of content specialists, who work 24/7 to maintain the quality of the reviews on our site.
Our team checks each review posted on the site disputed by our community as not meeting our community guidelines.
Learn more about our review moderation.
4.0
121 reviews
Excellent
46
Very good
53
Average
20
Poor
2
Terrible
0
NVJoe
Reno, NV208 contributions
Sept 2017 • Solo
Hidden beneath a thick layer of hard black lava, Cuicuilco is an important, but mostly overlooked, archaeological treasure within the urban borders of Mexico City. The star of the site is a truncated conical mound faced with slabs of volcanic rock, standing 75 feet (23 m) tall and 443 feet (135 m) in diameter. It is considered the oldest pyramid structure in the New World.
Cuicuilco is also the oldest known civilization of the Central Mexican High Plateau. The Cuicuilcan people abandoned the site in the first century to escape lava flows from the nearby Xitle volcanic eruption. Eventually, the creeping lava buried the large city, encasing it in a 20-foot layer of volcanic rock. Only the pyramid and a few other structures were spared entombment.
The site is located in the southern Mexico City neighborhood of Tlalpan. I traveled there by the Metrobús Line 1 from downtown south on Insurgentes Avenue to the Villa Olímpica (Olympic Village) bus stop. The 9.3 mile (15 km) trip took 50 minutes in mid-day traffic. There is no entrance fee to either the site or its small but worthy museum.
Despite its metropolitan setting and accompanying traffic noise, the archaeological site is a very tranquil and uncrowded place. Unmarked trails wind through a lush landscape of contorted mature pepper trees, large prolific nopal cacti, and various multicolored wildflowers. Here, the ancient civilization of Cuicuilco lies mostly overlooked beneath a thick layer of hard black lava.
Cuicuilco is also the oldest known civilization of the Central Mexican High Plateau. The Cuicuilcan people abandoned the site in the first century to escape lava flows from the nearby Xitle volcanic eruption. Eventually, the creeping lava buried the large city, encasing it in a 20-foot layer of volcanic rock. Only the pyramid and a few other structures were spared entombment.
The site is located in the southern Mexico City neighborhood of Tlalpan. I traveled there by the Metrobús Line 1 from downtown south on Insurgentes Avenue to the Villa Olímpica (Olympic Village) bus stop. The 9.3 mile (15 km) trip took 50 minutes in mid-day traffic. There is no entrance fee to either the site or its small but worthy museum.
Despite its metropolitan setting and accompanying traffic noise, the archaeological site is a very tranquil and uncrowded place. Unmarked trails wind through a lush landscape of contorted mature pepper trees, large prolific nopal cacti, and various multicolored wildflowers. Here, the ancient civilization of Cuicuilco lies mostly overlooked beneath a thick layer of hard black lava.
Written 1 September 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Craig T
San Rafael, CA1,024 contributions
Nov 2016 • Couples
Cuicuilco is really ancient for a Mexican ruin, dating to more than 2000 years ago, around the time of Monte Alban. The amazing thing about this ruin is that it is not out in the middle of the jungle or on top of a mountain somewhere, but right in the middle of Mexico City. Or at least the southern part of it. This is a very unique round structure, which they call a pyramid, although I always thought pyramids had four sides. It is surrounded by a thick lava flow that actually caused the end of this huge city. Cuicuilco is surrounded by a beautiful natural park, where there are nice walking paths. There is a small museum and the whole thing is free!
Written 7 December 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
drb622013
Houston, TX145 contributions
May 2016 • Solo
This site pre-dates Teotihuacan and is thought to be the oldest run in the Valley of Mexico. It is believed that the site was destroyed by a volcanic eruption of the Xitle Volcano around 30 CE and that the inhabitants fled to Teotihuacan. There is a museum and restrooms on site and admission was free. The site is easily accessed by using the MetroBus system Line 1 just get off a Villa Olimpica.
Written 21 May 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
daiana b
Kingsley, UK56 contributions
Feb 2014 • Solo
Unbelievably difficult to find, surrounded as it is by commercial properties, the lack of signage is bordering on criminal.
The upside is that it was very quiet when I visited in February, hardly a soul there and amazingly quiet and atmospheric.
The museum is small but contained real treasures, a wonderful set of relics.
There are explanations in Spanish and English outside, Spanish only in the museum.
Very difficult terrain for the disabled, no provision made at all.
The upside is that it was very quiet when I visited in February, hardly a soul there and amazingly quiet and atmospheric.
The museum is small but contained real treasures, a wonderful set of relics.
There are explanations in Spanish and English outside, Spanish only in the museum.
Very difficult terrain for the disabled, no provision made at all.
Written 21 February 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
ava s
11 contributions
Jun 2019
Cuicuilco is an ancient city inside modern Mexico City. The solidified lava and ashes from the last eruption from the near Vulcano "Xitle" are covering most of the buildings. The most spectacular is the circular pyramid, dedicated to the god of the wind. It is believed that the reason to be rounded is to show respect, in that shape opposes less resistance to the wind.
The lava covering the surroundings gives the opportunity to reflect how fragile is our existence on this planet. The old civilization saw the eruption as a punishment from the gods because they didn´t respect the environment building this city.
In the place are corridors surrounded by huge lava stones filled with holes like sponges, with extense vegetation like "Palo loco" (crazy stick), nopal, maguey and the iconic "Oreja de burro" (Echeveria gibbiflora). The singing from the birds in the background adds a special effect during the visit.
The lava covering the surroundings gives the opportunity to reflect how fragile is our existence on this planet. The old civilization saw the eruption as a punishment from the gods because they didn´t respect the environment building this city.
In the place are corridors surrounded by huge lava stones filled with holes like sponges, with extense vegetation like "Palo loco" (crazy stick), nopal, maguey and the iconic "Oreja de burro" (Echeveria gibbiflora). The singing from the birds in the background adds a special effect during the visit.
Written 14 November 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Viaje3000
Lausanne, Switzerland129 contributions
Oct 2019 • Family
Cuicuilco is a haven of peace in the middle of chaotic Mexico City. You feel like in the south, listening to birds and visiting an impressive pyramid.
Written 21 October 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sarah M
Toronto, Canada44 contributions
Jul 2017 • Couples
This site was across the road from our hotel. There's no cost for admission and a tour guide who spoke English and Spanish lead us through with a group. It's a fascinating site, with pyramids still being uncovered. Older but less dramatic than Teotihuacan, which we visited a few days earlier. A lovely ecologically protected space as well.
Written 3 August 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CrispixM
Mexico City, Mexico17 contributions
May 2016 • Friends
Right in the middle of the city - there's a round pyramid. One of the most important places in the past covered by lava, with nice pathways a small museum, you feel such positive energy there. The guards and even the guy who sells chips outise are so nice.
Written 28 June 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Mexicaviajero
Ciudad de México175 contributions
Mar 2013
Is the place in Mexican valley of the first inhabitants before the volcano explode..the cultures that came after were the Mexica or Aztecs....and Hernan Cortes... a magical place to vist and feel the cosmic energy ...mainly in the spring equinox....
Written 21 March 2013
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
lisa h
Los Angeles, CA30 contributions
Nov 2012 • Couples
We went were right after visiting the University. Mexico City has such a rich anthropological history. Wherever you go there is some archeological sight to see. The grounds leading up to the pyramid is quite charming with cacti and grass side by side. I had never seen a circular pyramid before so this was a unique experience. The site is not on the same scale as Teotihuacan but still quite impressive in its structure. There were people lounging at the top which. covered in grass. I wished that I had brought a picnic so I could eat and partake of the panoramic view of the city.
Written 9 November 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
How much time should I schedule to explore this site museum included? I am more about see all the highlights and move on... not explore every stone. So I would appreciate your feedback. Thank you, Doug
Written 6 May 2016
Showing results 1-1 of 1
Revenue impacts the experiences featured on this page, learn more.
*Likely to sell out: Based on Viator’s booking data and information from the provider from the past 30 days, it seems likely this experience will sell out through Viator, a Tripadvisor company.
Is this your Tripadvisor listing?
Own or manage this property? Claim your listing for free to respond to reviews, update your profile and much more.
Claim your listing