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From happy customers

Loved by 45 million+
Mitchell Josvai
US

Mitchell

United States
Aug 2025
5/5
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The early tour is a great experience. The bus ride is smooth and they make a stop so that you may use the restroom and grab a snack or coffee. There are no crowds whatsoever when you arrive, which makes for some excellent photos. Lots of time spent at the pyramids, including climbing them, which was amazing. Lunch is not included but is at a spot that we really enjoyed. We felt that we had ample time and were not rushed, but still made it back to CDMX by 3 pm.
Gaspar Saul Cristobal Lucas
US

Gaspar

United States
Aug 2025
5/5
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Karen and Guillermo were great! Karen made our experience fun! She was very knowledgeable about the pyramids and was able to answer our questions. They both were a great vibe and had great laughs. Our group was small that day so the experience felt more personal. We visited the plaza of 3 cultures, the pyramids, and checked out a small cave. Definitely would recommend the Prehispanic Small Group Tour as it did take up our morning and into a bit after lunch time, and we were still able to go explore Mexico City afterwards which was good!
Ruy Noya
CA

Ruy

Canada
Aug 2025
5/5
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Robert and Lili were very professional and demonstrated an unsurpassed level of knowledge, they took care of the group, especially us who were always late. A thousand thanks to both of them and to the driver for his great skill. The food at Rancho Azteca was spectacular.
Tomas

Tomas

Oct 2025
5/5
Our family from Argentina loved this tour. We learned a lot, and the guides were super patient with my parents. Be sure to wear comfy shoes and bring a bottle for water, it gets HOT.
Marcela

Marcela

Oct 2025
4/5
Went with my cousin and we had a BLAST. The drizzle made it kinda magical tbh, tho my shoes got all muddy. Our guide (I think her name was Sofia?) was SO passionate abt the history, made it come alive. Only downside: the souvenir shop was a bit meh and felt like a tourist trap. But pyramids = EPIC. Bring snacks, I got hungry halfway!
Yasmin

Yasmin

Jun 2025
4/5
Visited with my parents, weather was HOT but there’s a nice breeze up top. Pyramid stairs are steep, so we took it slow. The murals in the Temple of the Feathered Serpent were my fave—so colorful! Lots of stray dogs around, super friendly tho. Didn’t love the restroom situation (bring ur own TP...).
Lucas

Lucas

Jun 2025
5/5
Felt like a kid again climbing up. We got there early to beat the crowds (and sun). Local guides hang out near the gate, ours was Jorge—he was hilarious, really brought history alive. Only thing: no food allowed inside, so eat before you go. Marketplace near the exit is fun for souvenirs, got a tiny obsidian jaguar.
Aleksei

Aleksei

Oct 2025
4/5
Loved the balloon ride but felt a bit rushed during the pyramid tour. Not enough time for photos. Guide was knowledgeable and breakfast was tasty. Would do it again, just wish for more free time.

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Discover the Avenue of the Dead

Walk the same path ancient Teotihuacanos once took to honor their gods and rulers. The Avenue of the Dead is the heart of Teotihuacán, a 2.5-kilometer-long ceremonial boulevard lined with temples, palaces, and pyramids that once formed the sacred axis of the city. It’s here you truly feel the scale and power of what was once the largest metropolis in pre-Columbian America.

How to access the Avenue of the Dead

  • You don’t need a separate ticket to visit the Avenue of the Dead. Access is automatically included with every Teotihuacán entry ticket. The avenue stretches from the Pyramid of the Moon in the north to the Ciudadela complex in the south, where the Temple of the Feathered Serpent stands.
  • Once you enter the archaeological site through any main gate — Gate 1 (south), Gate 2 (east), or Gate 3 (north), you’ll immediately find yourself walking parts of this ancient road. Guided tours and combo experiences naturally follow this route, as every major monument connects to it.

Avenue of the Dead in a nutshell

Avenue of the Dead with Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan, Mexico.

What it is

The Avenue of the Dead is Teotihuacán’s main ceremonial avenue, running about 2.5 kilometers through the city’s core. It was the central axis for processions, rituals, and religious ceremonies connecting the Pyramid of the Moon, Pyramid of the Sun, and Temple of the Feathered Serpent.

Avenue of the Dead with tourists, overlooking Pyramid of the Sun, Teotihuacan, Mexico.

Origin of the name

The name was given by the Aztecs, who discovered the site centuries later. They believed the mounds along the road were royal tombs, hence calling it the “Avenue of the Dead.”

Aerial view of tourists exploring the Avenue of the Dead, Teotihuacan, with pyramids in the background.

Layout and design

The avenue is aligned 15.5° east of true north, a deliberate astronomical orientation linked to solar and star movements. It’s about 40 meters wide, flanked by stepped platforms, temples, and plazas.

Tourists at Avenue of the Dead, Teotihuacan, with Pyramid of the Moon in the background.

Purpose in Teotihuacán’s culture

It symbolized the pathway of souls, from the earthly realm toward the divine. Processions honoring deities and rulers moved along this route during sacred festivals

Pyramid of the Moon at Teotihuacan, Mexico, with surrounding ancient structures.

Key landmarks along the avenue

  • Pyramid of the Moon: marks the northern end; used for ritual offerings and sacrifices.
  • Pyramid of the Sun: central monument built over a sacred cave.
  • Temple of the Feathered Serpent (Ciudadela): southern end, decorated with serpent heads.
  • Palace of Quetzalpapálotl: elite residential complex with carved columns and murals.
Vendor setting up near ruins along Avenue of the Dead, Teotihuacan.

Unique facts

  • The surface was once plastered in white limestone, giving it a reflective glow visible across the valley.
  • The entire layout mimics the Milky Way, according to some interpretations, reinforcing its cosmic symbolism.

Things to know before booking Avenue of the Dead tickets

  • You don’t need a separate ticket for the Avenue of the Dead; it’s part of the archaeological site. Whether you book a Skip-the-line tickets , guided tour , or Balloon experience , you’ll naturally walk along this avenue since it connects all the main monuments.
  • If you prefer exploring freely, the standard entry ticket works best. For context and history, go for a guided tour, it includes a walk through the Avenue of the Dead with detailed stops. For aerial views, pick a hot air balloon combo that lets you see the entire stretch from above before exploring it on foot.
  • The site opens at 8am, and by mid-morning it gets hot and busy. Early Access Tours let you walk the avenue in cooler, quieter conditions with better light for photos.
  • You’ll need at least 1.5 to 2 hours to walk the avenue and explore its adjoining pyramids. If you’re on a guided tour, the walk is naturally broken into informative stops, making it easier to manage.
  • Personal photography is allowed everywhere on the avenue, but tripods and drones require special permits issued by INAH (the National Institute of Anthropology and History).

Your Avenue of the Dead ticket types explained

Access to the Avenue of the Dead is automatically included with every valid Teotihuacán entry ticket. Whether you visit independently, join a guided tour, or take a hot air balloon ride, you’ll walk this avenue — it’s the main route connecting the Pyramid of the Sun, Pyramid of the Moon, and Temple of the Feathered Serpent.

Here’s what each ticket offers:

Visitors exploring the Pyramid of the Sun on a Teotihuacan Pyramids guided walking tour.

Teotihuacán skip-the-line entry

Best for: Independent travelers who want full freedom to explore.

  • Includes: Fast-track entry to the Teotihuacán archaeological site, allowing you to start your walk along the Avenue of the Dead right after entry.
  • Tour included? No, this is a self-guided visit. You can explore the entire avenue, climb the pyramids (when open), and spend as much time as you wish at each section.
  • Inclusions: Entry ticket, skip-the-line access, flexible visit duration (1–6 hours).
  • Exclusions: Guided service, transportation, and transfers from Mexico City.
  • When you’ll visit the avenue: Immediately after entering through any of the main gates — the avenue forms the core of your entire route through Teotihuacán.
  • Recommended ticket: Teotihuacán Pyramids Skip-the-Line Entry
Hot air balloons over Pyramid of the Sun, Teotihuacan, Mexico.

Teotihuacán early access or afternoon guided tour

Best for: Travelers who want context and storytelling.

  • Includes: Round-trip transportation from Mexico City, professional bilingual guide, and entry to Teotihuacán.
  • Tour included? Yes, fully guided. The tour begins with a walk along the Avenue of the Dead before visiting the Pyramids of the Sun and Moon.
  • Inclusions: Transfers, entry ticket, expert guide, and designated pickup points (MIGA Café or Hostal Amigo).
  • Exclusions: Meals and personal expenses.
  • When you’ll visit the avenue: Early morning tours cover the avenue first, the best time to walk it under soft light and fewer crowds. Afternoon tours end with the avenue as the sun sets behind the pyramids.
  • Recommended ticket: From Mexico City: Early Access or Afternoon Guided Tour
Teotihuacan pyramids and Avenue of the Dead with visitors exploring the ancient site in Mexico.

Teotihuacán, Guadalupe Shrine & Tlatelolco full-day tour

Best for: Visitors who want a complete cultural and religious journey.

  • Includes: Entrance to Teotihuacán, guided exploration of the Avenue of the Dead, and visits to two additional landmarks, the Guadalupe Shrine and Tlatelolco.
  • Tour included? Yes, led by a professional guide with commentary in English and Spanish.
  • Inclusions: Entry to all three sites, transport from Mexico City, tequila or mezcal tasting, and expert-guided experience.
  • Exclusions: Meals and personal purchases.
  • When you’ll visit the avenue: After the first stop at Tlatelolco, your guide takes you straight into Teotihuacán, where the Avenue of the Dead is the main walking route before heading to the pyramids.
  • Recommended ticket: Full-Day Tour with Guadalupe Shrine & Tlatelolco
Teotihuacan Pyramid with tourists walking on a guided tour in Mexico.

Teotihuacán 2-Hour Guided Walking Tour of the Sun & Moon Pyramids

Best for: Visitors short on time but who want in-depth insights.

  • Includes: A focused guided walk covering the Avenue of the Dead, Pyramid of the Sun, and Pyramid of the Moon. Entry ticket optional depending on variant.
  • Tour included? Yes, bilingual guide in English or Spanish.
  • Inclusions: Guided walking tour of Teotihuacán’s central monuments, flexible time slots (8am or 10am).
  • Exclusions: Transportation and meals. Some variants exclude entry tickets (must be purchased at gate).
  • When you’ll visit the avenue: It’s the starting point — the guide begins here to explain the city’s layout before exploring the pyramids.
  • Recommended ticket: Teotihuacan 2-Hour Guided Walking Tour of the Sun & Moon Pyramids
Teotihuacan Pyramid with tourists walking on a guided tour in Mexico.

Hot Air Balloon Flight + Teotihuacán Tour

Best for: Those who want to see Teotihuacán from both air and land.

  • Includes: 35–50 minute shared balloon flight over the pyramids, sparkling wine toast, flight certificate, and optional guided site visit.
  • Tour included? Yes, in the combo variant. After landing, you’re taken to Teotihuacán for a guided visit along the Avenue of the Dead.
  • Inclusions: Round-trip transport from Mexico City, guide, entry tickets, and balloon experience.
  • Exclusions: Meals and personal expenses (except where breakfast is specified).
  • When you’ll visit the avenue: After your balloon flight and cave breakfast (if included), you’ll enter Teotihuacán mid-morning — the Avenue of the Dead walk is part of your guided ground tour.
  • Recommended tickets:
  • Teotihuacán Hot Air Balloon Ride with Guided Tour & Basilica Visit
  • From Mexico City: Hot Air Balloon with Teotihuacán Tour
  • Teotihuacán Hot Air Balloon Flight with Natural Cave Breakfast
Pyramid of the Sun at Teotihuacan with visitors climbing steps, Mexico.

Teotihuacán & Pre-Hispanic Cave Tour (Small Group)

Best for: Culture lovers looking for a deeper local connection.

  • Includes: Guided visit to Teotihuacán, including the Avenue of the Dead, plus a meal in a pre-Hispanic cave restaurant.
  • Tour included? Yes, intimate small-group tour with pickup from your accommodation.
  • Inclusions: Entry ticket, bilingual guide, private round-trip transport, and authentic local experience.
  • Exclusions: Drinks and personal expenses.
  • When you’ll visit the avenue: Midway through the itinerary — after the cave experience and before heading to the Pyramid of the Sun.
  • Recommended ticket: Teotihuacán Hot Air Balloon Flight with Natural Cave Breakfast

What to see along the Avenue of the Dead

Pyramid of the Moon at Teotihuacan, Mexico, with surrounding ancient structures.
Pyramid of the Moon in Teotihuacan surrounded by trees and tourists exploring.
Visitors walking towards the Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan, Mexico.
Temple of Quetzalcoatl with intricate carved stone serpent heads in Teotihuacan, Mexico.
Entrance to the Palace of Quetzalpapalotl with stone walls and columns in Teotihuacan.
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Pyramid of the Moon

At the northern end stands the Pyramid of the Moon, the avenue’s symbolic climax. It’s thought to represent the sacred Cerro Gordo mountain behind it and was used for ritual sacrifices. Climb the lower platforms for panoramic views of the avenue.

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Plaza of the Moon

A vast open courtyard in front of the pyramid where rituals and processions took place. The surrounding smaller pyramids once held altars and shrines for nobles.

Pyramid of the Sun

The largest structure on the avenue, built around 200 CE. It aligns with the setting sun on specific dates, marking solstices. Excavations revealed tunnels beneath it that may have been used for offerings to underworld deities.

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Temple of the Feathered Serpent

Located at the southern end, this pyramid inside the Ciudadela complex features more than 200 sculpted serpent heads. It’s one of Mesoamerica’s finest examples of stone relief work.

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Palace of Quetzalpapálotl

Close to the Pyramid of the Moon, this ornate palace was home to priests or nobles. The murals of quetzal birds and butterflies symbolize transformation and divinity.

Avenue of the Dead with Pyramid of the Sun in Teotihuacan, Mexico.

Architectural highlights of the Avenue of the Dead

Teotihuacán’s architects designed the Avenue of the Dead as a grand ceremonial axis, 40 meters wide, paved with volcanic stone, and aligned with the cosmos. Archaeologists believe its design reflected the city’s connection between heaven and the underworld.

Each structure along the avenue follows strict symmetry. Platforms, plazas, and stairways were built to create an unbroken visual line, guiding processions toward the pyramids. The use of talud-tablero (sloping and vertical wall pattern) became a signature style later adopted across Mesoamerica.

Teotihuacan Pyramids along Avenue of the Dead, Mexico, showcasing ancient Mesoamerican architecture.

Historical and cultural significance

The Avenue of the Dead wasn’t just a road. It was the stage for rituals, royal parades, and sacrifices that defined Teotihuacán’s spiritual life. Scholars believe the dead rulers of Teotihuacán were carried along this path toward the Pyramid of the Moon, the symbolic gateway to the afterlife.

The Aztecs, arriving centuries later, were so awed by the ruins that they believed it was where the gods themselves were born — hence the name Teotihuacán, “the place where gods were made.”

Read more

Know before you go

Teotihuacan pyramids and Avenue of the Dead with visitors exploring the ancient site in Mexico.
  • Opening hours: The Teotihuacán Archaeological Zone is open daily from 8am to 5pm. Last entry is around 4pm.
  • Recommended arrival time: Arrive by 8am to enjoy cooler temperatures and smaller crowds, especially for walking the Avenue of the Dead comfortably.
  • Balloon tours: These start early, around 6am, with hotel pickups from 4:30–5am, depending on your operator.
  • Ticket offices: Close about 30–40 minutes before site closure, so don’t plan to buy tickets too late in the day.
  • Seasonal variations: Hours generally remain the same year-round, though certain sections may close temporarily for restoration or safety.
Detailed Teotihuacan timings
Teotihuacan pyramids with Pyramid of the Sun in the background, Mexico.
  • Where it is: The Avenue of the Dead runs through the heart of the Teotihuacán Archaeological Site, about 50 kilometers northeast of Mexico City.
  • Entrances:**Gate 1 (South): Closest to the Temple of the Feathered Serpent (Ciudadela).Gate 2 (East): Near the Pyramid of the Sun- most tours start here.Gate 3 (North): Closest to the Pyramid of the Moon**.
  • Reaching the site:By tour: Easiest and most comfortable — all guided and combo tours include round-trip transfers.By car: Around 1 hour from Mexico City via Highway 132D.By public transport: Regular buses leave from Terminal del Norte to “Zona Arqueológica de Teotihuacán” every 20–30 minutes.
  • Inside the site: The Avenue of the Dead connects all key monuments; expect to walk roughly 2.5 km each way if covering the entire stretch.
All about getting to Teotihuacan
Aerial view of Pyramid of the Moon in Teotihuacan, Mexico, with surrounding ancient structures.
  • Bring a hat, sunglasses, sunscreen, and at least 1L of water; shade is minimal throughout the site.
  • Carry cash (Mexican pesos) for small purchases near the entrances; many vendors don’t accept cards.
  • Avoid visiting during midday (12pm–2pm) when the sun is strongest.
  • If joining a guided tour, ask your guide to explain the astronomical alignment (15.5° east of north), it’s one of the most fascinating aspects.
  • Use Gate 2 if you want to start near the Pyramid of the Sun and make your way north toward the Moon Pyramid, it’s the most efficient walking route.
  • Bring a light jacket during winter months (November–February); mornings can be chilly, especially for early balloon tours.
  • Allow at least 2–3 hours if you plan to explore the Avenue of the Dead along with the pyramids and palaces.
Group of tourists in front of Teotihuacán Pyramid during early access tour.
  • Climate: Teotihuacán has a semi-arid climate. Days are warm, nights can be cool.
  • Average temperatures:**Dry season (Nov–Apr): 22–28°C daytime, 8–10°C mornings.Rainy season (May–Oct):** 24–30°C daytime, short afternoon showers.
  • Clothing tips:Lightweight, breathable clothes.Closed shoes or hiking sandals.Light rain jacket in summer months.Layered clothing for early morning tours or balloon rides.

Frequently asked questions about Avenue of the Dead tickets

Is access to the Avenue of the Dead included in all Teotihuacán tickets?

Yes. Every Teotihuacán entry ticket includes access to the Avenue of the Dead.

Which Teotihuacán ticket is best for exploring the Avenue of the Dead?

Guided walking tours or full-day combo tours are ideal since guides explain its layout and symbolism.

Can I see the Avenue of the Dead from a hot air balloon?

Yes, the balloon flight offers a complete aerial view of the avenue and the pyramids.

How long should I spend at the Avenue of the Dead?

At least 1.5 hours if you’re walking end to end and exploring the pyramids along the way.

Do I need to book Avenue of the Dead tickets separately?

No, it’s part of your Teotihuacán site entry.