We’re still buzzing from our latest trip to the Xochicalco Archaeological Zone this week! If you’ve been following our blog, you might remember the incredible photo we posted a while back: our guide, Carlos, with his shadow perfectly cast over the stunning low-relief carvings of the Feathered Serpent Pyramid, the moon hanging in the background.

Well, guess what? We were back! And we visit this incredible site so often with our students that we have a saying for it here in Mexico: “Ya ni nos ladran los perros” (The dogs don’t even bark at us anymore) because they know us so well! That’s how much we love Xochicalco.

So, for those of you planning to visit, here’s a quick peek at the journey we always take:

Starting Green: The Museum

Our adventure always begins at the museum. It’s housed in an impressive, environmentally friendly “Green Building” designed to blend into the landscape and minimize energy use. Think natural lighting from clever skylights illuminating the halls and a design that lets the breeze flow right through, keeping us cool on hot days. It’s a great example of smart, sustainable architecture!

Sun, Calendars, and Pyramids

After soaking up some history in the museum, we head straight for the archaeological area.

We kick things off at the Plaza de la Estela de los Dos Glifos (The Plaza of the Stele of the Two Glyphs). This was the city’s largest square, and the buildings here are fascinatingly oriented. They’re positioned so that the sun’s rise and set, relative to the pyramids, marked the months and seasons—an ancient, massive calendar! In the center, a stele featuring calendar symbols likely marks the city’s founding. From here, we can also peer down to catch a glimpse of the distant South Ballgame court.

Next, we move up to the most important structure: the majestic Pyramid of the Feathered Serpents. This is where we dive into the meaning of the feathered serpents and decode the countless other symbols carved into the low-reliefs. Did you know that these pyramid-shaped buildings were called Teocallis? It literally translates to “The House of God.”

Up to the Acropolis

Our climb continues to The Acropolis, which served as the residence for Xochicalco’s rulers. Here, we can get close to the “mouth” of the famous Astronomical Observatory.

Unfortunately, since the September 2017 earthquake caused a fracture in the hill, we can’t safely enter the cave where the observatory is located. But even just seeing the hexagonal stone entrance is impressive, and we always explain exactly how this incredible piece of ancient engineering was used to track the heavens!

A Clean Game: The Ballcourt

Finally, we start our descent, heading towards the North Ballgame court, the highest of the three found at Xochicalco. Next to it, you’ll find a temazcal (an ancient sweat lodge). This was where the warriors would cleanse themselves, body and soul, before participating in the ceremonial ballgame.

Right nearby is the enormous cistern, where the Xochicalcas stored their water. The best part? They kept fish and plants in the cistern to naturally oxygenate and keep the water clean for longer. Talk about advanced thinking!

This last trip was perfect. Since we often like to go on weekdays, right after classes, we were blessed with a clear, cool evening just like this time. Plus, we often have the whole place to ourselves! It truly feels like a magical, sacred spot that has so much to teach us.

We invite you to come and explore Xochicalco with us!