The Pyramid of Cholula In Puebla, Mexico

Want to visit the largest pyramid in the world? Then don’t head to Egypt! While the Great Pyramid of Giza is the tallest, standing 449.5 ft high, the largest is the Great Pyramid of Cholula in Puebla, Mexico.

How big is it?

The Great Pyramid of Cholula, or Tlachihualtepetl, spans 4.45 million cubic meters—over four times bigger than the Empire State Building. Meanwhile, Giza’s pyramid is about half that volume.

Despite its size, it’s an underrated wonder.

Tlachihualtepetl rests in the Puebla Valley, just a few miles West of the city of Cholula, Mexico, among the Cholula Ruins. Its size grew over time. First built in 300 B.C., it was expanded by different ancient civilizations over the course of a millennia.

Today, visitors can experience the massive pyramid, its eight kilometers of tunnels, and hidden chambers more closely than ever before. Discover the secrets of ancient Cholula in this quick guide to the Tlachihualtepetl pyramid.

A Brief History of Tlachihualtepetl: The Great Pyramid of Cholula

Cholula’s Great Pyramid, Tlachihualtepetl, was built in four stages.

1. 200 B.C. La Conejera

La Conejera was a broad-based pyramid built in the sloping, angular talud-tablero architectural style. Its design suggests it was built by Toltecs (who also built Teotihuacán), or their cultural neighbors.

2. 200 - 350 A.D. Pyramid of The Painted Skulls

It’s unknown which groups built the Pyramid of Painted Skulls. This second phase pyramid used a radial architecture, surrounding four-sided platforms with staircases. These people are not recorded in plausible histories; instead, ancient legends describe the Pyramid of Painted Skulls as being built by giants called the Quinametzin. We don’t know the real builders’ identities.

3. 800 - 900 A.D. Pyramid of Nine Stories

The Pyramid of Nine Stories was built by the Olmeca-Xicalanca people. It incorporated nine platforms with alters, including the Jaguar Alter.

4. 1200 - 1300 A.D. Burial of Great Pyramid Site

Around the year 1200, the Cholula site was taken over by the Tolteca-Chichimeca. They modified the Great Pyramid and covered it with natural grasses. The site as a whole was relegated to minority worship of Quetzalcoatl, and the Great Pyramid was, seemingly, abandoned.

5 Secrets: Curious Facts About The Cholula Ruins

What’s Inside Cholula Pyramid?

The most striking things seen inside the Cholula Pyramid are the sprawling subterranean tunnels and the vivid, multicolored murals. One mural, titled “Bebedores” or “The Drinkers,” depicts different figures drinking from pulque bottles. Another, “Chapulines,” depicts grasshoppers surrounding a skull, and likely had symbolic significance.

Even when closed, many of the tunnels and morals can be seen in the thorough series of Great Pyramid of Cholula photos hosted by the Museo de Sitio de Cholula’s digital gallery.

How Was Cholula Puebla Pyramid Built?

The Cholula Pyramid was built in intersecting layers, with different segments constructed by different cultures and groups in different centuries.

All builders used sun-dried adobe bricks to complete their respective segments of the construction. Yet, each culture built its section using different architectural styles and motifs.

The oldest sections are built in the talud-tablero style, and feathered and insect-like motifs are visible. Inside later constructions, a radial-style pyramid is surrounded by curving stairs.

###Why Did Ancient Civilizations Create The Cholula Temple?

The original builders of the Cholula Pyramid began the project as a temple to Quetzalcoatl, and possibly also dedicated the pyramid to gods whose names we’ve since lost. Tlachihualtepetl likely served as both a ritual center and tomb. Evidence suggests the Teotihuacan civilization was the first creator.

Later, the Toltecs expanded and submerged the original pyramid.

What Are The Cholula Pyramids Like Today?

Today, miles of excavated tunnels have been lit and can be explored inside the pyramid and ruins. However, sections are periodically closed off for safety.

Some of the exterior pyramid construction is now more visible, thanks to excavation efforts. However, the outside of the pyramid still looks much like a natural hill.

Visitors can explore some of the interlocking chambers directly, but not all of them. That said, the Nuestra Señora de los Remedios atop the pyramid is always open to the public.

Why Is Iglesia de Nuestra Señora de los Remedios Preserved Atop Cholula’s Pyramid?

Spanish conquistadors inadvertently built Nuestra Señora de los Remedios, a Catholic parish church, on top of the Cholula Pyramid in the middle of the 16th century. The church’s neoclassical style is stone carved and embellished with 24-carat gilded panels.

Today, both the church and pyramid are preserved as a UNESCO World Heritage Site, showing the contested, long-reaching multicultural history of the site—one with deep spiritual significance to many different cultures.

How To Visit The Pyramid of Cholula

To experience the Great Pyramid of Cholula, take a few considerations to heart when planning your trip.

Prepare To Travel Safely

To visit the Pyramid of Cholula, make preparations to travel safely. Take precautions to protect yourself from illness by following CDC guidelines on traveling to Mexico.

As the Cholula Pyramid is in Puebla, abide by the U.S. State Department’s advisory to “exercise increased caution” while visiting.

Getting To & From Cholula, Puebla, Mexico

When making a trip to the Cholula Ruins, visitors typically fly into Puebla International Airport (PBC) or Mexico City International Airport Benito Juárez (MEX).

Once in either Mexico City or Puebla, there are multiple ways to take a trip out to the site of the Great Pyramid of Cholula. Bus tours, autobuses, and taxis can be taken to the archeological zone from either hub.

Tours & Exploration

Guided tours of the Cholula Archeological Park infuse the experience with stories of the site’s history, myths, and excavation. Many tours are small groups, and they predominantly explore the site on foot or by bus.

Visitors are also free to explore the site independently. Climbing the ruins during exploration is allowed at certain times. Be sure to abide by all signage.

Hours & Costs

Entrance to the Zona Arqueológica de Cholula, and its museum, is free for children and inexpensive for adults. For non-residents, entering the site costs $85 MEX ($4.16 USD) per ticket.

The Cholula site is open for exploration from Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM.

It is closed on Sunday and Monday.

Food & Lodging

The contemporary town of Cholula is full of restaurants, festivals, and nightlife.

San Pedro Cholula has affordable, cozy Mexican diners and five-star bistros like Ciudad Sagrada. And if you’re craving a home-cooked meal, the open-air Cholula market has plenty of goods on offer.

Overnight options range from the luxury Estrella De Belem to campgrounds near the archeological zone.

Experience Cholula, Mexico With Caravan

When crafting experiences like exploring the Pyramid of Cholula, we hand-pick and book optimal transportation, overnight accommodations, meals, and activities for each tour. Guests simply pay one affordable rate.

If you want to experience the majesty of the Cholula Pyramid on our 8-Day Tour of Puebla and Oaxaca, Mexico, book today! Call our agents toll-free at 1-800-227-2826. Or, call our information team at +1-312-321-9800 to learn more about the tour.