Tlatelolco	Tula and City of Teposotlan	Cacaxtla,  Xochitecatl and Edifucio de la Espiral	Tepanapa Pyramid in Cholula
Xochicalco	Teneyuca	Cuicuilco	Tenochitlan and Templo Mayor
Pyramid and Temple of Acatitilan	Chapultpepc Castle, Park, Museum	Teotihuacan	The Palace of Tititla
Atetelco	Malinalco	Flying Totonacos of Vera Cruz	Taxco
Xochimilco	The Ballet Folklorio	The Mercado	Our Modern Latter Day Temple
Stone Towers of Naulcapan

Mexico has over 14,000 registered archaeological sites!  That is more than any country in the world, and the majority of the earlier sites correlate perfectly with the years of the Book of Mormon history, namely from about 2000 BC to 700 AD.  That includes the peoples of the Jaradite, Mulekite, Nephite and Lamanite civilizations and others! 

During our tour,  we travel through seven states within this great country.  They include:  The District Federal (likened to our Washington D.C.), Hildago, Mexico, Morelos, Guerrelo, Tlaxcala and Puebla.  And within these states we visit the following fascinating sites: 

• Tlatelolco 
Commonly referred to as, “The Plaza of the Three Cultures.”  This is the site of the surrender of the last Aztec stronghold to Cortez.  A fascinating place to actually see three layers atop each other of Mexico’s vast history. 

• TLATLUIZCALDANTECUHTLI (!) or Tula and the City of Teposotlan 
Where massive Toltec stone warriors called, “Atlanteans,” stand atop the pyramid which originally supported the roof of the temple of Tlatluizcalpantecuhtli (!) or translated in our tongue, “Temple of the morning star,” also called the, “Temple of Quetzalcoatl.”  This is the ancient city of beautifully carved stone tablets, once used to decorate the outside walls of the temple.  Nearby is the pillared palace, and a partially uncovered pyramid, a perfect specimen of the great amount of effort required to dig out a pyramid.  Plus, we see a fascinating ancient ball field! (And local vendors selling fascinating things!) (See Nephi 5:15,17, and Mosiah 11:9,10)

• Cacaxtla, Xochitecatl  and Edificio de la Espiral 
A site inhabited as early as 2000 B.C. with beautiful colored murals of a light and dark skinned people in fierce battle. Painted around 600 A.D. and found upon the walls of an impressive palace. Directly across the valley to the west, on a mountain higher than the palace, (with great spiritual significance), is the beautiful Pyramid of Xochitecatl. (Translated, "The Terraced Pyramid of the Flowers.") We call it our King Benjamin Valley! One can almost envision the tents facing the temple and tower as the King addressed his people. A Kodak perfect setting.  Entrance to this site is by walking between small, matching pyramids.  One is uncovered the other is still hidden under the dirt and dust of time. We will also enjoy one of the few spiraled "Pyramids" nearby. Edificio de la Espiral! And what a treat. Be sure to bring extra batteries for the camera! ( And in the nearby village, the local blue corn tacos, with fried onions, mushrooms and squash blossoms – Oh my, what a treat!) (Compare to 2 Nephi 5:20-22, Alma 3:5,6, Mormon 4:9-14, 18, and Mormon 5:7)

• Tepanapa Pyramid in Cholula 
Called Tlachi-Hualtepetl, meaning, “Man made mountain,” by the local people, it is one of the greatest pre-Columbian cities and ancient Toltec centers.  It is the largest man made pyramid in the world!  Exceeding in volume the great pyramids of Giza and Cheops in Egypt.  This grand structure spans the time from the Jaredites to the Nephites.  It is carefully estimated to be built of the equivalent of 50 million wheelbarrow loads of dirt, making up some 2 ½ million cubic yards of earth!  Think of that!   It is partially explored through long, mysterious tunnels.  Here we also see the patio of the altars, wide stairways, stelae, burial sites and the great, “Stone Building,” which all helps one to imagine the grandeur of this magnificent structure.  You won’t want to miss the mysterious and strange “Stone Frog.”  As well as the small, yet significant museum nearby which houses an impressive cutaway model of the 7 layers of pyramids within.  Truly one of our highlight stopping places.  (Enjoy 3 Nephi 6:7,8, Ezekiel 20:40, and Exodus 24:12)

• Xochicalco 
A magnificent and recently uncovered city.  It features water ways, cisterns, steam bath, courtyards, dwellings, synagogue, “acropolis(or upper city),” two complete ball fields, and one with original stone hoops, rare numerical glyph stone tablets,(Noted to be some of the very best in all Meso and South America), stelae, observatory and wonderful temples.  Two of which are identical, facing each other, reminiscent of the dual altars of the Kirtland Temple representing both the Law of Moses (later known as the Aaronic Priesthood following the visit of the Savior) and Melchezedek priesthoods!  And the "Temple Covenant Stone". Humbling. A truly highlight and spiritual place for one of our study stops of the Book of Mormon. (Reminiscent of Helaman 3:9)

• Teneyuca 
One of the best preserved and most accessible pyramids with original covering of red colored stucco.  Magnificent stairway with over 100 serpents of stone lining the three base walls, plus three stone coiled serpents.  A small version of the great pyramid which stood in the center of Tenochitlan, the most famous later Aztec city located in the center of present modern Mexico City.  (Symbolic of Ether 9:31,33)

• Cuicuilco 
Thousht to be, the oldest monument on the American Continent!  One of the very few round, “pyramids,” in the world.  Built approximately 4000 years ago.  Its time of destruction coincides perfectly with the destruction of many of the cities recorded at the time of the Savior’s crucifixion and death.  Another sacred moment of reading from the Book of Mormon.  You will feel a very special spirit at this place.  (Samuels prophecy and fulfillment: Helamen 14:21, 23-27, 3 Nephi 8:3,5-15,19-23, and 3 Nephi 9:5,6,8)

• Tenochitlan and Templo Mayor 
Impressive ruins of the most famous and greatest Aztec City.  Discovered in the center of modern Mexico City, originally located on the Western shores of Lake Texcoco.  World class museum nearby, including examples of stone and cement boxes and an ancient water purification system. (Compare to 3 Nephi 6:7,8 and Mormon 8:7)

• Pyramid and Temple of Acatitilan 
The only completely reconstructed Aztec pyramid with Temple in all of  Mexico!  It is rare indeed to find the temple still intact upon most pyramids.  This is a wonderful example for us to study as we discuss, “ascending to the mountain of the Lord - his Holy Temple . . .,” we’ll also see the infamous, “skull rack,” and magnificent stairway and stelea!  (Reminiscent of 2 Nephi 12:3, Exodus 24:12, 1 Nephi 18:3, and Mosiah 1:18)

• Chapultepec Castle, Park and World Renown Museum of Anthropology 
Home of the famous Calendar Stone, Sacrificial Altars, Olmec (Jaradite!) Heads, the richly carved stone Sarcophagus and Tomb of Pacal, plus many additional rich treasures of the history of this great land and ancient civilization! 

• Teotihuacan 
One of Mexico’s and the world's best known archaeological sites!  How can one appropriately describe this great treasure of antiquity?  Originally 93 square miles, here is the city anciently referred to as, “The City of the Gods,” or, “The City Where Gods are Made!”  It is here we see the great pyramids.  One called the Pyramid of the Sun, another the Pyramid of the Moon, and still another, the Temple of Quetzalcoatl.  When one stands before these almost supernatural edifices, and realizes their positions and meaning to each other, the spiritual significance of it all is slowly released into our spiritual reasoning.  More on the sacredness of this setting later in this website.  Then, there is the Avenue of the Dead, the Temples of Mythological Animals, and Jaguar, the Palace of the four Little Temples and Quetzalpapalotl, and the Citadel, and the Feathered Serpents, and the New Museum, and, and, and . . . !  You will be in awe and disbelief when first looking upon this magnificent city.  All in a setting beginning about 200 B.C.  up to approximately 700 A.D.  You will love this sacred place!  (Enjoy and Compare to 3 Nephi 11:1-14,21, 24:3, 17:15-17, Helamen 3:3-11)

• The Palace of Tititla 
Beautiful palace in the neighborhood of the City of Teotihuacan, we humorously, yet respectfully call one of the local,  “Stake Centers,” of the ancient community!  (See Alma 8:7)

• Atetelco 
 Fascinating residential area of downtown Teotihuacan, with it’s narrow streets, miniature pyramid, courtyards, waterways and wonderful red colored mural walls, depicting a happy people, complete with feathered snails with music glyphs (!) or music coming from their mouths. It was also in this vicinity  that the stone image of the "laughing turtle," was found. And is it any wonder to find images of singing snails, a laughing turtle, sea shells and flowers, as it it was at the time of 200 years of peace and unconditional love, following the Savior’s personal visit to this people, as found in 3rd Nephi. We read about it there!  It is wonderful!  (Compare to 4 Nephi:15-16)

•Malinalco
Just added to our tour itinerary. Built by the descendants of the Jaredite/Nephite people. Malinalco is a temple of most unusual archaeological design. It is reminiscent of the magnificence of the Roman city of stone found in Petra, Jordan, as it too is hewn out of solid rock near the top of a mountain. Six-foot eagles, giant tigers and jaguars, stone outer stairways, many large rooms, all carved or hewn of attached solid stone! Surely resolves the controversy of scholars refusing to believe the use of steel and iron by the ancient people of this land. Try carving solid stone from stone! (1 Nephi 5:15). And as a very special bonus we stop enroute high in the beautiful mountains to visit the Sacred Giant Sequoia Tree and  the Healing Waters of Chalma!  Waters that mysteriously flow from beneath the giant roots, reminiscent of the scripture reference, "And if the root be holy, so be the branches." (Romans 11:16). Quaint Mexican village, nestled  in a beautiful green forest, high in the mountains. A holy Mecca for the people in this part of the world. (A very special surprise awaits all during this brief stop.) You will think we have detoured to the Swiss Alps, or beautiful Hawaii! Stunning scenery!

•The Stone Towers of the Valley of Naucalpan 

We spent nearly five years trying to locate a stone tower in this ancient land that was reminiscent of those mentioned in the Book of Mormon. We contacted the Mexican Tourist Bureau in Mexico City, the Mexican Embassy in Los Angeles, and interviewed tour guides in the land, with no success. Then on our last tour - we did it! We found not only one, but two of these magnificent structures! One on each side of the beautiful Naucalpan Valley. And the detailed descriptions as found in Mosiah 2: 7, Alma 50: 4, and Helaman 7: 10, matches our find perfectly. We read from Mosiah, "For the multitude became so great that King Benjamin could not teach them all within the wall of the temple, therefore he caused a tower to be erected that thereby his people might hear the words which he could speak to them...and caused places of security to be built upon those  towers, that the stones and arrows of the Lamanites could not hurt them." Now note and enjoy the pictures of the  towers as found in our Gallery and Virtual Tour menus. You will note that there are openings along the walls of the towers. Perfect places for one to speak, and yet be able to dart back into the tower for safety  in case of attack. Perfect! Fascinating! Inspiring! We love our ancient towers of Naucalpan! (For your added interest, we found a rare photo of  an ancient tower located  70 miles north-northwest of Baghdad in Iraq. It very closely resembles the towers we discovered in Mexico! It was fashioned after the Tower of Babel according to local history. Remembe, Baghdad is known to be the location of Babylon! See picture in, Virtual Tour, on the menu. Fascinating!)

• The Flying Totonacos of Vera Cruz 
“Voladores,” or men who perform from high atop a 100 foot wood pole tied to ropes by their feet.  Four men spin slowly, ever closer to the ground below, to the beautiful flute music of a fifth man seated atop the high pole.  The performance is rooted in antiquity and represents the center of the earth and the importance of it’s four powers of  life, being air, earth, fire and water, plus the four seasons.  It is truly a “Kodak Moment!” 

• Taxco 
The silver center of the world!  A charming little Mexican village, with picturesque tree filled town square and seventeenth century ancient cathedral, located high in the mountains, with narrow, steep, winding , cobblestone streets! (You'll wonder how the clutches last on those little VW busses!) It's time to shop and shop until we drop! Beautiful, handcrafted, sterling silver treasures of every kind abounds! You’ll love this very special bonus of the tour, situated in a truly  “National Geographic” setting! 

• Xochimilco 
 The famous Aztec, “Floating Gardens!”  One of the last bodies of water of the original ancient lake of Texcoco, whereon the great Aztec city of Tenochitlan was built as an island city fortress.  We board our own personal , colorful “Trajinera,” (or gondola), and gently glide down ancient, narrow water ways, enjoying our specially prepared authentic Mexican meal, with beautiful Mexican music playing in the background.  We present a special gift to our ladies here!  (Reminiscent of Helamen 3:3-11)

• The Ballet Folklorico 
 A musical extravaganza you will never forget!  We see it at the magnificent Palace of Fine Arts.  A grandiose Italian marble opera house built between the years 1900 and 1934!  You will thrill at the enormous Tiffany glass curtain in this 3500 seat classic opera house. 

• The Mercado 
 Wonderful outdoor market place where you can buy any of the wonderful treasures offered in this great and historical land.  From silver to satins, to fine reproductions of museum treasures, to the real thing.  It is all here!  You’ll love it. 

• Our Modern Latter Day Temple 
You will feel a familiar, special spirit when you see this beautiful edifice to the Lord.  Thoughtfully designed after the ancient temples of the land, beautiful grounds, visitor center and missionary home.  For those who desire, there is opportunity to attend.