Cacaxtla

Another outstanding archaeological site highly recommended, as a side trip from either Puebla or Tlaxcala, is the city of Cacaxtla (A.D. 600–900). If you are in the least interested in delving into the rich accomplishments of the Indians prior to the arrival of the Spanish, this site should not be missed. Wear comfortable shoes because there is a lot of walking involved in this adventure. You can hire a taxi to take you to the ruins or, if you drive yourself, there is a place to leave your car. First visit the museum, which displays many of the original artifacts found in the site plus reproductions of some of the paintings you will see. From the museum it is about a 1-kilometer walk on a well-defined path to the site of the ancient city perched on top of the nearby hill. The site is covered by a gigantic corrugated-steel roof to protect it from the destructive elements of sun and rain. What make this ruin so exceptional are the murals, which rank among some of the best-preserved frescos in Mexico. You can still see huge paintings on some of the walls showing life-sized warriors vividly dressed in jaguar costumes and fancy feather headdresses. These amazing works of art, probably dating back to A.D. 700–900, decorate numerous walls of the ancient city and, to varying degrees, reflect Mayan influence, since similarities are seen between these and the magnificent murals at the site of Bonampak. It is astonishing that the colors are in such excellent condition. This site is truly a treasure.