El Tajin
El Tajin (El Tajín) is in the state of Veracruz in Mexico. It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
El Tajin, Totonac for 'thunder' or 'lightning', is a group of sacred buildings where ceremonies and religious sporting events were held. First begun around AD 100, it was occupied and developed mainly around AD 600 to 900, and later abandoned. El Tajin was rediscovered by the Spanish in 1785.
Get in
The 10 km square site is located near the small cities of Poza Rica and Papantla, located on the Atlantic coast of Mexico, directly east of Mexico City. There is a direct road and the site can be reached by car or by frequent buses.
See
There are a large number of remaining edifices to be seen, some include multilingual information stands. Voladores (flyers), who ascend a tall pole and spin slowly to the ground while attached to ropes while meditating, can be seen outside the complex.
Wearing a hat is a good idea as the jungle temperatures and sunshine can be draining.
Buy
Cheesy souvenir stands surround the complex, along with a few restaurants. There are no hotels but the site is near Poza Rica, Papantla, or the small beach resort of Tecolutla. The site is popular with tourists and can be crowded on some weekends.
Costs
There is a small charge for entering the grounds. Voladores performances are free but it's always good to aid the performers with a donation.