If you are taking a tour to the pyramids, pretty good chance the tour will have a stop here for…read moresome education on obsidian, mezcal, artisanal weaving and souvenir shopping. Please come and create your own adventure.

We visited Teotihuacán a few weeks ago, taking a day trip during our stay in Mexico City. We hired…read morea tour guide, who brought us to this little commercial area near the archaeological site, which was basically Teotihuacán's gift shop. It was a cool place, a little artisan market with on-site guides/salespeople to show you around and nudge you into the shop at the end. Our guide was a pleasant woman with a whole lot of hustle. She took us over to a giant agave and demonstrated some of its many uses (you can pretty much pull paper and thread straight out of the plant, as well as the obvious nectars and liquors); she showed us silver jewelry and obsidian sculptures, and explained how they were made. The last stop before the shop was for tiny shots of tequila and mezcal, which she had us take with salt and lime. Something to loosen us up enough to spend some pesos, perhaps. The shop was pretty extensive, filled with silver and obsidian and other artisanal Mexican crafts. Our guide stayed with us for a while, showing us this and that. I wanted to browse on my own, but she was kind of there behind me, ready to help me out if anything caught my interest. She said we didn't have to buy anything, but I'd say there was a lot of soft pressure--something to be aware of, if that sort of thing makes you uncomfortable. I ended up buying a silver necklace, which was kind of expensive but very pretty and, as far as I could tell (I know nothing), solidly made. All in all, an educational experience with a hard sell component. The demonstrations are fun, the people are nice, and the shop is genuinely appealing. If you're inclined to buy souvenirs while in Mexico, this is probably a reliable if pricey place to do it. Otherwise, just enjoy the presentation and make your escape.