If you're in the area, this is worth a stop for $75 MXN (about $4). About a 2-2.5 hour drive from…read moreMexico City, it's an archaeological zone that wasn't even discovered until 1975, supposedly by a "peon," as worded by the government employee on site. The poor farmer who happened to stumble upon this historic treasure while tending to his herd got zero credit for his discovery. Instead, some local politician jacked the spotlight from out under him. Pay close attention to the murals, the beautiful scenery and local market down the street from the main entrance for maximum cultural exposure!

Cacaxtla is just north of Highway 150D which connects nearby Puebla with Mexico City to the west…read more Taking local buses from Puebla can turn this into an all-day excursion so I hired a driver. Unfortunately, Alejandro had never been there but his smartphone map app got us there in an hour. Known for its murals, why isn't Cacaxtla crowded with visitors? I had the entire place to myself (and noticed a guest book that recorded just six visitors during the previous week). The paved path from the ticket office to the ruin is a leisurely 10-minute walk. You won't have a problem finding it because it's covered by a mammoth steel roof to protect the site, especially the murals. Climb the steps of the stocky Gran Basimento and a wood plank walkway guides you through the points of interest. There are some interesting architectural features, such as a very well-preserved section of latticework but it's the murals that command attention. That's the reason Cacaxtla, which peaked from AD 650-900, is special. The Battle Mural, at 60 feet long, is quite stunning even its delicate condition and it depicts jaguar warriors killing and dismembering bird warriors. It's Game of Thrones in pictorial form. The Red Temple Mural sits at the base of stairway. The images in still bold colors of red, blue and yellow colors regard soil fertility, water, and death. The Temple of Venus features a priest in blue paint with a large yellow scorpion tail emphasizing his masculinity. Across from him is the mural remnant of a priestess also in blue paint. In Building A, are two murals flanking an open doorway. On the left is Feline Man and on the right is Bird Man. Even though you cannot get close to these murals, the sumptuous details of their amazing costumes is easy to see. The small two-room museum is also a must-see. It will probably be closed because they get so few visitors but ask them to open the doors. Unfortunately, the guard didn't let me take photos which is too bad because there are about a dozen stellar pieces here, mostly deities such as Tlaloc. There is also an ear of corn modeled in clay very realistically. These ruins were discovered in 1975 and the murals were uncovered in the 1980s. Even though the steel roof provides good protection, it cannot prevent the creative genius of these glorious images from fading over time. To be alive now when these murals are at their best is such good fortune. If you're visiting Mexico City or Puebla, you won't regret the drive to Cacaxtla.