Mexico - The Pyramids of Teotihuacan & the Shrine of Guadalupe

Shrine of Guadalupe
On the way back into the capital from Teotihacaun you can stop at the infamous Shrine of Guadalupe, Mexico's holiest shrine. Its importance derives from the miracle that the devout believe occurred here in December 1531 when an Aztec named Juan Diego was approached by the Virgin Mary while walking in the local area. This happened three times and each time the Virgin Mary implored Diego to convince the local Bishop to build a church on the site but the Bishop did not believe Diego until he returned with a divine impression of the Virgin Mary imprinted on his cloak. Following this the Bishop set to work and within the next 6 years over 6 million Aztecs converted to the Christian faith. The remnants of Saint Juan Diego's famous cloak now remain in the Cathedral of Guadalupe encased high up above its altar and can be viewed from a moving sidewalk that passes below. This is such a holy site that millions of pilgrims visit each year so please do dress appropriately.
Teotihaucan
Your driver will pick you up from your hotel this morning and take you to the pre-Aztec city of Teotihuacan, visiting both the Pyramids of the Sun and the Moon and the Calle de los Muertos. Although it's incipient period (the first two centuries B.C.) is poorly understood, archaeological data show that the next two centuries were characterized by monumental construction during which Teotihuacan quickly became the largest and most populous urban centre in the New World. The city seems to have functioned for centuries until its rather sudden collapse, possibly in the seventh century. The place was called Teotihuacan, by Nahuatl speakers, several centuries after the city's fall but its original name, the language or languages spoken there, and the ethnic groups who built the city are still a mystery.
The pyramids of the sun and moon here are said to rival those of Giza in Egypt and at the city's peak of power between AD350-650, it had many influences over other now ancient sites throughout Mexico and Guatemala especially in relation to the pottery, sculpture and architecture. Your guide will discuss the history and achievements of this pre hispanic civilization bringing this ancient metropolis to life once again. You may have time to climb part or all of the Moon and Sun Temples should you wish to; the steps are quite steep, but the view over the site from the sun temple in particular is well worth the climb.