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Historic Sites of the Americas

If you love traveling, and would like to learn more about visiting the Pre-Colombian cultural sites and ruins of the ancient Americas, you’ve definitely come to the right place.

Traveling Back In Time focuses on Mesoamerican ruins and historic sites located throughout Arizona, Mexico, and Peru. This article will provide you with some resources,  guides, and reviews to help you prepare for your next vacation.

Article Reference Guide:

1. Aztec Historic and Cultural Sites Near Mexico City
2. Inca Historic and Cultural Sites Cusco, Peru
3. Mayan Historic and Cultural Sites Near Cancun, Mexico
4. Mayan Historic and Cultural Sites Near Merida, Mexico
5. Pre-Colombian Historic and Cultural Sites in Arizona

Aztec Historic and Cultural Sites Near Mexico City

Almost 9 million people call Mexico City home and this bustling metropolis is the birthplace of Aztec culture. Gigantic pyramids still dot the landscape, and the current city was literally built on top of the former capital of the Aztecs, Tenochtitlan. The remnants of these structures can still be seen in the center of the city today.

Here are some ancient sites we recommend seeing during your stay in Mexico City:

Other Nearby Attractions Worth Seeing:

  • Anthropology Museum
  • Basilica of Our Lady Guadalupe
  • Coyoacan Open-Air Market
  • Chapultepec Castle
  • Museo Frida Kahlo and Casa Azul
  • Diego Rivera Murals
  • Templo Mayor Ruins and Dioramas

Local Business Reviews:

Inca Historic and Cultural Sites Near Cusco, Peru

go to peru travel agency machu picchu summit

Cusco was the capital of the Inca Empire until the Spanish conquest began in the 1500’s. This Peruvian city has been continuously inhabited for more than 3,000 years, and almost 2 million tourists visit every single year. It’s also home to some of the most impressive and undisturbed Pre-Colombian ruins in South America.

Here are some ancient sites we recommend seeing while you’re staying in Cusco:

  • Machu Picchu Summit
  • Tipon Inca Ruins Near Cusco
  • Ollantaytambo Inca Ruins
  • Sacsayhuaman Historic Site
  • Montana Trek at Machu Picchu
  • Huaynapicchu Trek at Machu Picchu
  • Maras Salt Mine and Moray
  • Pisac Inca Water Fountains
  • Sacred Valley Peru Tour
  • South Valley Peru Tour

Other Nearby Attractions Worth Seeing:

  • Barranco Art District Near Lima
  • Town of Aguas Calientes
  • Hiram Bingham Train
  • Museum of Anthropology

Local Business Reviews:

  • Belmond Sanctuary Hotel
  • Belmond Palacio Nazarenas
  • Chicha Restaurant Cusco
  • Go To Peru Travel Agency
  • JW Marriott El Convento Cusco
  • JW Marriott Hotel Lima
  • Maido Japanese Restaurant
  • Palacio Del Inka Hotel Cusco
  • Sumaq Aguas Calientes Hotel

Mayan Historic and Cultural Sites Near Cancun, Mexico

In 2017, more than 6 million tourists visited Cancun to see its beautiful beaches and enjoy the sunshine. More than half of these visitors also found their way to one the 17 Mayan cultural sites located in the Yucatan. While Chichen Itza is the most popular of these destinations, our experiences at some of the other sites was much more enjoyable.

Here are some ancient sites we recommend visiting during your vacation to Cancun:

Other Nearby Attractions Worth  Seeing:

  • Isla Contoy Preservation and Reef
  • Isla Mujeres Day Tour
  • Museo De Maya of Cancun
  • Xcaret Amusement Park
  • Xel Ha Amusement Park

Local Business Reviews:

  • Live Aqua Resort Cancun
  • Dreams Puerto Venturas Resort
  • Cancun Aquarium

Mayan Historic and Cultural Sites Near Merida, Mexico

Four hours west of Cancun is the 9th largest city in Mexico, and the largest city in the Yucatan, Merida. Merida is home to 900,000 residents and some Mayan ruins from the Late Classic period. The city is also slightly closer to the popular sites of Ek Balam, Coba, and Chichen Itza which were constructed by the Maya during the Terminal Period.

Here are some sites we recommend seeing during your visit to the city of Merida:

Other Nearby Attractions Worth Seeing:

  • Mayan Grottos Near Uxmal
  • Museo de Maya at Dzibilchaltun

Pre-Colombian Historic and Cultural Sites In Arizona

Arizona is one of the few states where Pre-Colombian structures can be found. Unlike the nomadic tribes of Midwest, the Indigenous people of Arizona were largely sedentary, and they built communities around their farms and canals.  Ruins from the Ancestral Puebloan, Hopi, Hohokam, Mogollon, Salado, and Sinagua can still be visited today.

Here are some sites we recommend seeing if you’re visiting the Flagstaff or Cottonwood area:

  • Casa Grande Ruins National Monument
  • Mesa Grande Cultural Park
  • Mesa Verde Historic Ruins
  • Montezuma’s Castle National Park
  • Montezuma’s Well National Park
  • Tuzigoot Ruins Near Cottonwood
  • Red Rock Ruins Pink Jeep Tour

Other Nearby Attractions Worth Seeing:

  • Downtown Sedona
  • Museum of Northern Arizona

Local Business Reviews:

  • Courtyard By Marriott Sedona
  • Coyote Cafe Restaurant Sedona
  • Pink Jeep Tours of Sedona
  • Twin Arrows Casino and Hotel Flagstaff