13 Ancient American Cities That Will Blow Your Budget in a Day
The Americas have lost empires and even vivid landscapes. A window into a world of lost empires, advanced engineering, and jaw-dropping views, each of these places has its charm, mystique, and history, but there’s one thing they all share: By the end of the day, they’ll have left your wallet gasping for air!
Exploring these remarkable sites can be an expensive — but worthwhile — endeavor with costs ranging from entry fees to pricey guided tours. There are many places to seek out and enjoy. These cities are fascinating, no matter if you are interested in the architectural marvels of the Maya, the wonders of the Inca, or the grand settlements of the Ancestral Puebloans and they are worth every penny.
Machu Picchu, Peru
Machu Picchu, a city high in the Andes, is one of the most famous ancient cities in the world, but seeing the breathtaking terraced slopes and mystical stone temples comes at a price. The entry fees are steep, especially if you choose to go on a guided tour to learn about this rich history. If you want to add a hike up Huayna Picchu or the scenic train ride from Cusco, more will be tacked onto the tab. The view of the sun rising from over these ruins? Unforgettable.
Chichen Itza, Mexico
Chichen Itza is a huge wow factor of a Maya city and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, but it also has a huge entrance fee. The Mayan civilization in the form of the famous El Castillo pyramid is an example. Visiting early in the day will help you avoid some crowds, but beware of costs that will pile up beyond the entrance fee, as tours, transport and souvenirs really can add up quickly.
Teotihuacan, Mexico
Teotihuacan, grand pyramids just outside Mexico City, are an architectural wonder. For every penny of the entrance fee, it’s worth climbing the Pyramid of the Sun to get a sweeping view of the Avenue of the Dead. Taking a hot air balloon ride over the ruins will be a budget stretch, but floating over these ancient ruins is a priceless experience.
Tikal, Guatemala
Though the Maya are only a civilization that spread across most of Central America and parts of Mexico, Tikal is one of the largest and most fascinating of their cities, dwarfed and neglected by a jungle in northern Guatemala. The entry fee includes access to enormous pyramids and large plazas, and adding on a sunrise or sunset tour can makes the cost go up. However, the thrill of hearing howler monkeys echo in the trees as you explore makes the expense worth it.
Cuzco, Peru
Cuzco isn’t an ancient city itself but it’s the former capital of the Inca Empire and a must see before visiting Machu Picchu. Its plazas are charming, as are its ancient ruins like Sacsayhuamán, but it’s an expensive destination. A feast for the eyes, visiting Cuzco’s mix of Spanish and Incan architecture is expensive, with museum fees, historic site visits and altitude acclimatization expenses on a tour of Peru.
Copan, Honduras
Copan is a fascinating but costly destination because of its intricate stone carvings and impressive Mayan ruins. The tour through the complex stone stelae and ball courts learning the story of the Mayan people is included in the fee. For a more in-depth experience, consider a guided tour, but be ready to pay more for the insight.
Palenque, Mexico
A dense Chiapas jungle, Palenque has well-preserved ruins and mysterious carvings. At first glance, the entrance fee seems reasonable, but to understand the carvings and history, it will cost you! The breathtaking jungle setting and the quiet of these ruins are hard to beat as far as a sense of discovery goes.
Ollantaytambo, Peru
Ollantaytambo is a beautiful Incan ruin overlooking terraces that appear to reach into the sky, in the Sacred Valley. This is a common stop on the way to Machu Picchu and despite the lower entry fee of Machu Picchu, the cost of guided tours and transportation can add up. But visiting this ancient fortress with its wide views and special architecture is an experience you won’t forget soon.
Monte Alban, Mexico
Monte Alban — an ancient Zapotec capital and fantastic ruins high above Oaxaca City — boasts terrific views. The entry fee is reasonable, but getting there by taxi or tour can cost a fortune and a guided tour is essential to understand the site’s importance. There are so many wonderful things to see here, from the ancient ball courts to the intricate stone carvings — it’s well worth the extra cash.
Cahokia Mounds, USA
Cahokia is one of many huge pre-Columbian settlements north of Mexico, which was located near St. Louis, Missouri. The site itself has no entry fee but donations are encouraged and costs can mount if you decide to visit the interpretive center or go on a guided tour. It’s a neat slice of American history.
Ciudad Perdida, Colombia
The Lost City (Ciudad Perdida) is a multi-day trek through the Colombian jungle and is both costly and demanding. But the journey through the lush jungle and across rivers to get to this ancient Tayrona site is unforgettable, and entrance fees and mandatory guided tours make it expensive. Between the mist and the jungle sounds up on the terraces you will feel that you’ve found a hidden world.
Tiwanaku, Bolivia
Tiwanaku is one of Bolivia’s most intriguing ancient sites just outside of La Paz. This includes entrance fees for mysterious ruins and stone carvings which allude to a pre-Inca culture incorporated into a sophisticated arts culture. The transportation to this remote site is an added cost, but the appeal of nearby Lake Titicaca makes it a pricey, but fascinating day trip.
Uxmal, Mexico
Uxmal, in the Yucatan Peninsula, makes for a quieter alternative to Chichen Itza. It’s just as charming too. Access to the impressive Pyramid of the Magician and other ancient structures costs entry fees. The pricier stop is guided tours, often recommended to take in the unique features of Puuc style architecture, but the intricate stonework and peaceful setting are every peso well spent.
Disclaimer: This list is solely the author’s opinion based on research and publicly available information.
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But first, what is a photo safari? The phrase “photo safari” is not a common sentence structure but its meaning can be deduced easily. An African photo safari in general context means going on an adventure with the sole purpose of taking high-quality pictures.
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