Mexico is known for its ancient Mayan ruins. Some of them are already on our itinerary. Cantona was added rather spontaneously.
Cantona was originally a 12km² large and important, but little-known pre-Columbian city. Today you can visit the archaeological site, walk through the former alleys and climb up some of the 14 pyramids. There is also a relatively respectable museum with artifacts from the excavations.

The city is located on the lava field of a neighboring extinct volcano and was built and had its zenith in the Mesoamerican period of the Late Classic.
ue to the volcano, the material obsidian was abundant here and was used by the inhabitants of Cantona for tools, weapons and decorative elements. The former settlers of Cantona are said to have traded these obsidian products for other goods, thus rising to become an important regional power.

None of the approximately 8,000 dwellings are recognizable today and the pyramids themselves are very plain and unadorned.
Nevertheless, from our point of view a visit is worthwhile, just for the view that one can enjoy from the pyramids over the wide plateau.
Since this archaeological site is one of the less visited in Mexico and it is low season, we have the entire site to ourselves except for two other visitors.

From Puebla (our next destination) you can easily make a day trip here and the entrance fee is affordable at 90 pesos per person (about 4.75 CHF).
Since the site is very extensive, you should bring water, food (there is no store) and sunscreen. And above all, allow enough time. To walk around everything once, you have to reckon with at least 3 ½h. Time to enjoy the views from the pyramids not yet included ;).

Also, we have underestimated the time a bit and so it comes that the employees are already waiting for our return and behind us start to close the facilities.
Since we do not want to drive in the dark here in Mexico due to the sometimes extremely bad road conditions, we ask the cashier without further ado whether we might be allowed to spend the night in the fenced parking lot.
After clarification with her superior and handing over an identity card for storage overnight, we are allowed to stay here. A real relief for us.

A quiet night in a fenced area, guarded by two dogs and a night watchman, we could not have slept better.