Mexico's rich and extensive heritage is evident in its historical sites. The country may be characterized by extremes of wealth and poverty, but despite the challenges it faces as a still developing country, not to mention the issues of safety and security, Mexico remains to be one of the most popular tourist destinations in Latin America.

In fact, according to the 2017 Travel and Tourism Competitiveness Index (TTCI) report, Mexico was ranked 22nd place in the world in terms of attractiveness to developing business in the travel and tourism industry. Moreover, the number of Americans who visit Mexico spike every year. According to an article by Latin Post, there are approximately more than 28 million Americans who travel in Mexico every year. If you want to travel through time and experience the telenovela capital's history, here's a list of the top seven historic sites in Mexico:

1. Chichen Itza

Chichen Itza is one of Mexico's most impressive historical sites. This stunningly well-preserved and imposingly beautiful UNESCO World Heritage site is located in the forests of the Yucatan Peninsula. Made up of two cities, this historical site is built by the Mayas and the Toltecs people.

There are several surviving buildings in the site including a circular observatories including El Caracol, the Warriors' Temple and El Castillo. There is no definite account that tells when exactly people first settled in Chichen Itza but it was estimated to date between the 6th and 9th century AD signifying the period in which the Mayas built the original city including "The Building of the Nuns" and a church.

2. Teotihuacan

Teotihuacan was considered a sacred Mesoamerican city established around 400 BC in what is now Mexico and forms one of the country's oldest archeological sites. What's impressive about this ancient city is that enormous stepped pyramids are located in this historical site, including the Pyramid of the Sun, measuring 225 by 222 meters at its base, rising 75 metres high.

Teotihuacan is one of the most visited spots in Mexico and houses numerous museums, including the Museo del Sitio where tourists can see various artefacts from the site.

If you wish to visit Teotihuacan, you can maneuver your way through the city via its original streets, such as Avenue of the Dead, which divided the city into quarters. Take note to bring extra patience because this site is absolutely enormous.

3. Tulum

A Maya site in Mexico's Quintana Roo region, Tulum is believed to be established between the 13th and 16th centuries. Historians say Tulum was quite a thriving walled city.

In comparison to other ancient cities, say Chichen Itza, Tulum may be relatively modest but it does feature some interesting and quite well preserved ruins, including its city walls, its castle and temples. But one thing Tulum boasts the most is its Temple of the Frescoes, where some original frescoes remain inside it. Aside from that, tourists may also be captivated by Tulum's shimmering beachside location.

4. Tenochtitlan

Established on an island in Lake Texcoco in 1325 AD as the capital city of the Aztecs, Tenochtitlan's final and most prosperous days was ruled by Motecuhzoma II, also known as Montezuma. The remnants of this ancient city are hard to find as they have been engulfed by the development of what we know now as Mexico City. When those sites have been excavated, five temples were discovered including the Templo Mayor, which are now protected on UNESCO's World Heritage list. However, there is no single Aztec site to visit. If you want to experience the Aztec way of life, you can visit one of the most popular Tenochtitlan sites called, Xochimilco. Although this is more of a beautiful park rather than an archaeological ruin, you can spot the waterways that ran from the Aztec era as well as some flower gardens from that time. Otherwise, you can visit the Templo Mayor for a more traditional site.

5. Castillo de Chapultepec

The Chapultepec Castle, an eighteenth century building with twelve halls located in Mexico City's Chapultepec Park, now houses Mexico's National History Museum.

If you want to trace back the country's diverse history, from the Pre-Hispanic era through to Spanish colonialism, Mexico's revolution and its independence, visit Mexico's National History Museum in Chapultepec Castle. Some of its most significant exhibitions include the sword wielded by independence fighter José María Morelos during the Siege of Cuautla in 1812. There are also several murals depicting famous battles.

6. Uxmal

If you want to explore the history of Maya people, Uxmal is the place to visit. This archaeological site in Mexico is thought to have been a Mayan settlement as early as 800BC. The buildings and structures you can see at Uxmal today were constructed from around 700AD to 1000AD.

This historic site contains a series of ceremonial pyramids, the most celebrated of which is the Pyramid of the Soothsayer. This impressive 100-foot high monument dates back to the Late Classic Period. Aside from this, Uxmal has several other impressive structures and also has a small museum. If you wish to join the organized tours from Merida, vacant your schedule for the rest of the day because it can last from morning to afternoon and may include other sites such as Kabah. If you don't understand Spanish, there are audio guides available in several languages that would cost you extra Mexican peso.

7. Mexico National Museum of Anthropology

A world-renowned museum, the Mexico National Museum of Anthropology contains a large array of archaeological and ethnographic exhibitions, most of them date back to the pre-Hispanic era.

Get to know more of Mexico's historic cultures, including the Toltecs, the Maya and the Aztecs by touring in this museum. Take note that the museum is quite large so if you want to be immersed in Mexico's culture, one visit is not enough. But if you don't have all the time in the world, don't worry because the exhibitions are well-organized, allowing history enthusiasts to explore it according to eras. There are also guided tours in Spanish, English and French languages that offer a great way to explore the museum.

Once you visit these historical sites and experience Mexico's ancient culture, you definitely would agree that there's more to this country than meets the eye.