Hexaaluminates SrAl12O19, BaAl12O19 and LaAl11O18 were prepared by co-precipitation of soluble nitrates of Sr, Ba, or La and Al using NH4HCO3 as a precipitating agent with subsequent calcination at 700 -1400 degrees C. The samples were characterized by adsorption methods, thermal analysis (TA and DTG), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy of adsorbed probe molecules (CO and CDCl3)- It was shown that calcination at 1200 degrees C resulted in the formation of single-phase hexaaluminates in all the samples except for LaAl11O18, where an additional phase was found. The specific surface area of the samples was obtained in the range 16 - 22 m(2)/g. After the treatment at comparable conditions, the total concentrations of both surface Lewis acid sites and basic sites were found to increase in the series: BaAl12O19 < SrAl12O19 < LaAl11O18. However, the strongest basic sites were detected on the surface of BaAl12O19.