9 hour(s) 30 minute(s)
English
Included
Visit the ancient Zapotec city of Monte Albán and explore its impressive ruins
Discover the colorful art of Alebrije woodcarving in the village of Arrazola
Experience the traditional craft of black clay pottery in San Bartolo Coyotepec
Learn about Oaxaca’s deep cultural heritage and artistic traditions
€ 55.3
€ 50.88
Free cancellation and unlimited rescheduling leads to total flexibility while you plan your travels
Lowest Price Guarantee — no other provider offers this tour for less
Immerse yourself in Oaxaca’s cultural treasures on a fascinating journey through Monte Albán, Arrazola, and San Bartolo Coyotepec. Begin at Monte Albán, the majestic ancient Zapotec city perched high above the valley. Walk among its grand pyramids, temples, and plazas while uncovering the secrets of one of Mesoamerica’s most remarkable archaeological sites.
Continue to Arrazola, a colorful village known for its Alebrijes—vivid wooden sculptures that blend imagination and tradition. Watch local artisans bring these mythical creatures to life with intricate carvings and hand-painted details. End your tour in San Bartolo Coyotepec, where you’ll witness the creation of the region’s famous black clay pottery, crafted using age-old techniques passed down through generations. This tour offers an enriching blend of history, art, and culture that beautifully captures the spirit of Oaxaca.
Air-conditioned vehicle
Official Guide
Pick up in hotels located in the city center of Oaxaca
Gratuities
Drinks and Lunch
Entrance to Monte Alban
Tips
Cash
Cap or hat
Snacks & Water
Comfortable clothes and shoes
Not wheelchair accessible
No public transportation nearby
Have a camera ready to capture every special moment
Confirmation will be received at time of booking
Type in your hotel/accommodation to see how far the attraction or departure point is.
Loading pick up points...
Loading pick up points...
Monte Alban is a unique site because it sits on a flattened mountaintop. You get incredible 360-degree views of the entire Oaxaca Valley. Walking across the massive Main Plaza and seeing the ancient ball court gives you a real sense of the history here. On a clear sunny day it can get really hot and it is super exposed. Bring a hat, sunscreen, and plenty of water. There are no shops after the entrance so stock up on water before you start walking. There are not very many info signs around the ruins. You should either do your research beforehand or get a guide to truly appreciate the place. Getting there from Centro is easy. You can get a tour bus or van from one of the hotels. We got it from Hotel Riviera Maya for 100-130 MXN round trip. You get plenty of time up there (3+ hours) before the drive back pickup.
We had an excellent guided tour and it was very informative. We had a relatively short bus ride out of the city. I'd recommend going in the morning as it can get crowded in the afternoon. If recommend bringing snacks and extra water as it can get hot.
I was a bit sceptical whether i should spend a couple of hours for Monte Alban archeological site since i was planning to visit some other well known ruins and Monte Alban was not among them. But i decided to do so and it was one hundred percent worth it. It is very unique due to the location and view of the valley. Also the ruins are quite interesting and unlike some of the more popular archeological site you can climb up some of them. Of course it is always recommended to get to know about the site in advance , for example read through some book guide or key facts about the city and main buildings. i think 2.5-3 hours is the optimal time.
This is a unique experience, the history, the preservation of the archeological sites, the overall park is beautiful. There's a cover charge of $100 pesos (about $5 usd), a tour guide can charge you anywhere between 50 to 100 pesos per person, it is highly recommended to hire a tour guide to fully understand the history of the place and get a more complete experience. This is a big park and can take you up to two hours to fully explore the place.
Amazing, gorgeous ruins surrounded by mountains! It was originally called Monte Alban aka "albino mountain" because of the white flowering trees. I'm not the most fit person and I was grateful to have the help of my partner when navigating the stairs, which were roughly 16" tall each. A walking stick would have been helpful! We went in early November and I didn't notice any mosquitos. Definitely wear good sneakers and sunscreen since there is almost zero shade-- the entire set of ruins functions as a giant calendar and sun dial! We had a beautiful crisp day and it wasn't too hot, but a sunbrella would have been essential had it been warmer. The site is 6,248 ft above sea level (roughly 1200 ft above Oaxaca City Centro) but I didn't have any issues acclimating. There are bathrooms on site. They didn't charge us to use them, but a lady sitting outside offered toilet paper, as there was none in the stalls, nor paper towels to dry one's hands. We went with a guide named Miguel, from Lescas Tours (located in the zócalo). He was absolutely amazing and the trip included a bus ride to and from the archeological site. He had so much information to share and it made the visit much better than it would have been without a tour. Tickets were 100 pesos; we didn't buy in advance. We arrived around 2pm and it wasn't crowded at all. There's a wonderful (small) museum inside the visitor center, but it closed at 5pm so we had to rush. Nothing in the museum was in English, which wasn't an issue for me, but may disappoint other English speakers without Spanish practice (or Google Translate)!
