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How to Visit Monte Albán Near Oaxaca City (Zapotec Ruins)

Last Updated: March 14, 2023 · Oaxaca

Overlooking the scenic Oaxaca Valley, the mountaintop Monte Albán archaeological site—once the capital city of the thriving Zapotec indigenous group of Mexico—is a testament to Oaxaca’s rich cultural heritage and beauty.

All who come to Oaxaca City cannot miss out on a half-day excursion to Monte Albán. It’s simply one of the top things to do in Oaxaca.

Because of this, it is unlike many Mayan ruins across Mexico in style, significance, location, and design.

The main plaza with ancient temples and pyramids at Monte Albán archaeological zone

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Monte Albán reigned for 1,300 years as the powerful capital of the Zapotecs. However, as you’ll come to discover, the Olmecs and Mixtecs were no strangers to Monte Albán.

As such, the archaeological site of Monte Albán has transitioned through several phases and peoples in its 1,500-year-old existence.

In this guide, I’ll detail how you can visit Monte Albán from Oaxaca, whether self-guided or with a tour. Either way, visiting Monte Albán is pretty easy to do from the city.

Read more below to get a sneak peek of the Monte Albán ruins and learn how you can explore this ancient Zapotec capital overlooking the Oaxaca Valley and surrounding mountains!

Table of Contents show
Guide: Monte Albán in Oaxaca, Mexico
Practical Essentials
Admission Cost
Getting to Monte Albán From Oaxaca
Can you walk or hike to Monte Albán?
Getting Back to Oaxaca From Monte Alban
Where to Stay Near Monte Alban
What to Wear to Monte Alban
Monte Albán Tours
Self-Guided Tour
Guided Day Trips
Hiring A Certified Guide
A Brief History of Monte Albán
Monte Albán Pyramids & Structures
Is Monte Albán on Your Bucket List?

Guide: Monte Albán in Oaxaca, Mexico

Overlooking the Main Plaza of Monte Albán in March
Woman standing overlooking the Zapotec archaeological ruins of Monte Albán near Oaxaca Mexico.

Practical Essentials

⏰ Hours: 10am to 3:30pm

🚙 Directions: Located 20-minutes southwest of Centro Oaxaca on Carretera a Monte Albán.

🇲🇽 Guided Tours: Book on Viator (cheaper) or on GetYourGuide

🌞 Best Time to Visit: November-April for the best weather, but the grounds are greener after the rainy season from May-October.

🎒 What to Pack: a sunhat, plenty of water, high SPF sunscreen, and sunglasses — there is very little shade at Monte Albán and it gets hot!

⚠️ Notes: Due to the health crisis, only 400 visitors maximum are allowed each day. No drones allowed. The on-site museum is currently closed.

Admission Cost

Admission into the Monte Albán archaeological site costs $85.00 MX pesos per adult. Children under the age of 13 enter for free.

On Sundays, Mexican nationals and internationals living in Mexico get free admission—so don’t forget to bring your ID or residency card!

Entrance sign with "Monte Albán Zona Archaeologica" in Oaxaca
Sign of Monte Alban cost and hours

Getting to Monte Albán From Oaxaca

Monte Albán is actually very close to the city of Oaxaca, taking only 20 minutes to reach by car. It is about 4.5 miles or 7km from the Zocalo. Here’s how you can get to Monte Albán by bus or taxi.

  • Bus: The cheapest way to get to Monte Albán, with the teal-green city buses costing only $0.08 pesos per person one-way. You can grab these as they pass by the main square (Zocalo).
  • Taxi: Taxis are the most convenient yet most expensive option to reach Monte Albán. On the Didi app, one-way journeys will set you back nearly $200 MX pesos (around $10 USD). On the way there, we paid $150 by asking a random taxi passing by our street (we live outside the city center, though). On the way back from the ruins, we paid only $100 pesos (but I think we got lucky with a really honest man).
  • Group Trip: If you book a half-day tour of Monte Albán online, then your round-trip transportation from your hotel in Oaxaca will be included in the cost.

Can you walk or hike to Monte Albán?

A lot of people wonder if you can hike or walk to Monte Albán, with it being only 4.5 miles away. (We were seriously contemplating this ourselves.)

While the road to get there is pretty straightforward, it does cross a busy intersection and then winds aggressively up and around the mountain. There is little shade the whole way and it’s not a very pleasant or scenic walk from what I could tell.

I was glad to have not expended all my energy just getting there via walking/hiking because it already takes 2–3 hours to visit the ruins on foot, in the sun, which is tiring enough as it is.

Monte Alban pyramids
Edificios H & I
Tree and Zapotec ruins on the Monte Alban archaeological site in Oaxaca

Getting Back to Oaxaca From Monte Alban

Unless you came to Monte Albán with a tour, you’ll need to get back to the city center by either bus or taxi.

Taxis on the Didi app are not likely to come from town to pick you up out here, so you’ll need to rely on negotiating in person with one of the few taxis on standby in the parking lot waiting for tourists who need a ride back into town.

That said, the first (actually, the only) taxi guy available quoted us $200 pesos. Since we had paid $150 on the way there, we didn’t want to overpay and kindly declined. So we waited for the bus instead which is supposed to come every 15 minutes.

But right before it arrived, another taxi pulled into the parking lot and dropped off a family. I had Paul quickly go over to ask, and the driver initially offered only $100 pesos. Moral of the story? Patience pays off!

Where to Stay Near Monte Alban

All of the best places to stay fall in the heart of Oaxaca, just about 4 miles from Monte Albán.

  • Selina Oaxaca (Budget): the usual clean, bohemian-style rooms you’d find at Selina!
  • Hostal de Las Américas (Budget): simple, modern private/dorm rooms with breakfast included.
  • Pug Seal Oaxaca (Luxe): for vacationers looking for luxurious comfort in the heart of downtown (breakfast also included).

If you are a digital nomad in Oaxaca or a solo traveler, both Selina and Hostal de Las Amércias are fabulous options.

Courtesy of Selina Oaxaca

What to Wear to Monte Alban

Make sure you wear a sun hat, sunglasses, and breathable clothing that covers your shoulders when visiting Monte Alban.

Apart from a few trees, the Monte Albán archaeological complex is wide open and in full sun all day. It is easy to overheat quickly so pack and drink plenty of water. You will be exposed for around 2–3 hours and the Mexican sun does not play jokes.

Do not make the same rookie mistake I did when you visit Monte Alban. While I did wear loose, breathable clothing (a romper), it had thin spaghetti straps and I didn’t bring a hat. Meaning, I was frying. Thankfully, I had cloaked myself with a high SPF sunscreen before leaving (however, it almost wasn’t enough and I did start to burn).

So pack the essentials, including your reusable water bottle, and store it all in a cute day backpack.

Girl wearing hat at the Zapotec ruins in Oaxaca
Reading the signs at Monte Alban with sun hieroglyph
Paul kindly let me wear his cap because my forehead was burning, lol 🥹

Monte Albán Tours

There are three ways you can experience Monte Albán:

  • A self-guided tour
  • Guided day trip you book online
  • Hiring a local certified guide at the entrance of the archaeological zone
Man reading a sign of the sunken patio at Monte Alban Zapotec capital in Oaxaca
El Patio Hundido, “The Sunken Court”

Self-Guided Tour

Can you visit Monte Albán without a guided tour? Of course! This is what Paul and I ended up doing, but there are pros and cons to visiting on your own.

Pros

It’s cheaper, obviously, and you have the flexibility to roam as you please; taking photos and wandering the site at your own pace.

Cons

We had read prior to our visit that there are several signposts in both Spanish and English in front of each pyramid or structure. And while that is the case, the descriptions describe nothing more than the architectural design—stuccoed walls, carved stones, a “40 meter-wide stairway leads to a patio and two pyramidal platforms.”

The most interesting part of any archaeological zone, at least for us, is the stories behind it; the hidden meanings—this is what guided tours or a certified local guide can offer.

Man reading sign in front of Zapotec pyramid at Monte Albán in Oaxaca
El Patio Hundido in Monte Alban

Guided Day Trips

There are plenty of half-day tours and even full-day excursions available on Viator or GetYourGuide that you can book in advance.

These tours include roundtrip air-conditioned transportation from Oaxaca, your admission fee, and a bilingual guide who will lead you around Monte Albán for 2.5 hours. While you are not required to tip, it is often suggested.

Top Tours:

  • Half-Day Monte Albán (Viator): This tour is the best-rated and most affordable option for visiting Monte Alban with a tour. You will be taken care of by the company Turismo el Convento de Oaxaca. Trip rating 4.5/5 stars with 94 reviews. You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance.
  • Full-Day Monte Albán + Villages Tour (GetYourGuide): On this full-day tour, not only do you visit Monte Alban but you also visit art and crafts workshops in the small towns of Arrazola, Culiapan de Guerrero, and San Bartolo Coyotepec.
Hieroglyphs at Zapotec Monte Albán in oaxaca

Hiring A Certified Guide

If you don’t want to book a tour in advance but end up changing your mind once you arrive, don’t worry. There are certified guides available near the ticket office at the entrance of the archaeological site who can give you a tour.

We opted out of this option, but prices seem to range around $75+ pesos per person or $250 for a small group. This does not include transportation or your admission fee—you only pay for the guide itself (plus a tip).

So, when all is said and done, the question remains:

Do you need a guide for Monte Alban?

Not technically, but I would highly suggest it if you wish to learn about the history and significance of this complex and put meaning to what you’re seeing in front of you. Just note that whether with a guide or without one, it will take around 2–3 hours to visit Monte Albán.

You can read more below for an overview of Monte Albán’s history, phases, and pyramids.

The main plaza with ancient temples and pyramids at Monte Albán archaeological zone

A Brief History of Monte Albán

Monte Albán was once a thriving capital city with, at one point, over 35,000 inhabitants. It was founded and ruled by the Zapotecs from around 500 BC to 800 AD — a span of 1,300 years. As such, Monte Albán was one of the most important cities in Mesoamerica.

There are at least five phases of the development of Monte Albán which have been traced from the Early Classic to Postclassic periods and are represented by the ruins of its ball game court, complex temple structures, tombs, and hieroglyphic inscriptions.

Obelisk statue from Monte Alban Zapotec ruins
Girl standing atop a pyramid in Monte Alban
Sign with stairs of Northern Platform in Monte Alban
Ancient stelae atop mound in Monte Alban ruins

It is said that its numerous tombs, canals, dams, pyramids, etc, were quite literally carved out of the mountain and symbolize sacred topography.

Ultimately, Monte Albán underwent many structural changes including politically, economically, and environmentally. While it was the Zapotecs who dominated the region for centuries, eventually, influence from other indigenous groups—the Olmecs, Mixtecs, Aztecs, Teohuiticans, and Mayas—slowly transformed Monte Albán.

UNESCO, together with the Historic Center of Oaxaca City, declared Monte Albán a World Heritage Site on December 11, 1987.

Sources: UNESCO and INAH Mexico

Monte Albán Pyramids & Structures

South Platform and pyramid with climbable stairs at Monte Alban Oaxaca
South Platform
Pyramid at Monte Alban in Oaxaca with lone shady tree
Edificio III on top of Platforma Sur
map of Monte Albán by INAH Mexico
Source: INAH

The archaeological zone and protected area of Monte Albán are much larger than you’d imagine — it spans about 8.5 square miles (hence why it takes 2–3 hours just to walk around!).

So what can you see in Monte Albán?

  • North Platform Pyramid
  • Gran Plaza (Main Plaza)
  • Building “J” / Astronomical Observatory
  • South Platform Pyramid
  • Los Danzantes carved stones
  • Sunken Plaza
  • Obelisks/Stelae
  • El Palacio
  • Ballcourt
  • Tombs, Altars, Water Wells

While there are many ceremonial temples and complex structures in ruin at Monte Albán, the main crowd-pleasers are the North and South Platforms overlooking the Main Plaza and the Danzante Gallery.

Can you climb the pyramids at Monte Albán?

Yes, but we only saw people climbing the stairs to the South Platform. You can also climb and explore within/on the Sunken Court and also on the North Platform but the central stairs are blocked off.

Ancient pyramid with carved stones "Los Danzantes de Monte Albán"
Los Danzantes Gallery of Monte Albán archaeological site in Oaxaca City
Los Danzantes Gallery, “The Dancers”

When you enter the archaeological zone, you’ll most likely approach the left/backside of the North Platform.

From here, the best way to explore Monte Albán on your own is by visiting the structures clockwise. Stick to the eastern temples, tombs, and elite residences in ruin, then climb up the Southern Platform, and return back to visit the central and western temples. You can also do it counterclockwise if you wish!

Here is another map of Monte Albán to help orient where you can find these buildings.

map of Monte Alban archaeological zone in Oaxaca Mexico
Source: The History Hub

Once you’re finished visiting the ruins, you’ll have more time to explore and learn about the area inside the museum. Visitors can also use the bathrooms and stop for a coffee or lunch at the on-site cafe.

Zapotec ruins and pyramid of Monte Albán overlooking the Oaxaca Valley
Monte Albán overlooking the Oaxaca Valley
The Main Plaza of Monte Albán Archaeological Site in Oaxaca, Mexico
Ancient ruined ball court at the Monte Albán archaeological site in Mexico
Mesoamerican Ballcourt

Is Monte Albán on Your Bucket List?

I have been fortunate enough to see various pre-Columbian archaeological sites across Mexico, Guatemala, and Colombia. But I think Monte Albán has become one of my favorite ruins, along with the Calakmul ruins in Campeche, Mexico.

Whether you are in Oaxaca for a couple of days, weeks, or months, make sure to take advantage of this archaeological gem. It will transport you back in time.

If you have any more questions about visiting Monte Albán, feel free to drop a comment below! If this guide helped plan your trip, please pass it on to friends and family!

📌 Pin this ultimate guide to Monte Albán on Pinterest

By: Bri · In: Oaxaca

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  1. Tomas says

    April 1, 2022 at 7:29 pm

    Im in Oaxaca right now, your guide is super helpful! Will check it out tomorrow, I just bookmarked this page 🙂 Thanks for the great info!

    Reply

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I've always felt that not being able to communicate in the same language makes for even more interesting encounters. Without words, we have to touch each other's humanity with eyes and gestures, and most of the time it leads to unspoken mutual understanding, acceptance, and love. We three walked away with the biggest smiles on our faces. I yelled out "Dhayabad!" (Thank you!) as they hoisted their jugs up the stairs, laughing all the way. I won't forget this shared moment between us 🙏 

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Being back after 7 long years away has jolted my body, brain, and spirit. At first, I felt overwhelmed with the recurring thought of, "I don't know what to do with myself." It was only when acceptance knocked on my door, and I finally decided to let it in, that things began to shift and flow.
 
In Nepal, particularly Kathmandu, everything around me swarms like a hive. I have nowhere else to go but inside myself. I've discovered through years of slow traveling (and solo travel) that peace awaits me there -- a sense of independence, power, and knowing that is still, comforting, and safe. And I can tap into it whenever I need to.

Chaos and peace reside in all of us, and Nepal has a cosmic, ancient way of reminding you of just that. 

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They ask, “Why?” I was 29 when I embarked on They ask, “Why?” 

I was 29 when I embarked on the plane on the 21st, and 30 when I disembarked on the 23rd. How fitting. I spent all of my 20s abroad (except for my two final semesters in undergrad), and moved to Nepal when I was 21. 

What better way to say goodbye to my twenties than by returning to the start? I felt the desperate urge to start my 30s this way—alone on a one-way ticket with no concrete plans. I have both feared and longed to come back all these years. You see, I had made a promise to one of my closest Nepali friends that I’d see her again, but the reality is that I no longer can. 

She, along with another dear friend, passed away from cancer a couple of years back. The thought of returning to my old life here without my friends made me, well, incredibly sad. I had thought that, upon landing in Kathmandu—or taking a bite of my first momo—after so long, I’d find myself bursting into tears of both grief and gratitude. But I didn’t. Instead, I found familiarity in the chaos and chaos in the strangeness. 

Just being here—and the decisions and actions it took to get here—has reminded me of the preciousness of this one very short life. And that, by choosing to celebrate mine—at the exciting turn of a decade no less—by coming back to Nepal on a solo trip that would force me into daring discomfort when I could instead retreat to the comforts of family or my partner, is how I want to live it.

Truth is, a couple of months ago the thought of Nepal felt out of reach. It felt risky, unattainable. But the idea itself pushed open, just a crack at first, a door that had been otherwise closed. I could have more easily ignored my “what if?” daydreams—calling them off as too hard, too uncomfortable, or too far-fetched to actually pursue—and kept it shut.
But sometime in mid-July, I decided to look at flights. And I found one (truly, just one) option that could work. And it just so happened that it would fall on my birthday, or rather bridge my birthday. The idea of getting on a plane at 29 and getting off it at 30—back in Nepal—sold me. I fell in love with the story, the adventure, the unknowingness of it all. 

So, yeah. That’s why. Or as I prefer, “Why not?”
Rebuilt, it is indeed different now, but at the sa Rebuilt, it is indeed different now, but at the same time just as I remember: the swirl of incense, spice, sweat, and candle smoke peppering the air; the pigeons cooing and flapping overhead; the Tibetan devotees and tourists melodically shuffling clockwise around the dome; the street dogs curling up in corners; the monks humming and drumming inside monastery halls. 

I’m both at home and a foreigner in a strange land, once more, discovering it all over again with new eyes—just like those of the reborn stupa.

The last time I saw Boudhanath—one of the largest Buddhist stupas in the world—was in 2016. It remained under reconstruction after the deadly 2015 earthquakes, so I never got to see it in all its magnificent wonder—until today! 🙏 

And wow, Boudha under the rain this afternoon was just what I had been dreaming of ever since I left Nepal after one year living/studying/working here. 

It’s so good to be back 🥹🇳🇵

📍 Boudhanath Stupa (northeast Kathmandu) — you can catch the local bus here from the airport for only 20-40 Nepalese rupees instead of paying 900 Rs for a taxi 😉 

Save this reel to your Nepal folder and follow along @bucketlistbri 💛

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