Zona Arqueológica de Monte Albán

If you love history, culture, and exploring on foot, Monte Albán is a must-visit. The site is breathtaking, both for its historical significance and the incredible energy you can feel as you walk through it. Be sure to wear comfortable sneakers, bring a hat, plenty of water, and sunscreen—especially on sunny days, as there’s little shade. It’s truly impressive to witness what our ancestors built and the legacy they left behind. At the entrance, there’s a small but insightful free museum, as well as a restaurant where you can grab a bite after your visit. An unforgettable experience that I highly recommend!

Absolutely stunning! Monte Alban does not disappoint. It’s only about 25 minutes outside the city. Be prepared to bring good walking shoes, water, sunscreen and a hat. I would recommend going early to beat the heat. Besides the amazing ruins, there is a small free museum with artifacts, a gift shop and a small restaurant that overlooks the hills with a beautiful view. Guides in English and Spanish are available for those that want a more in depth look at the site. This is a must for any history buff.

Very easy transport option (120 Mex return). 100 Mex to enter via machine. Incredible site. Visit tomb 7 behind the car park, where the main exhibit at the Cultural Museum holds the treasures discovered there.

The size and history of this spectacular ruin was worth the trek. I recommend going with a guide who knows the history. We visited on Oct. 24th and due to road construction we had to walk about 20 minutes up to the entrance. Good thing it was early morning and our first stop of the day. Be prepared with sunscreen and fresh water. The views and history were pretty spectacular. Our guide Jayme was great!

Honestly, Monte Alban was vastly more impressive than I expected. Boasting a few nice views of Oaxaca and an impressive archaeological repertoire it is a definite plus on any itinerary to the city. There are a few particularly nice vantage points from which to gaze down upon the Zapotec ruins. Don't skip the museum, as it houses some of the original sculptures.

The ruins of this ancient Zapotec capital make up one of the most important archaeological sites in all of Latin America. Very impressive and spread out. A must-do if you're in/near Oaxaca. Easily accessible via taxi from Oaxaca city centre ($250 & c.20 minutes). The site is huge and good to explore at one's own pace, and can take up to two hours to see it all. There are a few paved paths, otherwise it's free-for-all so good shoes are advisable. There are some signs giving information on key sites, but to get the most out of it you may want to get a tour guide. The adjacent museum is small but worth a visit. There is a small outdoor cafe selling cold drinks. Get there early to avoid the crowds. There are many people at the start offering paid tours, which may be of interest.

Not gonna lie, I didn’t know much about the Zapotec or Monte Alban before visiting Oaxaca. However, I have no regrets in visiting it and definitely recommend everyone who is visiting Mexico or at least Oaxaca to drop by. Perched high above Oaxaca, this ancient Zapotec city offers stunning views and well-preserved ruins, including pyramids, a ball court, and intricate carvings. It was not busy at all when I went, just be mindful of the sun so be SunSmart.

Historically, very interesting/important site. No doubt about that. But the visitor experience is subpar compared to any other archeological tourist attraction I've seen or heard about. Hardly any visual cues to help you imagine what was there where you are standing. Many structures have no signage at all and most of the ones that do are sun-bleached that they're illegible. Very disappointing from a educational standpoint. Yes, the museum there has some cool stuff but a) you can see lots of cool stuff from Monte Albán at the cultural museum in Oaxaca, and b) the info is not helpful unless you plan to memorize it before you go walking around the site and recalling what you read about a certain structure. Not even the ball game or sacrifices (in theory, super intense and interesting events) were given any imaginative or insightful presentation to help the visitor get a better sense of them. A missed opportunity to educate and raise awareness and interest. And the little café is run down and the people working there clearly aren't interested in customer service. And that's on top of the long wait in a warm bus to get onto the property. Two hours there is plenty, given the lack of information. Expect another 90 minutes or more to get there and back from central Oaxaca. If you do decide to go, definitely go early or it will take longer and you'll be elbow to elbow with fellow visitors.