Monte Albán is the hilltop capital the Zapotecs built by leveling an entire mountaintop, and it was occupied and expanded for well over a thousand years, later used by the Mixtecs as well. Its Main Plaza is one of the most complete pre-Hispanic plazas in Mexico, flanked by pyramids, a ballcourt, and the arrow-shaped Building J believed to have astronomical alignment. It's the closest major ruin to Oaxaca city, which makes it easy to do as a half-day trip and still have the afternoon free.
| Distance | 9 km / 20-30 min from Oaxaca city |
|---|---|
| Travel time | 20-30 minutes one way |
| Getting there | Mode: Shuttle van from Calle Mina; Notes: Shuttles run roughly every 30 minutes from 8:30 AM; buy a round-trip ticket and confirm the return time printed on it |
| Address | Zona Arqueológica de Monte Albán, Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán, 71230 Oaxaca, Mexico |
How to get there
- Shuttle van from Calle Mina 501
- Taxi
- Guided half-day tour
Location
Zona Arqueológica de Monte Albán, Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán, 71230 Oaxaca, Mexico
17.0448, -96.7673 View on map
Highlights
- The Danzantes - carved stone slabs depicting contorted human figures, among the oldest carved monuments at the site
- Building J (the Observatory) - the unusually oriented arrow-shaped structure standing apart from the plaza's rectangular grid
- The Main Plaza's ballcourt - a well-preserved court for the Mesoamerican ballgame
- Tomb 7 site marker - where a large cache of gold and jade offerings was found; the actual objects are displayed at the Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca in Santo Domingo back in the city, not on-site