The 10 Best Monte Alban Tours in Oaxaca to See the Ruins

Ready to book the best tours of Monte Alban Ruins?

You’ve come to the right place because this guide highlights the Top 10 best Monte Alban tours so you can experience this unique archaeological site — as well as some of the other noteworthy Oaxaca sites near it.

Don’t have time to read the whole article? The best Monte Alban tour is this Complete Monte Alban Tour with a Local, with a near-perfect Five Star rating.

Monte Alban is the most famous of all Oaxaca ruins, and for a good reason. This unique mountaintop archaeological site was once home to Olmecs, Zapotecs, and Mixtecs.

The knowledge, artistry, and traditions of these bygone peoples are on prime display at Monte Alban — one of the oldest cities in Mesoamerica. No wonder it’s one of the Mexico UNESCO World Heritage Sites.

Delve into the history of the ancients on these awesome Monte Albán tours.

Explore Monte Alban with an expert guide to see the canals, terraces, and pyramids, and learn about the hieroglyphs that provide significant insight into Zapotec culture.

Choose between all-inclusive, private tours, half-day, full-day, and two-day Monte Alban excursions. No matter your budget and preferences, you’ll find something to love on this list. 

Top 10 Best Monte Alban Tours

1. Complete Monte Alban Tour with a Local

Immerse yourself in the world of ancient people, and present-day artisans on this tour, which is one of the best Monte Alban tours Oaxaca has to offer!

This complete Monte Alban tour is led by Yeti, an Oaxacan native and super storyteller. She does an incredible job sharing the secrets and history of the ruins, as well as interesting stories about the treasures discovered there.

After visiting Monte Alban, you’ll do the rounds to visit several artisan villages in Oaxaca on the Ruta de Artesanías (Oaxaca Artisan Route).

You’ll see how Oaxaca alebrijes (colorful wooden figures) are made, eat a traditional lunch of Oaxaca food at the Mercado of Ocotlán, and learn about the barro negro, or black clay ceramics at San Bartolo Coyotepec.

This highly-rated Monte Alban tour includes drinks, transportation, and your expert local guide. It doesn’t include Monte Alban admission fees or lunch. 🛍️ Pro Tip: Bring extra cash so you can buy handicrafts at the local markets.

Best Monte Alban Tours

2. Monte Alban & Beyond (2 Day Oaxaca Tour)

If you’re looking for two jam-packed days of sightseeing, look no further than this awesome Monte Alban tour. Customize your itinerary and enjoy a number of amazing stops over the course of two days.

First on the list is the Monte Alban archaeological site — one of the best places to visit in Oaxaca. You’ll enjoy a guided tour of all the most intriguing parts of the ruins and learn about the life and culture of long-lost civilizations.

Once you’ve enjoyed the Ruins of Monte Alban to the full, you can head out on the artisan circuit. There are several beautiful Oaxaca artisan towns, some located near Monte Alban.

During this part of the tour, you’ll learn about natural dyes and rug-hooking, fantastical wooden alebrijes, black pottery, mezcal, and textiles made on a backstrap loom.

To round out the fun, hike up to the prehistoric Mitla Caves for a peek at red, white, and black petroglyphs, explore the Mitla Ruins, visit a 16th Century Catholic church and explore Puerto Morelos Market.

This tour includes transportation and parking. No meals or beverages are included.

Best Monte Alban Tours

3. Monte Alban Private Tour with Oaxaca Artisan Towns

If you like the idea of visiting Monte Alban Oaxaca on your own, or with just your group, book this Private Tour of Monte Alban Ruins asap! It is the perfect choice for families and groups.

Explore the landscapes of Mexico accompanied by a driver and a local guide on this VIP tour. Besides the ruins, this tour includes the Oaxaca artisan towns and other noteworthy sites.

During the tour, you’ll visit Monte Alban, the craft town of San Antonio Arrazola, the Ex-Convent of Cuilapam de Guerrero, and then check out the black pottery of San Bartolo Coyotepec, Oaxaca.

This Monte Alban private tour lasts 8-9 hours, and it’s perfect for families or groups of friends.

Traveling to Oaxaca with kids? They’ll love it too! The lunch stop offers plenty of tasty options for the kiddos to choose from, and the adults will enjoy a tasty traditional Oaxacan food lunch in the indigenous Village of Zaachila.

This tour includes private transportation in an air-conditioned Mercedes Sprinter, a driver, and a guide.

Best Monte Alban Tours

4. All-Inclusive Private Tour of Monte Alban Ruins

Explore the fascinating world of Monte Alban in Oaxaca with this private tour.

Visit the ruins with your driver and guide, ask all of the questions you could dream of, and learn about local culture and history.

Besides spending time at Monte Alban, you’ll also visit the Atzompa Archaeological site. Next, you’ll visit the town of Santa Maria Atzompa. This interesting community was originally a hacienda dating back to 1827.

The town is a major producer of pottery. It is especially famous for the beautiful green-glazed pottery made there. How cool is that?

This tour includes private transportation, a professional driver, a French and English-speaking guide, lunch, a bottle of water, a snack, and all Monte Alban entrance fees. It does not include alcoholic beverages or tips.

Best Monte Alban Tours

5. Monte Albán Ruins and Oaxaca Artisan Villages

This Monte Alban Zapotec Ruins Tour is VIP all the way. If you’re looking for Oaxaca private tours, look no further.

You’ll start the day off with pick-up from your Oaxaca City hotel, then spend 2.5 hours exploring Monte Alban’s Grand Plaza, up to 170 tombs (complete with stone carvings and paintings), the ball court and altars, and more.

Afterward, you’ll visit San Antonio Arrazola, a tranquil town known for its folk art, especially the fantastical wooden alebrije carvings.

Next up, you’ll head to Cuilapam de Guerrero, Oaxaca. Here, there’s a 16th Century Dominican convent where you will learn some Oaxacan history and admire the unique open chapel.

After a much-deserved lunch (at your own expense), you’ll learn about the unique black pottery of San Bartolo Coyotepec, and visit the town’s State Museum of Popular Art and its 16th Century church.

With near-perfect reviews on Viator and TripAdvisor, this Monte Alban Zapotec Ruins Tour is sure to be a hit for you and your group too.

Best Monte Alban Tours

6. Monte Alban, Hierve el Agua Waterfall, Tule Tree & More

Petrified waterfalls, gigantic trees, fascinating ruins, and delicious food — if that sounds good, you have to book this amazing Monte Albán Tour which also includes several other Oaxaca attractions.

The day starts off with a visit to one of the best archaeological sites in Oaxaca Mexico you’ll ever see: Monte Alban Ruins. One of the best things to do in Oaxaca, you don’t want to miss the ruins.

Learn Monte Alban Oaxaca history from your expert guide. Check out ancient temples and ball courts, and ask lots of questions to satisfy your curiosity.

Next, you’ll see the Arbol de Tule Tree, which holds the Guinness World Record for the widest tree in the world. You’ll also eat yummy Oaxacan food, including mole and tlayudas.

Now that you’ve re-fueled, it’s time to visit Teoltitlán Del Valle to learn about Oaxaca wool rug making. Finish off with sunset at Hierve el Agua petrified waterfalls.

Travelers called this tour “special and unforgettable,” so you can expect to have an amazing time. This experience includes drinks and transportation. Entrance fees and food are not included.

Best Monte Alban Tours

7. Monte Alban Day Tour with Oaxacan Food Lunch

Book this Monte Alban Day Tour with Lunch to visit all the top tourist spots in Oaxaca Mexico.

Kick off the day by spending two hours exploring Monte Alban Ruins. Your guide will show you around, introducing you to the magic and mysticism of these popular ancient ruins in Mexico.

On your next stop, you’ll skip a few centuries ahead to visit a 16th Century Catholic convent. After that, you’ll learn about several different traditional handicrafts, including Oaxaca black pottery, Oaxaca rugs and textiles, like tapetes.

Explore the fantastical world of alebrije figurines, learn about weaving on a loom, and see a potter in action making vessels from black clay, or Oaxacan barro negro.

In between artisan stops, fill your belly and give your tastebuds the time of their lives: eat a delicious buffet lunch, try great Oaxacan cuisine.

This small-group tour lasts 7-8 hours, and includes transportation, a certified guide, and Oaxaca City hotel pickup and drop-off.

Best Monte Alban Tours

8. Monte Alban & Hierve el Agua Waterfall (2 Day Oaxaca Tour)

If you’re a first-time visitor to the region, this is the best tour Monte Alban Oaxaca Mexico has to offer! Spend a whirlwind two days in Oaxaca, seeing all the most popular attractions in the area.

There are too many stops on this tour to go into in-depth! However, your first day will start off with a magical visit to Monte Alban and the Cuilapam Convent. You’ll finish off with a visit to the black clay potters of San Bartolo Coyotopec.

On day two, you’ll see the Tule Tree with its massive trunk. You’ll visit the famed petrified waterfalls of Hierve el Agua (unmissable for sure!). Take a dip in the water and hike to viewpoints while you’re there.

Next, visit the textile hotspot of Teotitlan del Valle where you can buy some of the famous Oaxaca rugs and colorful textiles. You’ll also learn about the wood carvings known as alebrijes in another town.

Travelers loved how passionate and knowledgeable their guide was on this tour, and how they got to meet artisans they never would have found on their own.

Best Monte Alban Tours

9. All Oaxaca Archaeological Sites: Monte Alban, Mitla, Yagul & Atzompa

If you love archaeological sites in Mexico, you must book this Monte Alban Half Day Tour. It is hands down the best of all the Monte Alban Oaxaca tours available that includes the other Oaxacan ruins as well.

Explore Monte Alban Ruins, Mitla Ruins, Yagul Ruins, and Atzompa Ruins all in one day. Spend one hour at each site, learning interesting facts, and seeing the similarities and differences between them.

At Atzompa, you’ll see the three ball game courts built peculiarly close together. At Monte Alban, you’ll explore the epicenter of the ancient Zapotec world. At Yagul, you’ll see multiple murals on the walls and floors.

After a yummy buffet lunch of Oaxacan cuisine (at your expense), you’ll visit the Ruins of Mitla Oaxaca. This archaeological site has many extraordinary friezes.

This tour includes a professional guide, hotel pick-up and drop-off from select hotels in Oaxaca City, and roundtrip transportation. Monte Alban admission fees, trips, food, and drinks are not included.

Best Monte Alban Tours

10. Half-Day Monte Alban Guided Tour

Let’s be real: Full-day trips with a bazillion stops can get really tiring. Travelers who want to keep things simple need to book this Oaxaca Monte Alban Tour, so see more than one site in a single day.

Spend a full three hours exploring Monte Alban at your leisure. Your guide will take you on a fun and intriguing tour of the complex, feeding your imagination with rich information about the history and culture of the Zapotecs.

Past travelers loved their guide’s story-telling and expository skills on this tour. For a short tour of Monte Alban Ruins, you’ll feel like you’ve learned and seen a lot.

This half-day excursion includes roundtrip transportation to Monte Alban from Oaxaca City in an air-conditioned vehicle. It does not include breakfast or the entrance fee to Monte Alban Ruins.

Monte Alban Oaxaca Guide & FAQ

Monte Alban dates back to 500 BC. It was inhabited for about 1,500 years by the Olmec civilization, Zapotec civilization, and Mixtec civilization.

Views from Monte Alban are impressive because it is located 6,400-feet above sea level (396 m), and 1,300-feet (1,950 m) above the Oaxaca Valleys below.

The ruins of Monte Alban have been one of the Mexico UNESCO World Heritage Sites since 1987, along with other Mexico landmarks like the Teotihuacan Ruins near Mexico City and the Sian Ka’an Biosphere near Tulum.

The city was inhabited for 13 centuries by the Zapotec people. Later, the Mixtec people occupied it.

All of this history is imbued in the stones and architecture of the site. It offers unique insight into Zapotec culture and lifestyle.

Monte Alban has rich information about the ancient people who lived in Oaxaca — their rise and decline — as well as how the city developed over time.

If you’re the least bit interested in ruins in Mexico, ancient civilizations, pre-hispanic culture and archaeology, it is 100% worth visiting Monte Alban Ruins in Oaxaca.

Be sure to check out the museum on your way to the site, as it offers wonderful information you wouldn’t want to miss. Going on a tour or hiring a guide is also well worth the expense.

The site has about 170 tombs, a ball court, underground passageways, pyramids, plazas, and hieroglyphs. Stelae carved with sacrificed captives are also an impressive sight.

For many travelers, visiting Monte Alban is the highlight of their Oaxaca trip.

This is a great way to experience the site and enjoy the spectacular views. Head to the South and North Plaza for the most incredible panoramas.

Climbing up high will also give you a special appreciation for the genius of the people who made Monte Alban.

🚨 Please Note: Be respectful and don’t climb on restricted structures. This will help prevent the site from eroding and degrading since some areas are more fragile than others.

🗺️ monte alban Oaxaca Map

The archaeological site is on a low mountainous range in the Central Valleys region of Oaxaca, between the eastern Sierra Madre range and the southern Sierra Madres.

Monte Alban is visible from just about every part of the central section of Oaxaca Valley. It’s been a major draw to explorers and visitors since colonial times.

Want to see a Monte Alban Oaxaca map so you can easily navigate through the site when you visit? Check out this map of Monte Alban before you go.

That’s a difficult number to wrap your head around, isn’t it? If you were planning to visit all of them — well, let’s just say that would take a LONG time.

Some of the top ruins to visit besides Monte Alban include Mitla Ruins (known for their red-dyed walls), located in the Oaxaca pueblo magico of San Pablo Villa de Mitla, Yagul Ruins, Zaachila, Lambityeco, and San José el Mogote.

Mitla and Monte Alban are considered the two most important archeological sites in Oaxaca. For fans of ancient ruins and pyramids in Mexico, these are the ones you’ll want to madd to your Oaxaca itinerary.

Archaeologists believe that construction on the city began in 500 BC, and that people lived there for some 1,500 years.

The Zapotec civilization inhabited the city for the longest — approximately 13 centuries. Their civilization flourished from 500 BC until about 850 AD. When Zapotec culture declined, Mixtec culture took over.

🧮 Want to figure out how old Monte Alban is more exactly? Just add 499 to the current year and you have your answer.

If you have space on your Oaxaca City itinerary, plan to spend one half-day exploring Monte Alban Ruins. There’s a LOT to see, especially if you take the time to visit the on-site Monte Alban Museum.

For extra interest, go on one of the tours mentioned in this post, or hire your own guide at the entrance. Of course, you can also opt for a Monte Alban self-guided tour.

💡 Monte Alban Tips: Sundays are the busiest days at Monte Albán because the entrance is free for Mexican residents. Avoid going on Sunday if you don’t like crowds.

🌡️ Monte Alban Weather Averages

Since UV rays can be intense at higher altitudes, a hat and sunblock are essential. If you sunburn easily, consider long sleeves. For those who have sensitive eyes, wear sunglasses as well.

Monte Alban temperatures during the daytime don’t fluctuate much, and hover around 80°F (26°C) all year-long. The highest temperatures in Monte Alban will be from March to June, when you can expect 90°Fs (about 32-35°C).

Make sure to bring in plenty of water so you can stay hydrated because drinking a lot of water is especially important at higher elevations.

If you are staying in Oaxaca City, you can find multiple different ways to get to Monte Alban, including by Monte Alban shuttle Oaxaca, a taxi, and the Monte Alban Oaxaca bus.

Once you get to the archaeological site, you can explore on your own or hire a guide before going in. Hiring a guide will definitely add extra interest to your visit.

Unless you’ve already been to multiple ruins in Mexico, hiring a licensed guide can make the experience much more enjoyable. In reality, if you don’t have someone explaining what you’re seeing, you’re just looking at rocks.

If you hire a guide at the entrance or go on a tour that includes a guide. Our pick for the best Monte Alban tour is the Complete Monte Alban Tour with a Local, with a near-perfect Five Star rating.

With a guide, you’ll learn lots of intriguing facts about the history of the archaeological site, the culture and way of life of the ancient Zapotec people, and interesting information about the ruins themselves.

If you like to have all the logistics figured out for you and have a licensed guide dedicated to you and your group, consider booking a tour.

If you want the freedom to spend as long as you’d like at the ruins without the pressure of a tour schedule, consider going in a taxi.

If you’re on a budget and don’t mind public transportation, take the Monte Alban bus from Oaxaca City.

This is one of the most expensive transportation options for Monte Alban — especially compared to the Oaxaca to Monte Alban bus or colectivo (shared van) which is only about $1-2 USD per person.

However, a taxi is easy, convenient, and comfortable. If you’re going as a group of friends or family, the fare may come out pretty reasonable per person.

💡 Monte Alban Tips: If you decide to take a taxi to Monte Alban and back, be sure to start your day early. That way, you’ll be sure to find a taxi when you’re ready for your return trip to Oaxaca City.

Licensed guides are available for hire around the ticket office on a first come, first served basis. They charge upwards of $500-1,000 MXN pesos ($25-50 USD) to lead small groups of people on guided walking tours of Monte Alban.

The size of the group and the language you need the guide to speak will affect the price of these Oaxaca tours. Many guides speak English and Spanish, but you might pay more for a French or German speaking guide.

Tours to Monte Alban cost $35-200 USD, depending on the tour. Some include entrance fees; some don’t. Most include a licensed guide and transportation from your Oaxaca City hotel in an air-conditioned vehicle.

If you opt to go to Monte Alban on your own, expect to pay about $4.50 USD roundtrip for the public bus, or upwards of $30 USD roundtrip for a taxi.

If you want to take videos, you’ll need to pay an extra $50 MXN ($2.50 USD) for the rights to do so. You can pay at the Monte Alban entrance gates.

If possible, arrive at the Monte Alban Ruins site early for the coolest temperatures and the fewest crowds. It is usually crowded by about 10-11am.

Weekends tend to be more crowded, especially Sundays, when Mexicans are given free admission. Of course, it probably won’t be too crowded to enjoy anyway, but arrive as early as you can to avoid the large crowds.

Final Thoughts: Best Monte Alban Tours from Oaxaca City

With breathtaking vistas of the surrounding countryside, fabulously-carved stelae, and a rich history spanning 1,500 years, Monte Alban Mexico Oaxaca is a must-see tourist destination.

Inn short: Don’t miss out on booking this Complete Monte Alban Tour with a Local (our #1 pick), or one of the other tours listed in this article. We’ve done the homework for you, so you’ll get a well-rated tour.

Immerse yourself in bygone culture of the Olmec, Zapotec, and Mixtec civilizations, climb to the top of the stunning north platform and south platform, and explore the canals, terraces, and tombs of Oaxaca’s premier archaeological site.

💡 Oaxaca Travel Tips: Be sure to stop by Santo Domingo Cultural Center in Oaxaca Centro (downtown) to see more Monte Alban artifacts before or after your tour of the archeological site. 

Hopefully, by now, you’ve found your favorite day trip tour to take to Monte Alban.

So what’ll it be? Which one of these best Monte Albán tours will you choose?!

• Will you do a whirlwind tour of Oaxaca’s ruins?
• Will you trot from Monte Alban to artisan markets to Catholic convents to the largest tree on Earth (El Tule)?
• Will you keep things simple with a straight there-and-back adventure?

No matter your choice, you’ll love seeing Monte Alban in Mexico when you visit Oaxaca.