Archaeological site Macuilxóchitl de Artigas Carranza, Oaxaca Central Valleys of Oaxaca
An early Zapotec site at the foot of a hill, famous for dozens of carved stones showing masked ball players.
From Oaxaca: 20 min by car (22 km by road) How to get there ↓
Near here
See everything nearby ↓
Plan your visit to Dainzú
Tours to Dainzú
A guide brings Dainzú to life: look for tours from Mitla that include the site and the ride there.
Enjoy all Pyramids of Oaxaca in Private Day Tour: Monte Alban, Mitla, Dainzú
From US$249
How to get to Dainzú
- From Oaxaca: about 20 min by road (~22 km)
- 22 km northwest of Mitla
- Nearest airport: Oaxaca (OAX), 47 min by car to Mitla
Links open a partner site. We may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you.
Popular tours to Dainzú
Tours, prices and ratings from Viator, checked weekly. We may earn a commission if you book.
About Dainzú
Dainzú is one of the oldest towns in the Tlacolula Valley, a Zapotec settlement first occupied around 700 BC, centuries before Monte Albán rose to dominate the region. Its main period ran from about 200 BC to 350 AD. The name comes from the Zapotec for "hill of the organ cactus," and the ruins sit at the foot of that hill, near the village of Macuilxóchitl.
What sets Dainzú apart are its carvings. Along the base of its largest building, Building A, are some fifty stone slabs carved in low relief with figures of ball players, shown in action wearing helmets or masks and protective gear and holding a ball. They are among the earliest images of the Mesoamerican ball game anywhere. More carvings are scattered on the hillside above.
The site also has a small ball court, and a tomb whose entrance is carved as the head of a jaguar. It was excavated in the 1960s by the archaeologist Ignacio Bernal. Dainzú gets few visitors, and it is a short detour off the highway on the way between Mitla and Oaxaca City.
How to get to Dainzú
Drive from Oaxaca: 20 min, 22 km
Dainzú is about 30 minutes west of Mitla. Drive toward Oaxaca on Highway 190 and take the signed turnoff south near Macuilxóchitl; the site is a short way from the highway. Buses and colectivos can drop you at the turnoff. It is an INAH site with an entry fee; check opening hours before going.
22 km northwest of Mitla
Directions from Mitla on Google Maps
Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.
Links open a partner site. We may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you.
From the nearest cities to Dainzú
- Oaxaca · 22 km by road, 20 min
- Tuxtepec · about 170 km by road, ~2 h 30 min
- Huajuapan de León · 192 km by road, 2 h 40 min
Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic or stops. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.
Before you go to Dainzú: hours, prices and tips
- Hours
- Open daily 8 am to 5 pm; last entry at 4:30 pm. INAH · checked Oct 2026
- Entry
- 145 pesos for foreign visitors, 80 for Mexican visitors. INAH · checked Oct 2026
- Rules
- No smoking, no food, no pets and no flash photography. INAH · checked Oct 2026
Hours and prices change, especially around holidays. Each fact links to where we checked it.
Visiting Dainzú: what to see and do
Study the carved slabs of ball players along the base of Building A.
Find the tomb with its entrance carved as a jaguar head.
Climb partway up the hill for more carvings and a view across the valley.
Pair it with Teotitlán del Valle, which is close by on the same side of the highway.
Plan your trip
Tours & activities
A guide brings Dainzú to life: look for tours from Mitla that include the site and the ride there.
Rental cars
Pick up a car at OAX (Oaxaca): about 47 min by road to Mitla, then 22 km more to Dainzú, on your own schedule.
Flights
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Oaxaca (OAX), about 47 min by road from Mitla, the base for Dainzú.
Mobile data
Signal can drop away from Mitla: download a map of the way to Dainzú before you set out, or carry an eSIM with data.
Links open a partner site. We may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you. Hotel names from OpenStreetMap.
Photos
When to go to Dainzú mild
Dainzú shares the climate of Mitla, 22 km away. The best months to visit are January, February, March, and December.
See the month-by-month climate of Mitla
Weather in Dainzú now and the next 7 days
Live forecast from Open-Meteo. Chance of rain is the day's highest.
Make Mitla your base
Dainzú is an easy trip from Mitla, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.
Also close to
- Capulálpam de Méndez · Oaxaca · 35 km away
Closest to Dainzú
-
Tlacochahuaya · Landmark · 3 km away
-
Teotitlán del Valle · Town · 5 km away
-
Rojas de Cuauhtémoc · Town · 6 km away · Oaxaca
-
San Juan Guelavía · Town · 6 km away · Oaxaca
-
Santa Cruz Papalutla · Town · 6 km away · Oaxaca
-
Lambityeco · Archaeological site · 8 km away
-
San Sebastián Teitipac · Town · 8 km away · Oaxaca
-
Santa Ana del Valle · Town · 9 km away
Near Dainzú
Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.
Lists with Dainzú
Ruins in Oaxaca · 12 Ruins near Oaxaca · 6Something wrong or missing on this page? Suggest a fix or addition
Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.