↑ ↓ to move ↵ to open esc to close
    Side view of the 16th-century church of San Jerónimo Tlacochahuaya, Oaxaca

    Photo by Lsalgador82, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Facade of the church of Tlacochahuaya, Oaxaca

    Photo by Lsalgador82, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Painted nave of Tlacochahuaya seen from the choir loft, Oaxaca

    Photo by Lsalgador82, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Gilded altarpiece of Tlacochahuaya seen from the choir, Oaxaca

    Photo by Lsalgador82, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Historic painted pipe organ in the Tlacochahuaya church, Oaxaca

    Photo by Lsalgador82, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Tlacochahuaya

    Landmark San Jerónimo Tlacochahuaya, Oaxaca Central Valleys of Oaxaca

    A Dominican church whose walls and vaults are painted with flowers and angels, with a restored 18th-century pipe organ.

    From Oaxaca: 20 min by car (21 km by road) How to get there ↓

    Near here

    See everything nearby ↓

    Plan your visit to Tlacochahuaya

    Where to stay near Tlacochahuaya

    Cosijo Hotel · ★★★ · 350 m from the center Prices Casa de Huespedes « Elim » Hotel · 6.9 km from the center Prices
    Hotels in Mitla Houses on Vrbo

    Tours to Tlacochahuaya

    Look for tours of the area around Mitla that stop at Tlacochahuaya.

    Tlacolula, Tlacochahuaya and Yagul Market Sunday ★ 4.0 (2) · From US$121
    Find tours on Viator GetYourGuide Tours from Mitla

    How to get to Tlacochahuaya

    • From Oaxaca: about 20 min by road (~21 km)
    • 25 km northwest of Mitla
    • Nearest airport: Oaxaca (OAX), 47 min by car to Mitla
    Rent a car at OAX Flights to OAX

    Route, map and directions ↓

    Links open a partner site. We may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you.

    Popular tours to Tlacochahuaya

    Tlacolula, Tlacochahuaya and Yagul Market Sunday ★ 4.0 (2) 3 h 30 min From US$121

    Tours, prices and ratings from Viator, checked weekly. We may earn a commission if you book.

    About Tlacochahuaya

    San Jerónimo Tlacochahuaya is a farming village just off Highway 190, between Santa María del Tule and Mitla. The Dominicans set up a mission here in 1558, and around 1586 they began the church and convent of San Jerónimo on top of Zapotec ruins. From the outside it is a handsome but sober building behind a wide atrium.

    The surprise is inside. The walls and vaults are covered in paintings of flowers, vines, suns, stars and angels, done by local Zapotec artists in the 16th and 17th centuries, some of them colored with cochineal red. They are among the most complete church murals of that period in Oaxaca, and they give the nave a soft, almost textile-like feel. Gilded altarpieces and old statues of saints complete the interior.

    In the choir loft is a pipe organ built in the early 18th century and painted with flowers to match the church. It was restored in 1991 and is played in concerts during the historic organ festivals that are held in Oaxaca. The former convent next door is plainer but worth a look.

    How to get to Tlacochahuaya

    Drive from Oaxaca: 20 min, 21 km

    Tlacochahuaya is about 35 minutes west of Mitla on Highway 190 toward Oaxaca; the church is a short way south of the highway. Buses and colectivos stop at the turnoff. The church usually closes in the middle of the day and a small donation or fee may be asked, so check times locally.

    25 km northwest of Mitla

    Directions from Mitla on Google Maps

    Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.

    Best with a guide Tours to Tlacochahuaya on Viator With transport and a guide, leaving from nearby towns and cities. See prices →

    Links open a partner site. We may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you.

    From the nearest cities to Tlacochahuaya

    Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic or stops. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.

    Before you go to Tlacochahuaya: hours, prices and tips

    Best season
    The patron-saint fiesta of San Jerónimo in September brings calendas, processions and fireworks bulls. The 18th-century organ is still played at services and concerts. El Universal Oaxaca · checked Oct 2026
    Guide or tour
    Optional: a local guide at the church shows visitors the paintings and the organ and explains the history; a 2024 group paid about 40 pesos each for this. Tours: Viator GetYourGuide Oaxaca Lending Library · checked Oct 2026

    Hours and prices change, especially around holidays. Each fact links to where we checked it.

    Visiting Tlacochahuaya: what to see and do

    Look up at the painted vaults and walls, covered in flowers, stars and angels.
    Find the painted pipe organ in the choir loft.
    See the gilded altarpieces and colonial statues of saints.
    Walk through the atrium and the former convent next door.

    Plan your trip

    Places to stay in Tlacochahuaya

    Cosijo Hotel · ★★★ · 350 m from the center Find on Expedia Casa de Huespedes « Elim » Hotel · 6.9 km from the center Find on Expedia Lasee Hostel · 1.7 km from the center Find on Expedia Casa Principal Estrella Guest house · 5.9 km from the center Find on Expedia Casa Abuelos Guest house · 6.9 km from the center Find on Expedia
    See them all on Expedia Booking.com
    Vacation rentals on Vrbo Airbnb

    Tours & activities

    Look for tours of the area around Mitla that stop at Tlacochahuaya.

    Viator GetYourGuide

    Rental cars

    Pick up a car at OAX (Oaxaca): about 47 min by road to Mitla, then 25 km more to Tlacochahuaya, on your own schedule.

    EconomyBookings Discover Cars

    Flights

    The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Oaxaca (OAX), about 47 min by road from Mitla, the base for Tlacochahuaya.

    Kiwi.com

    Travel insurance

    Medical and trip cover for Mexico, by the week or month.

    SafetyWing

    Mobile data

    Signal can drop away from Mitla: download a map of the way to Tlacochahuaya before you set out, or carry an eSIM with data.

    Airalo

    Links open a partner site. We may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you. Hotel names from OpenStreetMap.

    Photos

    + Add a photo Been here? Share yours

    Add photos of Tlacochahuaya

    Add details (optional)
    Shown under your photos as “Photo by …”, linked to your Instagram or site. Leave both blank to stay anonymous.
    Optional. Only so we can reply; never shown or shared.

    By sending, you confirm you took these photos and Puebloteca may show them on the Tlacochahuaya page.

    When to go to Tlacochahuaya mild

    Tlacochahuaya shares the climate of Mitla, 25 km away. The best months to visit are January, February, March, and December.

    See the month-by-month climate of Mitla

    Make Mitla your base

    Stone fretwork of the Mitla palaces above the Oaxaca valley mild
    Oaxaca Mitla

    Tlacochahuaya is an easy trip from Mitla, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.

    Also close to

    Closest to Tlacochahuaya

    All 11 towns and sights around Mitla →

    Near Tlacochahuaya

    Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.

    Something wrong or missing on this page? Suggest a fix or addition

    Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.