12 Ruins in Oaxaca, Mexico: Map & Photos

12 archaeological sites

Oaxaca has 12 archaeological sites with their own page on Puebloteca, near the Pueblos Mágicos of Mitla and Teposcolula. The closest to a pueblo is Yagul, 10 km from Mitla; the farthest out is Dainzú, 22 km from Mitla.

Most archaeological sites are run by INAH and open from about 8 or 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for a small fee. Midday is the hottest and busiest time, so go early.

Best months, when most of these towns are dry with comfortable afternoons: Jan, Feb, Mar, Dec.

The Ruins 12

Yagul · Archaeological site · 10 km from Mitla
A Zapotec hilltop city with a big ball court, a maze-like palace and a fortress lookout over the Tlacolula Valley.
Lambityeco · Archaeological site · 15 km from Mitla
A small Zapotec site by the highway with two striking stucco masks of Cocijo, the rain god, at a noble's house.
Huamelulpan · Archaeological site · 17 km from Teposcolula
Early Mixtec ruins with carved stones and calendar glyphs in a village that keeps a small community museum.
Dainzú · Archaeological site · 22 km from Mitla
An early Zapotec site at the foot of a hill, famous for dozens of carved stones showing masked ball players.
Cerro de las Minas · Archaeological site · Huajuapan de León
A Ñuiñe hilltop city on the north side of Huajuapan, lived in from about 400 BC to AD 800: terraces, plazas, a ball court and inscribed tombs.
Guiengola · Archaeological site · Santo Domingo Tehuantepec
Unrestored hilltop city of the last Zapotec kings above Tehuantepec, with pyramids, a ball court and walls, reached by an hour's hike.
Monte Albán · Archaeological site · Santa Cruz Xoxocotlán
The Zapotec capital on a levelled mountaintop 400 m above Oaxaca's valleys, founded about 500 BC and a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 1987.
Monte Negro, Tilantongo · Archaeological site · Santiago Tilantongo
A Mixtec hilltop town of 300-100 BC on Cerro Negro, 500 m above Tilantongo, dug by Alfonso Caso; visits need the community's permission.
Parque Eco-Arqueológico Copalita · Archaeological site · Santa María Huatulco
A pre-Hispanic ceremonial centre with a ball court and acropolis above the mouth of the Copalita river, with a site museum and sea views.
San José Mogote · Archaeological site · Guadalupe Etla
The Etla valley's first large Zapotec village, older than Monte Albán, with a restored mound and a small community museum.
Yucuita · Archaeological site · San Juan Yucuita
Mixtec Formative-period site in the Mixteca Alta, occupied from the 14th century BCE to the 9th century CE; not set up for visitors.
Zona Arqueológica de Atzompa · Archaeological site · Santa María Atzompa
Monte Albán's hilltop satellite city above Santa María Atzompa, with the largest ball court in the Monte Albán area and free entry.