6 archaeological sites · within 60 km
There are 6 archaeological sites within 60 km of Oaxaca in a straight line, an hour or a little more by road. The closest is Monte Albán, 5 km away; the farthest, Yagul, is 32 km. They are all listed under Mitla, a Pueblo Mágico that makes a good base.
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 6
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Monte Albán · Archaeological site · 5 km from Oaxaca · Oaxaca
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. -
Zona Arqueológica de Atzompa · Archaeological site · 6 km from Oaxaca · Oaxaca
Monte Albán's hilltop satellite city above Santa María Atzompa, with the largest ball court in the Monte Albán area and free entry. -
San José Mogote · Archaeological site · 14 km from Oaxaca · Oaxaca
The Etla valley's first large Zapotec village, older than Monte Albán, with a restored mound and a small community museum. -
Dainzú · Archaeological site · 19 km from Oaxaca · Near Mitla
An early Zapotec site at the foot of a hill, famous for dozens of carved stones showing masked ball players. -
Lambityeco · Archaeological site · 27 km from Oaxaca · Near Mitla
A small Zapotec site by the highway with two striking stucco masks of Cocijo, the rain god, at a noble's house. -
Yagul · Archaeological site · 32 km from Oaxaca · Near Mitla
A Zapotec hilltop city with a big ball court, a maze-like palace and a fortress lookout over the Tlacolula Valley.
On the map
Distances are in a straight line; roads add about a third.
Where to stay
The Pueblos Mágicos these places are closest to, each with hotels, food and getting-there notes.
More places like these
More around Oaxaca
Ruins elsewhere
All lists by kind and regionNames and locations from OpenStreetMap; notes and write-ups are our own.