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Monte Albán, Arrazola, Cuilapam y San Bartolo Coyotepec.
Oaxaca de Juárez, Mexico
From USD 47.57
Select Date and Travellers
Free cancellation
Up to 24 hours in advance.
Oaxaca City Tours
Attractions
Recommendations
Nearby
- 8 hours (approx.)
- Pickup from select hotels
- Mobile ticket
- Offered in: English
Overview
From the mountaintop pyramids of Monte Alban to the Cuilapam Convent on the valley floor, learn all about the rich history of Oaxaca Valley on this guided full-day trip by coach. Discover the Zapotec pyramids and excavated ruins of UNESCO-listed Monte Alban, admire the mystical woodcarvings of San Antonio Arrazola and meet resident artisans in San Bartolo Coyotepec, a town known for its beautiful black pottery. Hotel pickup and drop-off from Oaxaca included.
- Oaxaca day trip to Monte Alban, Arrazola, Cuilapam and Coyotepec
- See the ball court, temples and tombs of Monte Alban, part of a UNESCO World Heritage site
- Admire artisan-made alebrijes (woodcarvings) in San Antonio Arrazola
- Visit the San Bartolo Coyotepec Church and the Cuilapam Convent in Cuilapam de Guerrero
- Hear stories about the ancient Zapotecs from your guide during your full-day sightseeing tour
- Hotel pickup and drop-off from your Oaxaca hotel included
What's Included
- Professional English- and Spanish-speaking guide
- Hotel pickup and drop-off
- Seguro de viaje
- Gratuities
Meeting And Pickup
You can head directly to the meeting point, or request pickup
Meeting point
- 5 de Mayo 3005 de Mayo 300, RUTA INDEPENDENCIA, Centro, 68000 Oaxaca de Juárez, Oax., Mexico
calle 5 de Mayo, esquina Murguía, o en el lobby del hotel Quinta Real
Pickup points
Select a pickup point
Start time
08:00 am
End point
This activity ends back at the meeting point.Pickup details
Due to the pandemic the archaeological site is receiving a certain number of visitors, therefore we are starting the tour at 08:00 am in order to be among the 300 visitors allowed per day please write the name of your hotel in the comments, otherwise we will assume that we will meet at the Quinta Real hotel at the time confirmed by message This could be from 8:00 am (It is important to confirm the tour one day before)
What To Expect
Enjoy midmorning pickup by coach from your Oaxaca hotel and kick off your day of sightseeing at Monte Alban, a UNESCO site located on a mountaintop boasting panoramas of the city and Oaxaca Valley.
Spend about 2.5 hours at the archaeological site. Your guide takes you around the complex, including the Grand Plaza, a large open area on the flattened plateau. Hear engaging facts about Zapotec history and culture as you gaze at ceremonial platforms, including a series of rock carvings called The Dancers (Los Danzantes). You’ll see some of Monte Alban’s 170 tombs, whose excavations revealed a range of paintings and stone carvings. Visit pyramids, temples, altars and the I-shaped ball court constructed in 100 BC. Make your way up the South Platform (Plataforma Sur), a large area known for its wide staircase and great views.
Next, head to San Antonio Arrazola, a tranquil town at the base of Monte Alban. For about 45 minutes, stroll through the town and admire the local folk art, such as the world-renowned woodcarvings from the copal tree called alebrijes depicting a fantastic zoology of mythical creations and monsters.
In the traditional town of Cuilapam de Guerrero, swing by the Cuilapam Convent, a 16th-century Dominican convent known for its unfinished basilica and capilla abierta, or open chapel. Learn about this historical colonial feature aimed at encouraging larger numbers of indigenous people for conversion to Catholicism.
After refueling with lunch (own expense), wrap up your sightseeing in San Bartolo Coyotepec. Visit the 16th-century San Bartolo Coyotepec Church, the Oaxaca State Museum of Popular Art (MEAPO) and a craft market displaying the work of more than a dozen families. Learn about this town known for its black pottery (barro negro), unique ceramics made locally since pre-Columbian times.
Your full-day tour ends with drop-off at your hotel in Oaxaca in the evening.
Spend about 2.5 hours at the archaeological site. Your guide takes you around the complex, including the Grand Plaza, a large open area on the flattened plateau. Hear engaging facts about Zapotec history and culture as you gaze at ceremonial platforms, including a series of rock carvings called The Dancers (Los Danzantes). You’ll see some of Monte Alban’s 170 tombs, whose excavations revealed a range of paintings and stone carvings. Visit pyramids, temples, altars and the I-shaped ball court constructed in 100 BC. Make your way up the South Platform (Plataforma Sur), a large area known for its wide staircase and great views.
Next, head to San Antonio Arrazola, a tranquil town at the base of Monte Alban. For about 45 minutes, stroll through the town and admire the local folk art, such as the world-renowned woodcarvings from the copal tree called alebrijes depicting a fantastic zoology of mythical creations and monsters.
In the traditional town of Cuilapam de Guerrero, swing by the Cuilapam Convent, a 16th-century Dominican convent known for its unfinished basilica and capilla abierta, or open chapel. Learn about this historical colonial feature aimed at encouraging larger numbers of indigenous people for conversion to Catholicism.
After refueling with lunch (own expense), wrap up your sightseeing in San Bartolo Coyotepec. Visit the 16th-century San Bartolo Coyotepec Church, the Oaxaca State Museum of Popular Art (MEAPO) and a craft market displaying the work of more than a dozen families. Learn about this town known for its black pottery (barro negro), unique ceramics made locally since pre-Columbian times.
Your full-day tour ends with drop-off at your hotel in Oaxaca in the evening.
Zona Arqueologica de Monte Alban
Explora los tesoros culturales que rodean Oaxaca en un viaje de un día completo. Comenzamos por Monte Albán, declarado Patrimonio de la Humanidad por la UNESCO en el año de 1987, descubre los maravillosos edificios de esta antigua ciudad Zapoteca
2 hours • Admission Ticket Included
San Antonio Arrazola
Continuamos a Conocer a los artesanos locales, en San Antonio Arrazola, que con su gracia e imaginación crean figuras fantásticas mejor conocidas como alebrijes.
45 minutes • Admission Ticket Free
Additional Info
- Confirmation will be received at time of booking
- Wheelchair accessible
- Stroller accessible
- Infant seats available
- Transportation is wheelchair accessible
- No heart problems or other serious medical conditions
Cancellation Policy
You can cancel up to 24 hours in advance of the experience for a full refund.
- For a full refund, you must cancel at least 24 hours before the experience’s start time.
- If you cancel less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time, the amount you paid will not be refunded.
- Any changes made less than 24 hours before the experience’s start time will not be accepted.
- Cut-off times are based on the experience’s local time.
Traveller Photos
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Traveller Tips
This is a must take tour if you visit Oaxaca.
While those shops are definitely geared towards tourists making purchases they are owned/run by talented craftspeople so they are worth seeing on that basis alone.
Reviews
4.5
107 reviews
Reviews by Viator travellers.
Showing 1-10 of 107 reviews
Excellent, especially the food!
Martha_B, Mar 2023
Monte Alban was of course impressive and I was glad to see the actual workshop thT is the source of such imaginative “animals.” But frankly the highlight of the trip was the guide, who was bery knowledgable especially about the local trees and their medicinal uses (a longstanding interest of mine) and the fantastic place he took is for lunch, Frida de me Corazon, which had so much interesting, delicious, and unique(to me) dishes that I could have stayed there all afternoon.
Very Informative
Ripal_P, Mar 2023
Our guide was very knowledgeable. He really was passionate about the history of Oaxaca and took his time to answer all of our questions.
Excellent tour with Antonio of Monte Alban, nearby towns and buffet lunch
carol_a, Mar 2023
Our guide, Antonio, has deep knowledge of the archeology and history and works hard to stay up to date. Our group had both Spanish and English speakers and he was excellent at explaining everything in both languages. After about 2 hours touring the ruins (which was perfect amount of time) we visited other nearby towns and bought lunch at local buffet that serves large groups. I would highly recommend this tour.
Wonderful experience!
Erlinda_M, Mar 2023
Moises was a great guide, and I loved his passion for history and I loved all the information about the plants. We thoroughly enjoyed our experience!
A good day of activities
Sondre_A, Jan 2023
Clemente was an amazing guide, we were brought both to the Monte Alban site, but also to a local pottery and woodcarving shop in small towns outside of the city. Recommend!
The Guide was really...
Lola_R, Jan 2023
The Guide was really knowledgeable about Monte Alban and provided a detailed history of each part of the site.
See life in Oaxaca before the Spanish arrived
Barbara_G, Jan 2023
Monte Alban was amazing. It is the story of a pre Colombian civilization. Much of their history is lost to us. Our guide Moses was excellent.
Add Knowledge and Cultural Understanding to Your Pictures
Matthew_S, Jan 2023
Our tour guide, Jorge, was knowledgeable about the Monte Alban archaeological site, the surrounding biodiversity of trees, and the history of the people who lived there.
We also witnessed demonstrations for local arts and crafts (alebrije figurines and barro negro pottery) in two separate areas, and we enjoyed a delicious buffet lunch of traditional Oaxacan food.
Jorge provided thorough explanations in both Spanish and English through the entire tour. He and the driver kept us comfortable in an air-conditioned car and we stayed on schedule. His depth of knowledge added another layer of appreciation for the experience. We are truly grateful for his expertise, his hospitality, and the opportunity to learn more about the complex and sophisticated culture of Oaxaca.
A tour worth visiting
Ana_V, Jan 2023
Very nice trip. We learned a lot about Oaxacan history, culture and tried a variety of good food. Our guide was very organized and had a good control of a group. We had a really pleasant day.
Did not pick me up!
Ian, Dec 2022
You never picked me up and I wasted a whole day. Not sure as the tour operator confirmed in the app? Terrible service. You did refund me quickly and I appreciate that but still?
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