Overview
Monte Alban, one of the oldest and most influential of all ancient Mesoamerican cities is an absolute must when you visit Oaxaca. Although lesser-known than famous sites in other regions, the history and heritage of Monte Alban will blow you away. Built on a hilltop dominating the whole of the Central Valleys region of Oaxaca, this site was the centre of Zapotec religion and power for centuries. The views are incredible, with the modern city spreading away to the south and numerous villages dotting the landscape in all the other directions. Monte Alban represented a place of communion with the higher powers of life and creation and the city had a huge impact on the whole region as well as the rest of Mesoamerica, in part due to its phenomenal architecture, the remains of some of the earliest ball-court structures in the world and, especially, being a key location in the development of time-keeping and written language. The timing of our morning visit means you will beat the crowds and the heat, enjoying the spectacular location at the perfect time to appreciate the details and get some great photos. Up here, you will understand why the Zapotecs call themselves the people of the clouds.
Community support
What you will be doing
One of the oldest and most influential of all ancient Mesoamerican cities is an absolute must when you visit Oaxaca. Although lesser-known than famous sites in other regions, the history and heritage of Monte Alban will blow you away.
We then head to Atzompa, renowned for its continuation of ancient traditions and in particular, ceramics. Atzompa was historically one of the barrios of Monte Alban and has its own ceremonial hilltop with ancient temples in the middle of town. We will visit the studio of a famous artist who mixes the traditional elements and building techniques with his own style and modern touches. Not only is the quality of the highest level, but you will also notice how the artist continues to use ancient motifs and symbolism as part of the artistic process.
We return to Oaxaca for lunch in Tierra del Sol, one of the most renowned restaurants in the city. The location is fabulous, on the terrace overlooking the Sto. Domingo complex and the city skyline. The food is the real star here: traditional Mixtec recipes using only the finest local ingredients, the chefs are widely regarded as the best in town.
After lunch, we will visit the Museum of Santo Domingo, set in the beautiful old Dominican monastery. The exhibition is exceptional, focusing on cultural heritage and including the treasures of the tombs of Monte Alban. The architecture is inspiring, and the walk is the perfect means by which to digest lunch and learn more about the diverse and fascinating history of Oaxaca.
Where we'll meet
🧭 Meeting/pick-up point: Oaxaca, Mexico
🗺️ Instructions: Hotel or Meeting Point Pickup from 7:30. Please be aware that we will communicate your pick up time via a personalised email and it will vary from the automatic pick up time sent by the booking platform as we have to calculate it manually depending on your hotel/airbnb location.
Things to know
Accessibility:
Children friendly
Fitness requirement
Any fitness level
Tour Language
English
License requirement
None
Additional information:
Most of our group tours require a minimum of 4 people to run the tour. If we do not hit this minimum, we reserve the right to cancel the tour, in which case we will contact you to offer an alternative tour or send a refund.
Credit card payments have a fee up to 7% depending on Credit Cards. We recommend bringing cash.
Inclusion ✅
Lunch
Snack
Refreshments
Air-conditioned vehicle
Entrance ticket
Tour guide
Pick up and drop off transport
Exclusion ❌
Breakfast
About your host
Mexico Kan ToursSustainability is important to us. We have a zero waste programme: we do not use plastics in our tours - instead, we use refillable water bottles and bring homemade snacks in Tupperware boxes. We also have a recycling and composting programme. We select small, locally owned providers (Cenotes, Sian Kaan, food, restaurants, accommodation) to support local communities, and our team participates in beach/town clean-ups each year We financially support local organisations such as Movida Maya (empowering Mayan kids), Alma Animal (shelter for cats and dogs) and a local kids’ football team (Titanes).
For every trip booked, Kodama Travel donates £1 to Just One Tree to restore our forests and the ocean.