Ancient Ruins Tours in Oaxaca: The 14 We Would Rebook

1.Hierve el Agua, Tule Tree, Mitla and Mezcal Distillery Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 1,094 reviews · 12 hours (approx.) · from $55Our pick

Travel from Oaxaca City to the ancient Tule tree, a Teotitlán del Valle weaving workshop, Mitla, and Hierve el Agua. You’ll also visit a traditional mezcal distillery with tastings. Guides such as Adriel, Miguel, Andrea, and Kevin are praised for energy and local insight, though the long day, walking, mixed-language groups, and sales focus may not suit everyone.

“This was a wonderful and full but really flowing day. Our tour guide Andrea was awesome and helpful and everyone in the tour gelled really well! We got to see almost everything we wanted in just one day and the vibes were high the entire time- starting with the service at the cute cafe that is situated in Oaxaca by Locals. Weather was perfect and we learned so much about the rich culture of this region of Oaxaca from the Zapotecs to contemporary time. The tree is also a spiritual experience… it has such a profound energy. I recommend this experience -100 percent!”

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2.Explore Hierve el Agua, Mitla, Tule, Textile and Mezcal for a day

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 1,043 reviews · 11 hours (approx.) · from $75Top rated

Spend about 11 hours exploring Oaxaca’s best-known sights with an English-speaking guide such as Luis or Pavel. Walk and swim at Hierve el Agua, visit Mitla and the Tule Tree, watch wool rugs being made in Teotitlán, and taste mezcal. Transport, water, and site admissions are included, but lunch costs extra.

“Perfect whole - day tour - even 11 hours, but it wasn't to log for us. All day was perfect organized. Our guide Luis was very helpful and cooperative man, always answering on all the questions and trying to introduce us to local culture. The high light for us Hierve el Aqua - we recommend to chose longer trip - the views are just incredible. Highly recommended !”

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3.Monte Alban Guided Half Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 880 reviews · 3 to 4 hours (approx.) · from $32

Travel from central Oaxaca to Monte Albán in about 30 minutes, then explore the Zapotec archaeological site with an English or Spanish guide. Guides such as Miguel explain the ruins, valley, and culture before you get free time for photos and independent exploring. Return by shuttle when you are ready, including later hourly departures.

“Half day is the perfect option for seeing Monte Alban. We'll worth it to go the guided route. Better suited for those with no mobility issues.”

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4.Monte Alban Half-Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 492 reviews · 4 hours · from $31

Travel by van from central Oaxaca to Monte Albán for a four-hour guided visit. A bilingual guide such as Antonio, Daniel, Moses, or José explains Zapotec culture, pyramids, stelae, tombs, and the ball court, then gives you time to explore independently. Transportation and hotel or Airbnb drop-off are included, but the archaeological-site ticket is extra.

“Amazing tour with an even better guide. Our guide, whose name I forgot, was an absolute gem. He had an immense amount of passion for the history of Monte Albán while & exuded in his presentation. PLUS, he lent me $1,500 pesos to ensure I could purchase a piece of art which in turn helped the indigenous folk who are still keeping their practices alive.”

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5.Tule, Mitla & Hierve el Agua, & Mezcal Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.7 · 456 reviews · 10 hours · from $75

Spend 10 hours beyond Oaxaca City with hotel pickup, an English and Spanish speaking guide, and air-conditioned transport. See the Tule Tree, Mitla, Teotitlán weaving, and Hierve el Agua, then finish with a mezcal tasting. Guides such as Ede, Miguel, and Jeshua are praised for warmth and clear explanations, though the mezcal stop is brief.

“As the manager of a tour company myself, I was very impressed with the organisation of this tour. It’s a very very long day but everything is timed perfectly. And it’s great for anyone who wants to see lots of things in one day. Some people have said there’s not enough time at the petrified waterfalls, but I really think there was. I had more than enough time to enjoy it and move on to the next thing without getting bored. It’s absolutely beautiful up there. But I found 90 minutes of beauty more than sufficient. You don’t need hours in awe of it. So, overall it was a very…”

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6.Half day tour to Monte Albán

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 420 reviews · 4 hours (approx.) · from $32

Travel from Oaxaca City to Monte Albán in an air-conditioned vehicle, then walk through the Zapotec capital with a local English-speaking guide. Expect the Grand Plaza, Los Danzantes, tombs, temples, ball court, South Platform, museum, and free time for photos. Guides such as Antonio, Daniel, Moses, and Monserrat have led this tour.

“Great experience, incredibly knowledgeable guide that added rich details! Made the trip memorable, despite an unexpected local marathon that caused a detour and delay to the Monte Alban tour. Creative adjustment !”

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7.Monte Alban Guided Archaeological Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 419 reviews · 3.5 hours · from $33

Travel from central Oaxaca to Monte Albán in an air-conditioned van, then explore the former Zapotec capital with a bilingual guide. You’ll see the ball court, tombs, astronomical structures, museum, and broad Oaxaca Valley views. Guides such as Julio, Manuel, Ivan, and Fernando have earned praise for making the site clear and engaging, though English and Spanish are spoken together.

“Pickup from hotel was great. Julio our guide was excellent. Very happy with the half day tour.”

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8.Check out Hierve el Agua, Mitla, the Tule Tree, Rugs, and a Mezcal Distillery Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 222 reviews · from $49

Spend about 11 hours exploring Oaxaca’s Tule Tree, Teotitlán del Valle, Mitla, and Hierve el Agua, then finish with a mezcal tasting. Guides such as Adriel, Andrea, Miguel, and Rodrigo are praised for clear English, humor, and local insight. Expect a small-group outing, several entry fees, a buffet lunch, and a sales pitch at the weaving stop.

“Thanks to Adriel our guide and our driver Eduardo we had an incredible day with lots of activities and I enjoyed every moment of it. The tour allows you to discover different aspects of Oaxaca and it is a good mixture on variety of activities”

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9.Monte Alban, Alebrijes & Black Clay Day Trip

★★★★★★★★★★4.6 · 217 reviews · 7 hours · from $52

Visit Monte Albán with a bilingual guide, then see alebrijes carved in Arrazola and black clay pottery made in San Bartolo Coyotepec. The small group is limited to six, with guides such as Ede, Jose, or Ariana assigned according to the day. Lunch is optional and costs extra.

“The guide was amazing. He had very interesting information about everything, and his way to explain it to the group was super funny. The buffet was also delicious. The tour ended few hours later, I would recommend to be prepared for it. (In this case it didn’t affected us)”

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10.Essence Zapoteca Monte Albán, Barro Negro and Alebrijes for a day.

★★★★★★★★★★5.0 · 128 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $53

Spend a full day beyond Oaxaca City with a bilingual guide such as Miguel, Leo, or Pavel. Explore Monte Albán, visit Ángelico Jiménez Carrillo’s alebrije workshop, eat Oaxacan dishes at a buffet, and see black pottery made in San Bartolo Coyotepec. The small group is capped at 15, with transport and Monte Albán admission included.

“Full day experience. We loved visiting Monte Alban and the other activities were interesting. Our guide, Miguel was very knowledgable, had excellent English and did a good job”

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11.Monte Alban and the Art of Oaxaca

★★★★★★★★★★4.2 · 99 reviews · 7 hours · from $42

Spend seven hours visiting Monte Albán, San Antonio Arrazola, Cuilapam de Guerrero, and San Bartolo Coyotepec. Expect Zapotec archaeology, copal-wood alebrijes, and black pottery. Guides such as Ivan, Eloy, Antonio, and Oscar have been praised for clear cultural context, though the English tour and return drop-off should be confirmed.

“Our guide Ivan was excellent. He was very knowledgeable about Oaxaca and Monte Alban in particular. He was bi lingual so able to switch effortlessly between English and Spanish . Recommended”

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12.Monte Alban, Alebrijes & Black Pottery: Oaxaca Essential Day Tour

★★★★★★★★★★4.5 · 99 reviews · 8 hours (approx.) · from $42

Spend about eight hours exploring Monte Alban and two important craft towns outside Oaxaca City. A bilingual guide such as Ede, Jeshua, or Gabriel leads the day, with round-trip transport in an air-conditioned minivan. Expect striking valley views, copal wood carving, black clay pottery, and a small group of up to eight people.

“My family and I had a wonderful time because the tourist guide Roberto with his knowledge and his very nice. Attitude make my Birthday wonderful., Monte Albán, the food and the environment around the places were fantastic, thank you.”

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13.Monte Albán, Hierve el agua, Mezcal and Teotitlán

★★★★★★★★★★4.9 · 48 reviews · 9 hours · from $145

Spend nine hours with private transport and an English- or Spanish-speaking guide, visiting Monte Albán, Hierve el Agua, a mezcal distillery in Matatlán, and Teotitlán del Valle. Guides such as Yareth, Daniel, Fabrizio, and Erban have led memorable days, with time for swimming, tastings, textiles, and photos.

“Daniel was great, he made the trip super friendly, gave us lots of explanations and was available to accommodate us on any request. Definitely recommend!”

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14.Caminos del Condoy: Boiling water, Mitla. Mezcal

★★★★★★★★★★4.3 · 32 reviews · 10 hours · from $17Best value

Spend 10 hours visiting the Tule tree, Mitla, Hierve el Agua, Teotitlán del Valle, and a mezcal palenque. Spanish-speaking staff provide round-trip transport from central Oaxaca, while you pay separately for entry fees, meals, and drinks. Bring cash, sun protection, comfortable shoes, and a change of clothes.

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