National park · Mexico
Monte Albán
Go early: be at the gate when it opens, walk the Gran Plaza and South Platform in 2–3 h, and take the M$120–130 shuttle from Oaxaca City rather than a M$200–300 taxi; skip the midday hours in March–May.
Map to the park
Add your hotel to get directions from it. · stays in this browser; shared with the pocket card.
Area
4 km²2 sq mi
approximate
Established
1931
Best months
Oct–Feb
UNESCO
None
Rules in force · 7Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs …Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but ta…
- North America ↗Crossing between the US, Canada and Mexico by land needs your passport even on a day trip; rental cars need the company's written permission to cross, and most US and Canadian rental insurance stops at the Mexican border.
- North America ↗Cannabis is legal in Canada and in many US states, but taking any amount across the US, Canadian or Mexican border is a federal crime — including edibles and vapes.
- North America ↗The busiest US and Canadian national parks need timed-entry, campsite or lodge reservations in summer; release dates are months ahead.
- Mexico ↗Check entry rules for your passport with Mexico's National Migration Institute (INM) or your nearest Mexican consulate; keep proof of your entry (stamp or digital record) until you leave.
- Mexico ↗Security advice differs by state: some governments advise against travel to parts of several states. Check your own government's advice for each region on your route.
- Mexico ↗Do not drink tap water; use bottled or filtered water and ice from reliable places.
- Mexico ↗Foreign visitors to Quintana Roo (Cancún, Playa del Carmen, Tulum, Bacalar, Holbox) pay the state VISITAX online at visitax.gob.mx only; lookalike sites add fees.
At a glance
- Country
- Mexico
- Area
- 4 km²2 sq mi
- The excavated monumental core is small; the protected archaeological zone around it is larger (check).
- Established
- 1931
- Best months
- Oct–Feb
- Permits
- For some areas
- Base
- Oaxaca City
Monte Albán is a Zapotec and Mixtec hilltop city about 10 km west of Oaxaca City, levelled from roughly 500 BCE and the political centre of the Oaxaca Valley for close to a thousand years. It is a UNESCO World Heritage property, listed with the historic centre of Oaxaca. The excavated core is compact: a levelled Gran Plaza ringed by temple platforms, the Danzantes carvings, a ball court, the North and South platforms, and tombs cut into the terraced neighbourhoods below. Most of what stands today was reconstructed during Alfonso Caso's excavations from 1931. There is no long trek here — the walking is the plaza circuit, the stair climbs to the two platforms, and a 2 km trail that comes up from the west edge of the city. Two to three hours covers it; the practical decisions are the ticket, the shuttle versus the taxi, and starting early enough to be off the exposed stone before the midday sun.
Decide
Why go, which months, and what lives here when
At a glance
Status
- No UNESCO listing; national park since 1931.
Size and age
4 km²2 sq mi · national park since 1931
The excavated monumental core is small; the protected archaeological zone around it is larger (check).
This page covers the park itself. Nearest base: Oaxaca City.
Why go
- A hilltop city the Zapotecs levelled by hand from about 500 BCE, with a plaza, temples and tombs you can walk among.
- The South Platform and the ridge above the plaza give the widest view over the Oaxaca Valley.
- It is 10 km from Oaxaca City, so it works as a half-day between market mornings and mezcal evenings.It is 6.2 mi from Oaxaca City, so it works as a half-day between market mornings and mezcal evenings.
- The site museum and Tomb 7 finds in Oaxaca City together explain what you are looking at.
When to go
- JanBest
- FebBest
- MarGo
- AprGo
- MayCaution
- JunCaution
- JulGo
- AugGo
- SepCaution
- OctBest
- NovBest
- DecBest
- JanDry, clear; cool mornings
- FebDry and bright
- MarHot by midday; start at opening
- AprHot and hazy; breeze on the hill
- MayHottest month; little shade
- JunRains begin; afternoon storms
- JulGreen hills; morning visits
- AugWet afternoons, quieter mornings
- SepWettest month; slick stone
- OctRains ease; clear views
- NovDry and mild
- DecDry; holiday crowds
Wildlife and nature calendar
| What | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Birds of the valley scrub around the ridgesMar–May, Oct–Nov · Early mornings are best; the site is archaeological, not a wildlife reserve. | no | no | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | yes | yes | no |
| Heat and sun exposureMar–Jun · No shade on the plaza; carry water. | no | no | yes | yes | yes | yes | no | no | no | no | no | no |
Arrive & move
Getting in, how the park is divided, and where things are
How to get there
From Oaxaca City centre
Shuttle van from Francisco Mina 501 or 518, near Mercado 20 de Noviembre; hourly departures, hourly returns.
25–35 min
Open the page →
From Oaxaca City by taxi
Taxi up Carretera a Monte Albán; agree the round trip and waiting time.
25–35 min
From Oaxaca City on foot
A 2 km trail from the west edge of the city to the lower parking lot; the site sits about 300 m above the city, so the walk back is easier.A 1.2 mi trail from the west edge of the city to the lower parking lot; the site sits about 300 m above the city, so the walk back is easier.
1–1.5 h up
From Oaxaca airport
Taxi to the city, then shuttle or taxi to the site.
20 min + 30 min
Zones and sectors
| Zone | What is there | Access |
|---|---|---|
| Gran Plaza | The levelled centre with temple platforms, the Danzantes carvings and the ball court. | Open with a ticket; stairs between levels. |
| South Platform | The high southern end of the plaza with the broadest valley view. | Open; steep steps. |
| North Platform | The largest platform group, with courtyards and a sunken patio. | Open; a long stair climb. |
| Tombs and residential terraces | Burial chambers and the terraced neighbourhoods on the slopes. | Some tombs fenced or closed; follow signs. |
Sketch map
- 1Oaxaca City Zócalo · Town≈17.061, -96.725Map ↗
- 2Shuttle offices, Francisco Mina · Ranger station≈17.058, -96.730Map ↗
- 3Lower parking lot · Gate≈17.046, -96.770Map ↗
- 4Entrance gate and museum · Headquarters≈17.044, -96.768Map ↗
- 5Gran Plaza · Viewpoint≈17.044, -96.767Map ↗
- 6South Platform · Summit≈17.041, -96.766Map ↗
- 7North Platform · Viewpoint≈17.047, -96.768Map ↗
See & do
Caves, trails and wildlife, with how hard each is and whether it needs booking
Top experiences
Practical
Fees, permits, rules, where to sleep and what can go wrong
Entry fees and permits
| Item | Range | Per | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Site entry (foreign adult) | MXN 90–100 | person | 2026 estimate; Mexican nationals and residents pay less on presentation of ID (check). |
| Video camera permit | MXN 50–100 | camera | Charged at the gate for tripods and professional video (check). |
| Shuttle from Oaxaca City | MXN 120–130 | person round trip | Autobuses Turísticos and Lescas Co, both near Mercado 20 de Noviembre. |
| Taxi from central Oaxaca | MXN 200–300 | car round trip | Negotiate the wait or the return leg before leaving. |
Ranges, not quotes: fees change without notice. Check with the park or your operator · checked Sep 2026.
Site entry ticket permit or guide
Guide no permit
Park rules
- Stay on paths and terraces
- Do not climb on carved stones, enter fenced tombs or move anything you find.
- Drones
- Not allowed without permission from the site authorities (check).check
- Food and drink
- No eating or drinking in the monumental core; vendors and stands are in the parking lot.
- Toilets
- Restrooms at the museum and near the South Platform; bring your own toilet paper.
Where to stay
Near the park
Oaxaca City centre
Hotels and hostels of every level, 25–35 min from the gate; there is no lodging on site.
Near the park
West-side guesthouses
Quieter rooms on the city's west edge, closer to the walking trail.
Safety
Sun and heat medium
Slippery stone after rain medium
Altitude and stairs low
Accessibility
- A wide accessible pathway winds near most major structures, but the site is hilly.
- Most direct routes between points of interest require climbing stairs.
- Restrooms at the museum and near the South Platform.
Visiting lightly
- Buy crafts from the licensed vendors inside the site and the stands in the upper parking lot.
- Carry out all rubbish; there are few bins in the monumental core.
- Do not touch or take fragments; the site is a World Heritage property.
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to enter Monte Albán?
About M$90–100 for a foreign adult, paid at the ticket counter outside the museum; Mexican nationals and residents pay less with ID (2026 estimate, check). A round-trip shuttle from Oaxaca City is M$120–130, or M$200–300 for a taxi.
What are the best hikes in Monte Albán?
There is no long trek: the best walking is the Gran Plaza circuit (1.5–2 h), the climb to the South Platform for the valley view, and the North Platform and ball court (45–60 min). A 2 km trail climbs from the west edge of Oaxaca City to the lower parking lot.
When is the best time to visit Monte Albán?
November to April is dry and clear, with October and November the best walking. March to May is hottest, so start at opening. June to September brings afternoon rain and slick stone; September is the wettest month.
How long do you need at Monte Albán?
Two to three hours covers the plaza, the platforms and the museum. Add an hour if you climb both platforms slowly or use a guide.
Can you visit Monte Albán without a tour?
Yes. Buy a ticket at the gate and walk the signed routes; licensed guides wait near the entrance if you want context. Shuttles run hourly from Oaxaca City and back.
Is Monte Albán accessible?
Partly. A wide pathway winds near most major structures, but the site is hilly and most direct routes need stairs.
Deep dive
Every source; fees and rules change, so check before you go