Oaxaca sits in a valley with the Zapotec city of Monte Albán on the mountain top above it, and the villages around it each make something of their own: rugs, black pottery, painted alebrijes, mezcal. Here is what each of our five involves, and which to pick if you only have one day.
The five, side by side
| Trip | Length | Leaves | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oaxaca in a Day: Private Tour of Monte Albán and the Historic Centre | 8h | 07:00 | from €210 |
| Oaxaca: Private Tour of the Historic Centre and the Tree of Tule | 4h | 07:00 | from €190 |
| Monte Albán and Arrazola: Private Half-Day Tour from Oaxaca | 5h | 07:00 | from €190 |
| Hierve el Agua, Mitla and Teotitlán: Private Day Trip from Oaxaca | 10h | 07:00 | from €220 |
| Oaxaca Craft Villages: Private Day Trip to Coyotepec, Tilcajete, Jalieza and Ocotlán | 8h | 07:00 | from €220 |
Prices are starting prices and depend on the size of your group.
How to choose
You have one day for the city and the ruins
Oaxaca in a day. Eight hours from 07:00: two and a half hours at Monte Albán in the cool of the morning, then Santo Domingo and its museum, the Zócalo, lunch in the 20 de Noviembre market and the view from the Cerro del Fortín. The museum is closed on Mondays.
You want the centre in half a day
The historic centre and the Tree of Tule. Four hours, at 07:00 or 13:00: the giant cypress of Santa María del Tule, the view from the Cerro del Fortín, the Zócalo and the markets, and the gilded church of Santo Domingo. Most of it is on foot.
You want Monte Albán in half a day
Monte Albán and Arrazola. Five hours, at 07:00 or 13:00: the Great Plaza, the ball court, the carved Danzantes and the site museum, then the family workshops at the foot of the hill where alebrijes are carved and painted. Nobody expects you to buy.
You want the landscape
Hierve el Agua, Mitla and Teotitlán. Ten hours, the longest day here: the Tree of Tule, a family of weavers in Teotitlán del Valle, the mineral pools and stone waterfalls of Hierve el Agua, a small mezcal distillery and the stone fretwork of Mitla. Hierve el Agua is run by the local community and has closed at short notice before, so we check the week before you travel.
You want to see things being made
The craft villages. Eight hours south through the valley: black pottery in San Bartolo Coyotepec, alebrijes in San Martín Tilcajete, backstrap weaving in Santo Tomás Jalieza, and the market town of Ocotlán, busiest on Fridays. There is room in the car for what you buy.
Four things worth knowing before you book
Entrances are paid on the day
The price covers the private vehicle, the driver, fuel, tolls and parking. Site and museum entrances, the small fee at the Tree of Tule, the road fee at Hierve el Agua, tastings and lunch are paid on the day.
Bring cash and a hat
Most workshops take cash only, and so does Hierve el Agua. Monte Albán is high and open, with little shade: bring a hat, sun cream and water, and a swimsuit if you want to swim in the pools at Hierve el Agua.
Private costs less than you think for a group
A coach seat is cheap for one person and stops being cheap at four. Our prices are by group size, not per seat: up to four of you share one car at one price, and the price only steps up when you need a van. And you are not waiting for forty strangers at every stop.
You can change your mind
Free cancellation up to 24 hours before pick-up, refunded in full. If the date stops working, message us and we will do our best to move you to another day.
Start with one of these
Private day tour
Oaxaca in a Day: Private Tour of Monte Albán and the Historic Centre
Monte Albán and old Oaxaca, in a private day.
Private day tour from Oaxaca
Hierve el Agua, Mitla and Teotitlán: Private Day Trip from Oaxaca
Tule, Teotitlán, Hierve el Agua and Mitla, in a private day.
Private day tour from Oaxaca
Oaxaca Craft Villages: Private Day Trip to Coyotepec, Tilcajete, Jalieza and Ocotlán
Black pottery, alebrijes, weaving and Ocotlán, in a private day.