Monte Albán & Oaxaca Artisans: Day Trip with Mezcal & Lunch

Summary

Zapotec ruins, artisan workshops and mezcal tasting from Oaxaca

You’ll walk ancient Zapotec ruins at Monte Albán, watch artisans carve bright alebrijes in San Antonio Arrazola, taste smoky mezcal right where it’s made, and share a buffet lunch full of Oaxacan flavors. Each stop feels personal—expect laughter with your guide and small surprises along the way.

What’s the experience like?

The first thing I noticed was the dry crunch of gravel under our shoes as we stepped out at Monte Albán. The air was cool, but the sun felt sharp on my neck—Oaxaca mornings have this way of waking you up fast. Our guide, Martín, started telling us about the Zapotecs before we’d even reached the first platform. He had this habit of pausing mid-sentence to point at some carving or to wave at a passing vendor selling chapulines (yes, grasshoppers). I tried one later—salty, smoky, weirdly addictive.

After wandering among those ancient stones (I kept touching them when no one was looking), we piled back into the van and headed for San Antonio Arrazola. The smell changed—suddenly it was wood shavings and paint instead of dust and wildflowers. We ducked into an alebrije workshop where a family was carving these wild creatures—dragons with tiny wings and jaguar faces. I asked about one with seven legs; the artist just grinned and shrugged. There’s a kind of magic in not explaining everything.

Lunch came next—a buffet place with moles that stained my plate deep red and tortillas straight off the comal. I lost count of how many I ate. Someone at our table tried to explain all the different types of mole but honestly, after two bites I stopped listening and just ate. After that we watched black clay pottery being shaped by hand—there’s something hypnotic about it—and then wandered through a mezcalería where the air stung sweetly in my nose. Martín poured us a taste and told us to sip slow; I tried but ended up coughing anyway. He laughed, so did I.

I still think about standing on top of Monte Albán, wind in my ears and all of Oaxaca stretched out below me—felt like being balanced between old worlds and new ones somehow. If you go, don’t rush it; let yourself get lost in all those little moments between stops.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Explore Monte Albán and local crafts

• Visit Monte Albán archaeological site
• Stop at ancestral mezcalería
• Tour Alebrije workshop
• Enjoy traditional Oaxaca buffet
• See black clay ceramics making
• Visit prehispanic factory

Top questions

How long does the Monte Albán day trip from Oaxaca take?

The tour lasts most of the day, including visits to Monte Albán, San Antonio Arrazola workshops, lunch, pottery demonstration, and mezcal tasting.

Is lunch included on this Monte Albán & artisans tour?

Yes, a traditional Oaxacan buffet lunch is included during the day trip.

Are there stops for local crafts on this tour?

Yes, you’ll visit an alebrije workshop in San Antonio Arrazola and see black clay pottery being made.

Does this tour include mezcal tasting?

Yes, there’s a stop at a mezcalería for tasting during the itinerary.

Is transportation provided for the Monte Albán day trip?

An air-conditioned vehicle is included for all transfers between sites.

Can infants or small children join this tour?

Yes, infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller during the tour.

Is this tour accessible for travelers with physical disabilities?

The archaeological site at Monte Albán is not conditioned for people with physical disabilities.

What’s included

Your day includes air-conditioned transport throughout Oaxaca’s valley stops, entry to Monte Albán archaeological site with a local guide leading each visit, hands-on time inside both an alebrije workshop and black clay pottery studio in San Antonio Arrazola, a traditional Oaxacan buffet lunch (think fresh tortillas and rich moles), plus mezcal tasting before heading back to town together.