2-day Oaxaca tour: Monte Albán, Hierve el Agua, Mitla

Two days across Oaxaca's archaeological heart and natural wonders

A two-day guided tour of Oaxaca visiting Monte Albán, Hierve el Agua, Mitla and four craft workshops, with certified guide in English or Spanish, air-conditioned van transport, hotel pickup, and travel insurance. The itinerary covers the largest Zapotec city, petrified mineral waterfalls where you can swim, hand-carved stone temples, and stops to watch artisans make alebrijes, black pottery and wool rugs. Tours run on consecutive days and the order may vary.

Step-by-step itinerary

Day 1 — Monte Alban, Alebrijes and Black Pottery

• Visit Monte Albán archaeological site
• See alebrijes carving in San Antonio Arrazola
• Watch black pottery demonstration in San Bartolo Coyotepec

Day 2 — Hierve el Agua, Mitla and Mezcal Tasting

• Visit El Arbol del Tule tree
• Swim or walk at Hierve el Agua
• Visit wool rug workshop in Teotitlán del Valle
• Explore Mitla archaeological zone
• Taste mezcal at local mezcalera

The Experience

Day one takes you to Monte Albán, the largest city the Zapotecs built, where you walk the terraces and plazas of their dominant power center and see how they engineered the valley from above. From there the route moves to San Antonio Arrazola to watch a local artist carve copal wood into alebrijes—mythical creatures and monsters that exist nowhere in nature—and then to San Bartolo Coyotepec, where artisans demonstrate how black pottery has been shaped by hand since pre-Columbian times, using techniques that have not changed.

Day two starts at El Árbol del Tule, a tree roughly 2,000 years old and one of Oaxaca's most extraordinary natural sights. The route then reaches Hierve el Agua, where mineral-rich water has petrified into cliff formations that look like frozen waterfalls; you have about an hour to swim in the natural pools or walk the terraces. After that comes Teotitlán del Valle, where weavers work wool rugs by hand with designs passed down through generations, and then Mitla, an archaeological zone built by the Zapotecs where you can see the geometric patterns—called grecas—they carved directly into stone. The day closes at a mezcalera, a traditional distillery where you taste this Oaxacan spirit.

Transport is by air-conditioned van with government permits and insurance; the driver picks you up at your hotel and covers toll roads and parking. A certified guide leads both days in either English or Spanish. The operator recommends this combo for first-time visitors to Oaxaca, and notes that free excursions do not guarantee a certified guide.

What’s included

• Hotel pickup in an air-conditioned van.
• certified guide in English or Spanish.
• travel insurance in the vehicle.
• all toll roads and parking fees.
• entry to Monte Albán and Mitla archaeological zones.
• demonstrations at the alebrijes workshop, black pottery workshop and weaving workshop.
• mezcal tasting at a traditional distillery.

Good to know

Easy physical levelPublic transport nearbyNot for heart conditionsNot for back problemsInfants must sit on laps

Operated by Oaxaca Shuttle

Is this one for you?Book this two-day combo on consecutive days to cover Oaxaca's main archaeological sites and craft traditions in one trip, with a certified guide at each stop.

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Top questions

What is Monte Albán and why is it on this tour?

Monte Albán was the largest city of the Zapotec civilization and the dominant power center of the central valleys region. The tour includes it on day one because the archaeological zone shows how the Zapotecs lived and engineered their settlements, with majestic construction and spectacular views across the valley.

Can I swim at Hierve el Agua?

Yes. Hierve el Agua has natural pools fed by mineral-rich water, and you have about an hour there to either swim or walk the petrified formations. You choose which activity suits you during that time.

What crafts will I see being made?

The tour includes stops at three craft workshops: alebrijes (carved copal wood figures) in San Antonio Arrazola, black pottery made by hand in San Bartolo Coyotepec using pre-Columbian techniques, and wool rugs woven by hand in Teotitlán del Valle.

What is Mitla and what makes it different from Monte Albán?

Mitla is an archaeological zone built by the Zapotecs, known for the geometric stone patterns called grecas that artisans carved directly into the temple walls. While Monte Albán shows the scale and layout of a major city, Mitla displays the detailed stonework and decorative techniques the Zapotecs mastered.

Is the mezcal tasting included in the tour?

Yes. On day two the tour visits a traditional mezcalera where you taste this Oaxacan spirit. Food and drinks beyond the tasting are not included.

What happens if I want to change the order of the two days?

The operator notes that the order of the tours may change, so day one and day two could be reversed depending on scheduling. Both days cover the same attractions and sites.