Oaxaca Ruins Sites
Oaxaca
The archaeological ruin site of Mitla, with
buildings unique in Mexico, shows the
influence of 10th century AD Mixtec art on
the resident Zapotec culture
Dainzu Archaeological ruin site south of Oaxaca city
Oaxaca Tours   
www.go-oaxaca.com/overv
iew/around.
In culturally rich Oaxaca  archaeological digs continue
and new artifacts enter the Oaxaca Cultural Museum in
the city
Copyright   SoftSeatTravel
San Jose Mogote Ruin Site
and Museum
Oaxaca Archaeological Ruin Sites
Built on a mountaintop at 1300 feet
Monte Alban ruled Oaxaca Valley
for 1200 years
From 1500 BC to 1519 AD, technologically advanced indigenous cultures in Oaxaca built monumental
cities of stone, reaching an apex in artistic achievement at around 800 AD and then becoming resurgent in
1200. The Spanish conquerers and colonists built their churches over the existing indigenous temples
using the already quarried rock for building material.  This one at Teotitlan del Valle is built over an 8th
Century Zapotec temple.
Oaxaca City has many ruin sites within a few miles of the city. Theses major
archaeological sites with building stages that span 1200 BC to 1519 AD are open to
the public and can be reached by car, taxi, or public bus.


Of this group
Monte Alban, Mitla, and San Jose El Mogote have museums and can
be reached easily by public transportation. Teotitlan del Valle has a small museum of
artifacts and village life and history but the temple site is now beneath a Spanish
colonial era church.

Lambyteco can be reached by public bus or taxi/collectivo while Yagul, Dainzu, and  
Huijazoo can be harder to reach by public transportation because of remote access
roads .  
Tours to the ruins are available through agencies, or guides in Oaxaca City or the
visitor can self guide using the well marked trails and explanatory plaques  done in
the Zapotec language, in Spanish, and in English.

Oaxaca is a modern city with many fine hotels, some located in colonial buildings in
the historic center of the city.
Gourmet dining, art galleries, theater, and musical concerts are available in
Oaxaca's Historic District. Two museums in the city display artifacts, the Santo
Domingo Cutural Center
and the Rufino Tamayo Museum of Prehispanic Art
Oaxaca City is great for walkers with its pedestrian-only streets. The
Colonial city also and has many
attractions and cultural tours for vacationers.
While the Euro could  prevent a family vacation to Paris this year, Oaxaca
City is just as
walkable and full of culture  and history.
In Oaxaca City you'll find
 art museums, restaurants, biking, walking in the
parks and hills and many ancient archaeological
ruins near the city.

Boutique hotels, Inns called posadas, B&Bs, and historic buildings converted
to hotels,  make Oaxaca City a good choice for a vacation.
Reached within a day's flight from US or Canadian cities, Oaxaca is well
located in the 5000 foot mountains giving it a perfect
climate.
House rentals, and Apartment rentals   put Oaxaca City  within reach of
budget conscious travelers.  
Europe night be out for a family vacation this year but Oaxaca City with its
16th century preserved colonial center might be just the place to spend a few
weeks and make your US or Canadian dollar go a little further.