The Mitla Archaeological Site is the second most important archaeological site in Oaxaca after Monte Albán, so it definitely should not be missed.
After you have toured the UNESCO World Heritage Site of Monte Albán and been on a Mezcal Tour in Oaxaca, why not take a bus east and backpack the ancient Zona Arqueológica de Mitla? It’s an easy half-day trip, and you can get there using public transportation.
The Mitla Archaeological site, located in the modern municipality of San Pablo Villa de Mitla, is the second most important archaeological site in Oaxaca State after Monte Albán and the most important site of the Zapotec culture.
The Zapotec name is Lyobáa, identified as ‘resting place’ or ‘grave’. In Nahuatl, the language of the Mexica, it means ‘place of the dead’.
The Templo Católico de San Pablo Villa de Mitla was built in the late 16th century on a pre-Hispanic platform using materials from the temples they destroyed:
Patio de las Grecas:
Patio de las Columnas:
Entrance to the tombs, sadly off-limits just now:
Patio de las Tumbas:
How to get to Mitla from Oaxaca:
It is very easy to get to Mitla from Oaxaca by bus. There is no need to take a tour. Here is the Google Maps location of Mitla.
The place to catch the bus to Mitla in Oaxaca is on the highway, about 500 metres east of the ADO Bus terminal, just before McDonald’s.
Here is my Oaxaca – Mitla Bus:
I visited Mitla in 2021, so the bus fare is hopelessly out of date, but the journey took 54 minutes to cover the 40 km. I doubt that has changed.
The ticket price as of 2025 is 100 pesos. Opening hours 8 am to 5 pm Monday to Sunday
Here’s my ticket for Mitla from 2021:
Mitla Ruins Archaeological Site Map:
