Photos of Mt. Alban – An Easy & Awesome Day Trip from Oaxaca, Mexico

Please be sure to read the post below the gallery. Click on the arrows on the bottom of the gallery to view the photos larger (it’s worth it!) or you can view them as you read the post below.

If you want to travel to Oaxaca, Mexico, this winter for the city’s Christmas festivities, which run from Dec. 16 to Jan. 6, a cheap way to see the surrounding valley is a day trip to Monte Alban.

The Ruins of Monte Alban, Oaxaca, Mexico.

Four travelers looking out over the ruins of Monte Alban in Oaxaca, Mexico.

Five hundred years before Christ, the Zapotecs—of Mexico’s Oaxaca Valley—began their creation of Monte Alban by constructing pyramids, dams and terraces directly from the mountain itself.

The Oaxaca valley from atop of Mount Alban.

Several ancient ruins from Mount Alban in Oaxaca, Mexico.

Set on an artificially flattened ridge 1,300 feet above the Oaxaca Valley, Monte Alban, once the holy city of the Zapotec people, thrived for more than 1,500 years until its demise in the 15th century after the Aztecs invaded the valley.  Monte Alban is now one of Mexico’s most revered archaeological sites.

A stone pictograph at Mount Alban in Oaxaca, Mexico.

A variety of trees and plant life from Mount Alban in Oaxaca, Mexico.

Archaeologists have broken Monte Alban’s vibrant history into five periods, all of which are represented by the multitude of stone buildings, including an observatory and ball courts, which dot the expansive mountaintop ruins.

A panorama of the Oaxaca Valley from Mount Alban in Mexico.

If you are looking to escape the bustle of Oaxaca City (check out our photo essay: Street Photos–Oaxaca, Mexico), Mount Alban, located six miles from Oaxaca’s city center, is a great budget travel option for visitors to the colonial city. Tour shuttles run regularly from Oaxaca City and cost $38 pesos (appx $3) for a round trip; the journey is approximately 30 minutes each way.  Expect to spend at least two hours exploring the ruins.

Terraces of the ancient buildings of Mount Alban, Mexico.

A panorama of Mount Alban and the Oaxaca Valley in Mexico.

An entrance fee of $55 pesos (Appx. $4.40 USD) is also charged at the site. Monte Alban, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily.

A photo of a traveler in his 30s on a high terrace in Mount Alban, Mexico.

If you are heading to Oaxaca for the holiday or just interested in finding out more about the city, check out these previous posts: A Visit to the 20 Noviembre Market; The Wonderful, Beautiful Food of Oaxaca; Pretty Places–Oaxaca; Review of Hostal Del Mercado.

Subscribe to our feed & share the love!

Did you like this article? If so, consider retweeting or stumbling it. Better yet sign up for our RSS feed OR get the goodies delivered directly to your inbox! Consider yourself hugged. :)

*Please remember all photos on this website are copyrighted and property of BeersandBeans.com, NarikosNest.com & Bethany Salvon. Please do not use them without my permission. If you want to use one of them please contact me to ask first because I do love to share and I would be flattered. Thanks!

 


Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Related Topics

Randy Kalp is a semi-intrepid journalist traveling the world and missing his 7-pound hound. He smells of rustic cherries and smiles like a pineapple. He is the all round awesome sauce that keeps the wheels of Beers & Beans 'a spinning. He also loves the Lakers.

You May Also Like
33 comments

  1. Fantastic photos, I actually didn`t get out there because I was so busy eating in Oaxaca!

  2. Wow, these pictures are insanely gorgeous!!! I’ve always had such as strong desire to visit Oaxaca, now more than ever!

    1. You should totally try to go for Day of the Dead. It was seriously I great place and one of the best trips I have ever taken. Loved LOVED, loved it. @Andi,

  3. Beautiful photos! I love high contrasts.
    And it definitely makes me want to visit Oaxaca really bad!

  4. Beautiful as always Beth! I have to admit though, I think these are some of my favorite. Love the greens!

    1. Yeah, it was quite a cool place. Although I got really lucky with the big, storm clouds rolling through! @Erica,

  6. Love the vibrancy of color and sky in these photos! Looks like an great place to take a day trip!

    1. Thanks Kyle! Coming from you that is a real compliment! I love your wedding work! @Kyle,

  9. Wow, beautiful collection of the photos.When you sya tour shuttle, is it just the bus or it’s a guided tour?

    1. No, it wasn’t a guided tour just a tour bus that brings you from the center of Oaxaca to Mt. Alban. Then you do your own thing and wander around. I think they have guided tours that you can buy though – which wouldn’t be bad since there is so much history in the area.@Sarah Wu,

  10. Wow! Great photos guys. Mexico never disappoints does it. If you are liking the high contrast feel you should try your hand at HDR. It would suit some of these photos perfectly.

    1. Yah, i have been fiddling with some HDR on some pics from Europe and I LOVE it. These weren’t taken w/ multiple exposures though. @Dave and Deb,

  12. Pingback: How can one travel first-class between cities in Mexico DF? | world travel tours

  15. Your pictures are gorgeous! What a talent. I do love the Ansel-Adams quality B&W photos too.

    1. Wow- Ansel Adams- Thank you for that awesome compliment! That may be the best compliment ever! @Charu,

  16. Great pictures, love the amazing clouds. I visited Mt. Alban 5 years ago, but didn’t capture such nice shots as you did. Hope to go back one day.

    1. Thanks so much for reading and commenting Nestor! I too, want to go back, I loved that area.@Nestor,

  18. Pingback: How To Become A Tequila Connoisseur for under $40 | Travel Articles Directory

Comments are closed.