ZONA ARQUEOLÓGICA DE MITLA — Attraction in Oaxaca

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ A Fascinating Glimpse into Zapotec History

The Mitla Archaeological Zone is an absolute must-visit for history lovers and anyone wanting to experience the rich cultural heritage of Oaxaca. Unlike other sites, Mitla is unique because of its incredibly well-preserved geometric stone mosaics, which are some of the most intricate and detailed in all of Mesoamerica.

Walking through the site, you can explore impressive tombs, ancient courtyards, and beautifully designed walls, all showcasing the architectural brilliance of the Zapotec civilization. The precision of the stonework—without mortar—is mind-blowing and speaks to the advanced engineering skills of the time.

The surrounding town adds to the charm, with traditional markets, mezcal tastings, and local artisans selling handcrafted textiles and pottery. It’s less crowded than Monte Albán, making it a more intimate and immersive experience.

If you're in Oaxaca, Mitla is a must-see for its stunning artistry, deep historical significance, and breathtaking mountain backdrop. Highly...

Mitla is a small ancient ruins site located in the town of the same name, outside of Oaxaca City.

These ruins were one of the stops along the tour that I took which was a full-day featuring the Arbol del Tule, a mezcal factory, rug weaving demonstration in Teotitlan del Valle, Hierve el Agua and Mitla.

Our guide walked us through the archeological site and explained the history of the various structures. There were gorgeous and detailed carvings of different symbols along the tops of the structures.

One of the best parts of the ruins was climbing down into the tombs and tunnels beneath the ruins. It was small and kind of creepy, but really interesting to see and learn about.

There were beautiful views of the surrounding mountains from Mitla and lots of huge cacti and desert plants growing around the ruins.

Mitla was an interesting, small and well preserved ruins site to explore with gorgeous ancient architecture and ornate carvings.

Visited in...

Absolutely stunning and well-preserved details and carved reliefs on these pyramid structures. A Spanish cathedral was built on top of one of the ancient structures, so it makes it difficult to tell exactly what was in that particular spot. All I know is that its ancient foundation was still intact.

There are several pyramids, courtyards, water reservoirs, and drainage canals present on site. Some of the stone foundations left behind indicate that these ancient people lived in either partially wooden buildings or adobe or a combination thereof. According to the tour guides, this site was home to a city of 25,000.

Archeologists have done an incredible job restoring, preserving, and extrapolating data from what they could gather.

The Spanish were more than colonialists. They were conquerors of whole societies that existed for thousands of years, all in the name of Christ.

Something tells me Jesus would have frowned upon...