Imperio Monte Albán, Ex Convento de Cuilapan y Artesanías locales

This full-day excursion from Oaxaca (480 minutes in the itinerary) visits four places in the Central Valleys: the archaeological site of Monte Albán, the artisan village of San Antonio Arrazola, the former convent of Cuilapam de Guerrero and the black pottery workshops of San Bartolo Coyotepec, with a lunch stop at a buffet restaurant. The group travels by coach with a professional English- and Spanish-speaking guide, and round-trip hotel transport is included.

The day begins at Monte Albán, declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987, where you spend about 150 minutes discovering the buildings of this ancient Zapotec city. The listing gives the entrance fee as 215 pesos for foreigners and 105 pesos for Mexican nationals; it is not included in the price.

The group then continues to San Antonio Arrazola, where local artisans create the fantastic wooden figures known as alebrijes. This stop lasts around 45 minutes. After it comes the former convent of Cuilapam de Guerrero, from the 16th century, which the listing calls unique in the Oaxaca valleys for its open chapel. The visit lasts about an hour, and the convent’s museum costs an extra 145 pesos per person if you want to see it.

The last stop is San Bartolo Coyotepec, for black pottery crafts, the process behind them and an area where you can buy clay pieces. Near the site, the group also stops at a buffet restaurant to eat and rest for about an hour, priced at 220 pesos plus drinks according to the listing.

The tour suits travelers with at least a moderate level of physical fitness. It is not recommended for people with poor cardiovascular health, and the listing also flags altitude problems or recurring dizziness. The vehicle and transport options are wheelchair accessible; infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, specialized infant seats are available, service animals are allowed and public transportation is nearby.

Included are travel insurance, an air-conditioned vehicle and the bilingual guide. Not included are gratuities, brunch and other meals, and the tickets to Monte Albán and Cuilapam. No meeting point is given, so confirm pick-up details when you book.