Which one to choose in Oaxaca
Two ancient sites in Oaxaca. Atzompa has no online ticket listed; Yagul has 4 tickets and tours to book. The table and the two notes below put them side by side; the full pages have what to see, the ticket and the timing for each.
Oaxaca, Mexico
Atzompa is a Zapotec hilltop city above the Oaxaca valley, a satellite of Monte Alban that flourished in the Late Classic period, roughly AD 650 to 850. Opened to visitors only in 2012, it has plazas, house compounds and three ball courts, one of the largest in the valley. It is quiet, cheap and has wide views over Oaxaca city.
Oaxaca, Mexico
Yagul is a Zapotec hilltop city in the Tlacolula valley, about 36 km east of Oaxaca, crowned by a fortress with views over the whole valley. It holds the largest ball court in the Valley of Oaxaca and a maze-like palace of six patios. Nearby caves form part of a UNESCO site recording early farming in the Americas.
| Atzompa | Yagul | |
|---|---|---|
| Type | Ancient City | Ancient City |
| Civilisation | Mesoamerican | Mesoamerican |
| Founded | AD 650 | 1250 |
| Entry | Small INAH entry fee paid at the gate | Small INAH fee at the gate; Mexican residents free Sundays |
| Hours | Daytime hours, roughly 10 am to 5 pm; confirm with INAH before you go | Usually 8 am to 5 pm, last entry about 4 pm; check INAH notices |
| Time needed | 1 to 2 hours | 1.5 to 2 hours |
| Booking | No booking; pay at the gate | Pay at the gate; no booking needed |
| UNESCO | yes | yes |
| Tickets and tours on GetYourGuide | none listed | 4 |