The original name is not known, some proposals are Danibaan or "Holy Mountain", "Jaguar Hill" Danibéeje or "Tiger Hill". Others say it refers to the white flowers of trees that cover the hill cazahuate. Cultural significance was one of the most important cities in Mesoamerica. It was founded in 500 BC on top of a mountain in the heart of the Central Valley of Oaxaca and served as capital of the Zapotec since the beginning of our era to the 800 d. C. At the time of Monte Alban further development grew to about 35,000 inhabitants, who lived mostly in the terraced slopes of the mountain dedicated to agriculture. For the classic period are notorious ties with Teotihuacan. In Monte Alban Teotihuacan influence can be seen in its architecture, ceramics and murals among others. At the end of the Early Classic Teotihuacán link with breaks and Zapotec territorial political organization reaches the maximum level of development but also of social inequality (González Licon 2011). For Posclásico the power of Monte Alban as a hegemonic city was totally destroyed, and the towns of the central valleys are influenced by the advent of the Mixtec groups. Monte Alban is no exception, appreciating this influence in the famous tomb 7 discovered by Alfonso Caso in 1932. The archaeological site of Monte Alban was declared by UNESCO in conjunction with the Historic Center of Oaxaca City Cultural Heritage of Humanity December 11, 1987. The protected area covers INAH an envelope polygonal 2078 hectares, covering the municipalities of Santa Cruz Xoxocotlan, Oaxaca, Santa María Atzompa and San Pedro Ixtlahuaca.

Services available in the area: The archaeological site has museum, cafe / restaurant, toilets, sale of publications, jewelry and crafts.

Care programs for students and faculty appointment.

Rest areas, tours, health on the side of the South Platform views. Dumps.Parking for cars and buses. Taxi and tour bus service takes visitors to the area.

Hours: Open 365 days a year from 8 am to 5 pm.

Contact: Director of the Archaeological Zone. Dr. Ernesto Gonzalez Licon.

Chief of Security. C. Jesus Gonzalez Oaxaca INAH Center. Pino Suarez 715 Centro, Oaxaca. 01 (951) 513-3346 and 513- 3352.

Monte Albán (daily 9am–5pm) is just 9km southwest of Oaxaca, up a steeply switchbacking road. There are two principal competitors for the Monte Alban run, both based on Calle Mina and both offering similar minibus services; compare prices first as these sometimes differ.

Departures usually run every thirty minutes from 8.30am to 3.30pm, while official returns start at noon and finish at 5pm you’ll normally be allocated a fixed return time, giving three hours at the site (8.30am–noon, 9.30am–1pm and so on), but it’s OK to come back before noon if you finish early, or take a different bus in the afternoon if you stay longer (if there’s space). Both companies also run tours of the whole region, and have English-speaking staff.

Heading back it’s sometimes possible to hitch a ride or find a taxi, and walking is also a realistic option: more than two hours, but downhill almost all the way – get a guard to show you the path. The route is an eye-opening experience, veering through slum dwellings that are a far cry from the comforts of much of the city below. There’s a car park, restaurant and souvenir shop by the entrance, and a small museum in the same complex: the collection is tiny, but there are some important finds on display, including the carvings of the “dancers”, some intricate sculptures, ceramics and some gruesome mutilated skulls, presumably victims of the Zapotecs.

Monte Alban is located 8 kilometers west of the city of Oaxaca. From this point take the road to San Pedro Ixtlahuaca, immediately sign indicating the new paved road, "observed Dr. Ignacio Bernal, "which after crossing the river Atoyac goes directly to the archaeological site. From the intersection with this new access you can go to the village of Atzompa. The former, more narrow, curved and slow, way off the road to Zaachila Xoxocotlán and crossing the Atoyac by Porfirio Diaz bridge, south of the city. The roads are known as "Old Highway" and "new road".