Yagul

Yagul is an archaeological site in Oaxaca's hills built across multiple levels with temples, homes, and defensive walls. The structures are arranged at different heights and reveal how residents organized their settlement into distinct zones.

After Monte Albán declined around 800 CE, this place grew into a major Zapotec center. The defensive walls suggest residents built them during a time of regional conflict to protect their community.

The name reflects its importance as a settlement in the Zapotec world. Walking through the ruins today, you can see how the community was organized around temples and residential quarters that still define the layout.

The site is open daily from sunrise to sunset and requires sturdy footwear because of slopes and rocky paths. Local guides at the entrance can help you navigate and explain what you are seeing.

The ball court here is the largest in the region and ranks among the biggest in all of Mesoamerica. The game played there held religious and political meaning for Zapotec society beyond simple entertainment.

Part of: Prehistoric Caves of Yagul and Mitla in the Central Valley of Oaxaca

GPS coordinates: 16.95836,-96.45014

Latest update: December 6, 2025 16:04