Yes, and most travelers do. Mitla pairs naturally with the petrified waterfall formations at Hierve el Agua and the weaving village of Teotitlan del Valle, often with a stop at a local mezcal palenque along the way. A private transfer lets you set your own order and pace instead of following a fixed group tour route.
Mitla sits about 44 km (27 miles) from Oaxaca de Juarez, with a drive time of roughly 45 minutes to an hour depending on traffic. A private transfer takes you straight there on your own schedule, without the wait times and transfers of local buses or colectivos.
Mitla is compact compared to larger sites like Monte Alban, so most travelers spend approximately 1 to 1.5 hours walking through the main groups and tomb areas. That leaves plenty of time in a single day to pair it with other Oaxaca valley stops.
Yes, the modern town surrounding the ruins is worth a short wander on its own, with a laid-back, authentic feel. Mitla is also known for its mezcal, so sampling a few varieties at a local shop or distillery is a popular way to round out the visit.
Don't miss the Column Group, where noble burial tunnels lead to a column local legend says can reveal how long you have left to live. Also worth seeing are the mosaic-covered palace panels and the Church of San Pablo, built directly from stones taken from the ancient city after its destruction in 1553.
Mitla was the Zapotec's most important religious center, home to a high priest the Spanish likened to a pope. Its signature feature is unlike anything else in Mesoamerica: intricate geometric mosaics made from thousands of individually cut stones, fitted together without any mortar. Combined with the site's bright red walls, it feels distinct from the pyramids at nearby Monte Alban.
