Sight guide · Oaxaca · Mexico
Visiting Cerro del Fortín
The hill on the northwest edge of the centre holds the open-air auditorium where the Guelaguetza is staged and a long stairway that climbs past viewpoints over the city's domes towards the mountains.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: No machine-readable author provided. João Sousa assumed (based on copyright claims)., CC BY-SA 3.0
Quick answer
Cerro del Fortín is a viewpoint in Barrio de la Soledad, Oaxaca. Allow 1–1.5 hours; it is free. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Viewpoint
- Area
- Barrio de la Soledad
- Time needed
- 1–1.5 hours
- Cost
- Free
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- free, views, outdoors and active
- Best months
- December–February
About Cerro del Fortín
The hill on the northwest edge of the centre holds the open-air auditorium where the Guelaguetza is staged and a long stairway that climbs past viewpoints over the city's domes towards the mountains. A monument to Benito Juárez overlooks the city from the slopes.
Tip: Climb in the late afternoon for sunset views, and come down before dark; take a taxi up if you want to save your legs.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 1–1.5 hours.
- Cost: Free — no ticket needed for the main area.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Barrio de la Soledad, western centre around the basilica and its ice-cream stands.
Best time to visit Cerro del Fortín
Cerro del Fortín is outdoors, so weather matters most. The driest, most comfortable months are:
- January: 27°C (81°F) highs, about 1 rainy days, moderate crowds.
- December: 27°C (81°F) highs, about 1 rainy days, busy crowds.
- February: 29°C (84°F) highs, about 1 rainy days, quiet crowds.
For the view at golden hour: in mid-January the sun sets at about 18:12 local time (calculated for Oaxaca).
When to visit Oaxaca has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
Cerro del Fortín is not on our short itineraries, so plan it as an extra once you have seen Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán and Museo de las Culturas de Oaxaca.
- No. 13 of the 17 sights in our Oaxaca things-to-do list.
- Day 5 of the 5-day plan.
- Listed in free things to do in Oaxaca.
Near Cerro del Fortín
Also in Barrio de la Soledad, so you can walk between them:
- Basílica de la Soledad — 45 minutes, free
If you like Cerro del Fortín
- Monte Albán — Monte Albán, 2–3 hours
Staying near Cerro del Fortín
Stay in Barrio de la Soledad ($) to walk here: western centre around the basilica and its ice-cream stands. All areas to stay in Oaxaca.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at Cerro del Fortín?
Plan 1–1.5 hours. With Basílica de la Soledad nearby, it fits a half-day in Barrio de la Soledad.
+Is Cerro del Fortín free?
Yes, it is free to visit.
+When is the best time to visit Cerro del Fortín?
December–February for the most comfortable weather. Climb in the late afternoon for sunset views, and come down before dark; take a taxi up if you want to save your legs.
+Do I need to book Cerro del Fortín in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.