Santa Cruz Xitla is a municipality and a town in the Southern Highlands of the state of Oaxaca, Mexico. In 2005 it had a population of 3,933 inhabitants, mostly belonging to the Zapotec ethnic group. The name of Xitla is of Nahuatl origin and means "place of stars". The town of Santa Cruz Xitla was founded at the beginning of the 17th century by Zapotec people from the town of Tlacolula. The municipality is located in the Sierra Madre del Sur. The land is therefore bumpy, but in the municipal seat it is softer and more conducive to agriculture. The municipal seat is located at 1 820 m asl, surrounded by mountains with some forests.
The climate is temperate most of the year with temperatures tending to cool during the winter. The economy of the municipality is based on subsistence agriculture. Basic grains are grown, but also temperate fruits, vegetables and flowers. There are some handicraft activities of the palm, such as petates or baskets. The closest city is Miahuatlán de Porfirio Díaz, only 14 km away. However, the communication channels. There are preschool, elementary and high school distance schools. Administratively, it is part of the district of Miahuatlán. Its capital is the town of Santa Cruz Xitla, where the great majority of the population sits. It has 14 more sparsely populated towns. The municipality is governed by a system of indigenous customs and uses.