NOUVEAU MAYAN WEAVERS
Chiapas, Mexico March 1 - 8, 2025
We’re thrilled to partner with El Camino de los Altos (ECLA) to introduce you to contemporary Mayan weaving of the Chiapas highlands of southern Mexico. With vibrant San Cristóbal de las Casas as our base, we’ll embark on day-trips to highland villages where we’ll meet women artisans who are part of this innovative cooperative rooted in Mayan textile traditions.
Throughout Chiapas, cultural identity is expressed through clothing. We’ll visit three different indigenous communities, each with a distinctive aesthetic and way of dressing, reflecting the ethnic identity and shared history of its wearers. Garments are made by hand and are worn with pride. In addition to learning about these enduring textiles, and how they have changed over time, we’ll gain insight into the unique contributions each community makes to ECLA.
Highlights include:
The rare and meaningful opportunity to meet traditional artisans: we’ll visit the home workshops of women who are part of the ECLA cooperative and they will share their knowledge of traditional weaving, dyeing and embroidery
Gaining a behind-the-scenes look at a successful cross-cultural design collaboration and learning about ECLA’s impact on women artisans, their families and communities
Getting to know San Cristóbal de las Casas, a handsome colonial city which is brimming with excellent museums, markets, artisan shops and restaurants
Learning about the history of Mayan textiles by visiting the Mayan Textile Museum and other museums with our expert guide
Visiting other contemporary design studios based in San Cristóbal de las Casas to learn about various design collaborations drawing on indigenous textile traditions
Accommodation: Seven nights in a three-star boutique hotel in San Cristóbal de las Casas
EL CAMINO DE LOS ALTOS
El Camino de los Altos (ECLA), meaning the highland road, is a unique collaboration between Mayan artisans and French designers, founded in 1996. Today, the cooperative comprises 130 members, all women, who are expert weavers, dyers and embroiderers. In collaboration with a team of French designers, they produce an elegant line of interior textiles for a global market, drawing on their unique artistic heritage.
“Touring the creative heart of Mexico, our amiable small group was introduced not only to immense visual beauty but also the welcoming makers of such splendid objects. Always well organized but not too exhausting, the tour exposed us to the delicious regional cuisine and an overview of the history of the area. I personally feel this tour was life changing. I have fallen in love with Mexico, an unexpected but wonderful outcome. It is a unique tour that can have that effect on a seasoned traveler!”
DATES:
March 1 - 8, 2025 (7 nights)
COST & DETAILS:
$3,800 pp based on double occupancy / $550 single supplement
Min 8 & Max 13 participants
$1,500 deposit upon registration / Final payment Dec 1, 2024
Tour begins and ends in San Cristóbal de las Casas
Please request the itinerary for more detailed information
This price includes:
Two bilingual guides (a textile expert and a local guide) plus a tour host
Accommodation
Workshop and artisan fees; entry fees
Most meals, including tips
Local transport in private van
Transfer from Tuxtla Gutiérrez International Airport upon arrival
Does not include:
International airfare
Travel insurance (strongly recommended)
Transfer to Tuxtla Gutiérrez International Airport upon departure
Personal shopping and alcoholic drinks
Some dinners (as detailed on itinerary)
Optional tips for guide, hotel staff and driver
OUR EXPERT GUIDE
We’re thrilled to have Ana Paula Fuentes as our guide. A Mexico City native and founding director of the Museo Textil de Oaxaca, Ana Paula is an expert in Mexican textiles. She worked at ECLA & has strong relationships with the artisans we’ll visit.
