OAXACA HANDMADE
Oaxaca City, the Central Valley & Mixteca Highlands
November 30 - December 9, 2026
Experience the dynamic collision of heritage and modernity in Mexico. Join us as we uncover how today's artisans and designers are reimagining ancestral indigenous techniques to craft a contemporary Mexican aesthetic.
In Oaxaca City, we'll visit the design studios, artisan shops, museums and restaurants that make the city so vibrant. Oaxaca City is also our base for exploring the Central Valley, known for its weaving and craft centers and pre-Hispanic archeological sites. A highlight of the trip is traveling to the remote Mixteca Alta in the highlands of western Oaxaca to meet indigenous artisans who make and wear heritage textiles.
DATES:
November 30 - December 9, 2026 (9 nights/10 days)
COST & DETAILS:
$5,200 per person based on double occupancy / $700 single supplement
Limited to 15 participants
$1,500 deposit due upon registration / Final payment due September 21, 2026
Tour begins and ends in Oaxaca City
Please request full itinerary for more detailed information about cancellation policy, insurance, etc
This price includes:
Two expert bilingual guides plus a tour host
Accommodation
Workshop, studio-tour, artisan, and entry fees
Most meals, including tips
Local transport in a private van
Does not include:
International airfare
Travel/medical insurance
Transfers to and from airport
Personal shopping
Alcoholic drinks
Some dinners (as detailed on itinerary)
Optional tips for guide, hotel staff and driver
OAXACA CITY & THE CENTRAL VALLEY
Oaxaca is a vibrant city in southern Mexico that consistently tops travelers' lists of favorite destinations. Its historic center, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, is home to fascinating museums, excellent artisan shops, outstanding regional food, and a lively arts and design scene. From our base in Oaxaca City, we'll take day-trips to explore the Central Valley, nestled within the Sierra Madre Mountains and home to the indigenous Zapotec people.
Highlights include:
Visit a renowned family of dyers and weavers in the famous rug weaving village of Teotitlán del Valle and learn about cochineal dyeing, which is native to the area
Enjoy a private tour of the Museo Textil de Oaxaca with our guide, who was the museum's founding director
Visit the Mitla archeological site to see where Zapotec weavers have drawn inspiration for their geometric designs
Meet individuals and organizations in Oaxaca City working to create new opportunities for artisans in the area
Accommodation: Five nights in a locally-owned 3-star boutique hotel in Oaxaca City
INTRODUCING OUR GUIDE
This is a special opportunity to dive deep into Oaxaca with a truly wonderful and knowledgeable guide. Originally from Mexico City, Ana Paula Fuentes (pictured on the right) was the founding director of the Museo Textil de Oaxaca. She has deep connections in the artisan and design world. She has worked for several non-profit artisan cooperatives in Mexico and as a consultant on projects for international organizations and brands. Ana Paula is an avid photographer and a generous, warm host who will make you fall in love with Oaxaca!
MIXTECA ALTA (THE WESTERN HIGHLANDS)
From Oaxaca, we'll drive north through Yanhuitlan, once a center for silk cultivation and trade, on our way to explore the remote Mixteca Region of western Oaxaca. This region is home to indigenous Mixtec and Trique communities who make and wear traditional textiles.
Highlights include:
Venture off-the-beaten-track to explore a slice of rural life in Mexico inaccessible to most travelers
Visit a Mixtec village where women still wear distinctive, hand-embroidered blouses with figurative designs paired with pleated skirts and bright beaded necklaces
Visit a Trique village where women still weave and wear full-length red huipiles. A spectacular sight, this is one of the last villages in Oaxaca where almost all women still dress traditionally.
Enjoy home-cooked lunches at the homes of the artisans we’ll visit
Accommodation: Three nights in a basic but comfortable plaza-front hotel in Tlaxiaco
We will be staying in basic (but clean and safe) accommodation & visiting poor, rural areas. Please come with a sense of adventure & also be aware that we will be driving on winding dirt roads.
“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!”