OAXACA HANDMADE
Oaxaca City, the Central Valley & Mixteca Highlands
January 16 - 25, 2024
Discover the exciting confluence of old and new Mexico and gain a deeper understanding of this vivid, richly-layered country. We will explore how designers and artisans are working to create an original, contemporary Mexican aesthetic rooted in the country’s traditional textile and handcraft traditions—both indigenous and mestizo.
We will explore the remote Mixteca Region of Oaxaca where indigenous communities still make and wear traditional textiles. The trip then moves to delightful Oaxaca City, our base for exploring the Central Valley, known for its weaving and craft centers, stunning pre-hispanic archeological sites, and vibrant cultural and food scene.
DATE:
November 30 - December 9, 2026
COST & DETAILS:
$
Limited to 12 participants
$1,500 deposit due upon registration / Final payment due TBD
Tour begins and ends in Oaxaca City
Please request itinerary for more detailed information about cancellation policy, insurance, etc
This price includes:
An expert bilingual guide plus a tour host
Accommodation
Workshop, studio tour and artisan fees
Most meals, including tips
Local transport in private van
Entry fees
Does not include:
International airfare
Transfers to and from airport
Personal shopping
Alcoholic drinks
Some dinners (as detailed on itinerary)
Optional tips for guide, hotel staff and driver
PART 1: MIXTECA REGION OF OAXACA
(3 nights)
From Oaxaca, we'll drive over a mountain pass with views of the grand volcanoes of Ixtacihuitl and Popocatepetl, then through the high Puebla plains, 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 well 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. We will enjoy homemade lunch at a weaver's mountaintop log-cabin home
Accommodation: 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.
OUR EXPERT LOCAL GUIDE
We’re thrilled to have Ana Paula Fuentes as our guide. A Mexico City native and the founding director of the Museo Textil de Oaxaca, Ana Paula is an expert in Mexican textiles who has strong relationships with the artisans we will visit.
PART 2: OAXACA CITY & THE CENTRAL VALLEY
(5 nights)
Oaxaca City is a delightful, small city with beautiful colonial architecture; fascinating museums and galleries; excellent artisanal shops; outstanding regional food; and a lively arts and design scene. From here we'll take day-trips to explore the Central Valley, situated within the Sierra Madre Mountains and home to the indigenous Zapotec.
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: 3-star boutique hotel in Oaxaca City
You may want to spend more time in Oaxaca City at the end of the tour so that you can visit the classic sights we won't have time to see on our itinerary.
TESTIMONIAL
“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!”
— Kathryn Harris