Oaxaca

Oaxaca, Mexico

Textile and Food Tour

March 26 to April 4, 2024

TEXTILE AND FOOD TOUR – first time offering this tour and it will take place during Semana Santa (Holy Week)

Tour is running - only 4 spaces remaining

This small group tour has it all. Visits to a weaving workshop, backstrap weaving co-op, hands on Oaxacan embroidery workshop, local markets where we will see many local textiles, a papermaking workshop, walking tours of downtown Oaxaca markets, hands on cooking class, mezcal making demo with a tasting and so much more.

When we travel to the villages you will see the craft work that reflects their wonderful culture and creativity is everywhere. You will experience the markets which come alive with sights, smells and sounds that one will never forget. The markets have vast selections of all types of crafts and there is a very lively gallery scene in downtown.

Oaxaca (Wah-Hah-Kah) is the ancient home of the Zapotec and Mixtec civilizations, builders of Monte Alban and Mitla. It is a charming colonial city, with grand churches, museums and public buildings. The zocalo (town square) is a place where people relax, listen to the mariachi bands and have a bite to eat and drink.

We stay at a bed and breakfast that is owned by an American and is located only a few minutes walk to the town square. The rooms are set around a verandah with flower filled gardens and a friendly staff who gives personal service and prepares delicious home style meals.

Includes*:

Lodging
Most meals (see itinerary)
Group ground transportation to/from airport
Daily tours with local guide and private van (see itinerary)
Admissions to museums, churches and archaeological sites.
Hands on embroidery workshop
Cooking Class
Tips for the Guides and Drivers

Overview

Dates: March 26 - April 4, 2024

Duration: 10 days, 9 nights

Price:

$2550 per person (double occupancy) 2 people in one room
$2650 per person (single occupancy "if available" small single room w/private bath)
$2950 (one person in a double room)

Notes:

Begins and ends at the Oaxaca Airport
Limited to 12 people and will run with a minimum of 6 people.
Small Single rooms are very limited

Registration Form

ITINERARY

Tuesday, March 26 (D)

Travel Day - Arrive in Oaxaca, Mexico. We will make our way via taxi/van to the B&B which will be our home for the next 9 days. Group pickup at the airport included. Evening meal at B&B.

Wednesday, March 27 (B,L)

Breakfast at the B&B. Put on your walking shoes. Today we head out for a Walking Tour of the City Markets which includes Benito Juarez Market, 20 de Noviembre Market, Mercado de Artesanias. We stop at a chocolate store to see how they make Oaxacan chocolate. Then walk up the Alcala (pedestrian walkway) with stops by the Zocalo, Cathedral and Santo Domingo Church. Next will be a visit to LaCochesa – the organic market. Lunch along the way. On our walk back to the B&B we will stop by the Inglesia La Soledad plaza for a tasting of nieves (ice cream). Dinner on your own.

Thursday, March 28 (B,L)

Breakfast at the B&B. Today we will meet at the La Merced Market which is the beginning point for our Hands On Cooking Class. We tour this local market and pick up some final ingredients for today’s class. Then head over to our class location, put on aprons, roll up our sleeves, and start to prepare some tasty Oaxaca food. Of course, this will be our lunch. Balance of the day is free. Dinner on your own.

Friday, March 29 (B) Good Friday

Breakfast at the B&B. It’s Good Friday and today is a free day so you can view any processions and festivities scheduled in the historic area. More information will be provided to the group as these activities are scheduled. Lunch and dinner on your own.

Saturday, March 30 (B,L)

Breakfast at the B&B. This morning we head out to the weaving village of Teotitlan del Valle. In the morning we will visit the town church and have our personal local guide take us through the Community Cultural Center. Then on to a weaver’s workshop for a demonstration of the spinning, dyeing and weaving processes. After lunch we head to San Marcos Tlapazola to visit the potters who make the red clay pottery used primarily for cooking (comals and other vessels). Dinner on your own.

Sunday, March 31 (B,L) Easter

Breakfast at the B&B. It’s Sunday, so that means it is time to drive out to Tlacolula for the Sunday market. Our guide is well versed in the textiles from this area and will take us to some of her special favorite stalls, including the rebozo weavers, apron vendors and some incredibly beautiful hand embroidered blouses. Free time in the market to make your purchases before we head for lunch. This afternoon we visit a Mezcal making factory and have the opportunity to sample several different mezcals. If time permits and the site is open, we will stop at the small archaeological site of Lambityeco. Dinner on your own.

Monday, April 1 (B,L)

We have another very busy day planned, there is so much to do in Oaxaca. First stop today will be Monte Alban, Oaxaca’s major archaeological site where we have our own personal tour guide. This site was the elite center of Zapotec culture from 500 BC to 800 AD, built on a mountaintop 500 meters above the Oaxaca valley and has a small, educational museum. Lunch at a roadside restaurant. In the afternoon, we head to San Augustin Elta to learn about the history of the papermaking process followed by a hands on papermaking workshop that ends with everyone making a lithograph. Dinner on your own.

Tuesday, April 2 (B,L)

Breakfast at the B&B. Today we explore the Southern Valley and our first stop is the city of Ocotlan, to visit the town’s beautiful church and museum with its incredible display of Rodolfo Morales collages and painted pillars. Next stop of the day is the weaving village of San Tomas Jalietza where you will have time to wander through the village outdoor textile market and see how they weave using the pre-hispanic backstrap loom to make placemats, table runners, handbags and belts. Lunch at a roadside restaurant. Our final stop of the day will be in San Antonino where they specialize in intricate embroidery featuring a floral motif. These blouses and dresses are embroidered, then smocked and finally have a crocheted accent added around the neck and sleeves. This is an extremely time consuming process and we will be able to try our hands at the embroidery process. Dinner on your own.

Wednesday, April 3 (B,D)

Today will be entirely at your own pace. Revisit the Benito Juarez Market with its great selection of huipiles, visit the incredible Textile Museum of Oaxaca with it’s every changing exhibits, stroll the streets to visit the shops and galleries or just relax and take in the sights of the Zocalo. Tonight will be our Final Group Dinner.

Thursday, April 4 (B)

Departure to the airport and travel back to the United States.

Group transportation to the airport.

B - Breakfast

L - Lunch - includes non-alcoholic beverages

D - Dinner

*Excludes:

Airfare
Travel insurance
Alcoholic beverages
Meals not included in itinerary
Non-group transportation to/from airport
Medical expenses
Personal purchases