OAXACA CITY, MEXICO
The Crafts Of Oaxaca with Weaving + Printmaking Workshops
November 13 - 19, 2024
AND
November 7 - 13, 2024
This Ace Camp is designed to introduce you to the rich traditions, cultures + crafts that make up the vibrant state of Oaxaca. You’ll visit some of the most beautiful and important cultural spaces in the country and witness the traditions of making native crafts.
You will learn about color design for weaving and will head on a journey to learn the skill and time it takes to weave a rug and textiles with natural plant dyeing. You’ll try your hand at weaving and printmaking. We will travel out of Oaxaca City and visit one of the oldest local markets - Tlacolua along with visiting the workshops to learn about clay pottery and alebrijes.
And don’t forget the extraordinary foodie paradise of indigenous eats you will find here. Oaxaca is famous for its masa-based dishes, including tlayudas (jumbo-size tortillas topped with refried beans and meat) and tamales (the Oaxacan ones are flatter than usual and are wrapped in green banana leaves instead of corn husks). Think sweet corn tamales, molé tamales with sweet prunes wrapped in banana leaves, fresh pastries, fruit, salty Oaxacan cheese, and a full selection of fresh juices from guava, to pineapple, to cilantro. After years of spending time in Oaxaca, Ace Camps Travel has found the best restaurants with extraordinary food and we will take you there.
Oaxaca City is protected by the UNESCO world heritage convention and is revered as the culinary capital of Mexico. It is packed with inexpensive markets and elegant five-star restaurants serving some of the tastiest food in the world.
Trip Itinerary, Details + Important Trip Notes below.
DATES
November 7 - 13, 2024 ∙ 7 Days, 6 Nights
November 13 - 19, 2024 ∙ 7 Days, 6 Nights
This Ace Camp is currently SOLD OUT, you can register for the WAITLIST below for priority notification should a place become available:
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS INCLUDE
Hands-on back strap weaving workshop with a skilled local expert
A workshop where you learn about printmaking
A guided tour with one of the best guides in Oaxaca. They will take us to visit weavers, natural textile dye workshops, Teotitlan, and the famous candle maker - Doña Viviana Alávez
A guided crafts tour of San Martin Tilcajete - best known for its production of “Alebrijes”+ Oaxaca Pottery
A trip to the Tlacolula Market - this is one of the oldest and largest local markets in Oaxaca
Discover the Crafts of Oaxaca
The traditions of Mexico’s colourful folk art and handicrafts have been passed down through generations. Today, artists still use the same techniques and skills that were used by the ancestors hundred of years ago.
One of the predominant craft cultures in Oaxaca is textiles, made from cotton, wool and other fibers and produced on backstrap looms, which date back to the early pre-Hispanic period. This form of weaving has been dominated by women since that time. Traditional clothing items such as huipils are still made on backstrap looms, while the European looms are used to produce larger and heavier items such as rugs, ponchos and blankets. Most items are produced with cotton or wool fibers, although some maguey fibers can be found and palm fronds are used to produce mats and hats.
In addition to the vibrant handmade crafts of the region, Oaxaca City is a force to be reckoned with when it comes to their art galleries. From smaller independent galleries to the larger more famous ones that display pieces from renowned artists, the art scene in Oaxaca is absolutely one of the things you must see. We highly recommend a visit to the well-known contemporary art stronghold MACO.
Day by Day Itinerary
Day 1
Travel Day
Welcome to Oaxaca!
Make your way to our hotel in the city center. We will send you information closer to your departure with options for airport transfers. Please plan to arrive no later than 5 pm.
This evening we have a welcome dinner close to our hotel.
Day 2
This morning we make our way to our backstrap weaving workshop where we will learn the art of Tejido - a Mexican weaving technique ~ taught by a local indigenous weaver. Using the same method as the master weavers of Oaxaca, you will learn to make a small woven piece with your own design and color.
In the afternoon we continue with our weaving workshop and complete our loom projects. After class we make our way to the Oaxaca Textile Museum (Museo Textil de Oaxaca), you will have time to wander the museum on your own. On our return to the hotel, your tour manager will show you some of her favorite shops.
Lunch + Dinner with the group.
Day 3
Today we head to a local studio to learn about printmaking in Oaxaca. Many Oaxacan graphic artists use traditional block printing methods. The current printmaking goes back to the protests of 2006 in Oaxaca City when the young artists formed the group ASARO (Assembly of Revolutionary Artists of Oaxaca) and made prints supporting their political cause. Oaxaca is a vibrant center for the arts with a rich tradition in graphic arts. There are more than 20 active printmaking studios here.
Lunch + Dinner with the group.
Day 4
We have an early start this morning as we head to the Tlacolula market. The Tlacolula Sunday market has fantastic food, colorful artisans, plants, dried chilies, seeds, famous local products like barbacoa, pan de yema bread, forged ironworks, and pretty much anything else you can imagine.
Teotitlan del Valle is world-renowned for its colorful hand-woven rugs and naturally-dyed textiles. Our local guide will take us on a full day of learning all about the handicrafts of the area. A main aspect of the day includes getting a better understanding from artisans about their initiatives to revive cochineal in Oaxaca as a primary source of red dye. You will learn about various natural dyeing techniques and visit a natural dyeing workshop.
We will also visit Doña Viviana Alávez who will demonstrate how elaborate beeswax candles are made. At 74, Doña Viviana is a master of this timeless artisanal tradition. The first thing that strikes you is the inviting aroma of beeswax, filling the air with a warm scent akin to that of sweet honey.
Lunch + Dinner with the group.
Day 5
Today is a day on your own to explore the city or get out to visit some sites or go on an excursion. One of the essential things to do in Oaxaca is get lost wandering around the city’s many markets. You’ll find delicious local food at a low price as well as plenty of interesting souvenirs. One of the most popular things to do in Oaxaca is take a day trip out to the ruins at Monte Alban. Built by the Zapotecs, this is one of the most impressive archaeological sites in all of Latin America. If you love seeing and learning about the local flora and fauna when you travel, you’ll want to be sure to hit the botanical gardens - a short walk from the hotel. If you want to get out in nature, a day trip out to Hierve el Agua is a must. Here you’ll see amazing rock formations that resemble cascading waterfalls. It’s a great place to spend half a day hiking and enjoying nature.
Lunch + Dinner on your own.
Day 6
Today we experience a guided crafts tour of the two nearby villages of San Martin Tilcajete + San Bartolo Coyotepec.
San Martin Tilcajete is best known for its production of alebrijes {Mexican Folk Art Sculptures} we watch a demonstration and learn about how they are made with copal and painted with natural dyes in the workshop of Jacobo & María Ángeles.
Next, we visit the craft village of San Bartolo Coyotepec which is best known for its black clay pottery.
Lunch with the group
Dinner – on your own
You can stay and eat at our hotel either on the terrace or in the dining room or head out for a meal at a restaurant of your choice. We recommend ordering a smoky mescal margarita if staying at the hotel.
Day 7
After breakfast, we say a final adios and head our own way.
Thank you for joining us in Oaxaca! We can help you share rides to the airport or get you to your next destination.
Where We’re Staying
Hotel Azul Oaxaca is a tiny boutique hotel in the Oaxacan city center that’s a quiet showcase for the city’s modern design scene. The attention given to working with local artists means more than simply that Hotel Azul Oaxaca is just a well-designed hotel; it is a statement about the importance of Mexican design in the international landscape.
Every element of Hotel Azul Oaxaca has been conceptualized and produced by a Mexican artist. Cooly shadowed walkways leading to patios, cactus, and hidden retreats within the walls of Hotel Azul Oaxaca make for an environment open to the interpretation of each guest’s personal experience.
ROOMING OPTIONS
Please read below carefully and make your rooming selection on the booking page
Group Size: Minimum 7 guests and maximum 11 guests.
All Prices are in USD.
This Ace Camp is currently SOLD OUT, you can register for the WAITLIST below for priority notification should a place become available:
SHARED ROOMS PRICE
Room Notes: Shared rooms have 2 separate beds. You will share a room with one other guest for the duration of the trip. Important Note! Shared Room bathrooms may have a privacy curtain instead of a door.
PRIVATE ROOM PRICE
Room Note: You will have a private room for the duration of the trip
Important Trip Notes + Details
CULINARY NOTES + RESTRICTIONS
Please note that while we do our best to manage specific dietary concerns with prior knowledge, during certain meals, some dishes will be served family-style or served a specific way per local traditions and will not be possible to change or provide options for.
We cannot accommodate any dietary preferences if you do not advise us when you register.
Please contact us before you register if you have any questions or concerns regarding specific allergies.
THIS ACE CAMP INCLUDES
Six nights accommodation; hands-on weaving + printmaking workshops; exclusive guided tours with local guides; curated shopping tour; visit to Museo Textil; a trip to Tlacolula Market; Transportation while in Oaxaca to the various excursions; six breakfasts, four lunches, and four dinners.
WHAT’S NOT INCLUDED
International roundtrip airfare; Personal Travel Insurance: We require all participants to have personal travel insurance that at a minimum covers medical emergencies and cancellations; Alcoholic Drinks; transportation to the trip’s starting point hotel; activities not included in the trip itinerary; hotel incidentals including room service, expenses during free time; laundry service and hotel bar tabs; food and beverages not included in the itinerary.
ACE CAMPS TOUR MANAGER
An Ace Camps Tour Manager is a part of your group and is there to look out for your safety, to help resolve issues, and to make sure you get what you want from your trip. Your Tour Manager is not a local guide but will work with all local vendors and partners to insure the right combination of pace, information, and duration.
WHO IS THIS TRIP FOR?
This trip is for the open-minded traveler who is eager to learn and engage in working hands-on with local artisans.
This is an immersive adventure and best suited for those who enjoy traveling as a part of a small group.
TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS
Ace Camps will email you when it is time to make your travel arrangements. This email will be sent 60 days or more before your trip departs unless you book within 60 prior to the camp. We will also be sending you an Ace Camps Travel preparation document prior to your trip. It will include a detailed itinerary, arrival and departure information, a suggested packing list, useful country information and more.
HEALTH + SAFETY DISCLAIMER - including COVID
Please read our Health and Safety procedures in our FAQ’s.
While we strive to deliver all aspects of the included itinerary and specific accommodation, due to challenges some vendors may be facing, certain aspects of your Ace Camps Travel trip may be changed according to the situation beyond our control. In the small chance this does occur, we will work to offer comparable accommodations and/or activities when possible. Thank you for your understanding.
Individuals will be responsible for ensuring they are able to travel to the destination selected. Countries have various Covid-19 related entry requirements including but not limited to: providing proof you are fully vaccinated, taking a test before entry and after entry etc. You should be prepared to meet all necessary entry requirements. This may also include wearing masks in all public settings.
Ace Camps Travel, LLC. will not be responsible for refunding any lost trip funds if you have to miss your scheduled trip as you cannot meet the requirements determined by Ace Camps Travel, LLC. and the country you are visiting.
ACCESSIBILITY
Please note this tour includes several walking tours where the ground may be uneven such as cobblestones or gravel, you may be on your feet for a couple of hours at a time. We ask you are comfortable walking or standing for long periods.
WEATHER
November is a great time to visit Oaxaca, sunny skies are abundant as the rainy season has passed and daytime temperatures are generally very comfortable. During the day, short sleeves are advisable, but one is cautioned that the mornings, and of course night-time, can be cooler. We recommend packing layers and an umbrella or rain shell just incase.
SUPPLIES
All workshop supplies are included.
WHERE DOES THIS TRIP START + FINISH?
This trip starts and ends in Oaxaca City, Mexico. The closest airport would be Oaxaca-Xoxocotlan Airport (IATA code OAX) is 7 km (4.3 mi) south of Oaxaca city centre.
BOOKING TERMS + CANCELLATION POLICY
If you cancel on or before July 10th, 2024 and receive a full refund minus a $1000 USD per-person cancellation fee. If you cancel on or after July 11th, 2024 there is a 100% cancellation fee and no refunds will be issued.
Please ensure you read through our full Booking Terms + Cancellation Policy.
QUESTIONS + FAQ’S
If you have any further questions about this Ace Camp please feel free to contact us.
You can also read more FAQ’s here.