Oaxaca Artisanal Wool Textile Experience
Visit a local wool weaving collective and learn about traditional textiles from beginning to end from a local family in Teotitlan, Oaxaca
Item | Details |
---|---|
Meeting Point | Pickup at your Oaxaca City hotel |
End Point | Drop off at your Oaxaca City hotel |
Duration | 6-8 hours on average |
Physical Level | Low – this experience involves minimal movement for weaving and harvesting leaves |
Cultural Rating | Moderate – a good balance of cultural interactions, and engaging with a local family of textile producers |
Ages | 7+ (under 18 must be accompanied by a guardian/parent) |
Group Size | Private – Max 6 people per booking |
Itinerary for visiting the Wool Textile Weavers near Teotitlan del Valle
You will be picked up from your Oaxaca City hotel at 9:00 a.m. to get an early start at the weaving collective near the town of Teotitlan del Valle, which is internationally famous for its textiles.
We will visit one family in the farmland between Tlacolula and Teotitlan del Valle where their home and shop are located. The weaving home is approximately 45 minutes northeast of Oaxaca. We will learn their story and family history, along with how the textile collective was formed.
Upon arrival, you will receive a traditional Zapoteco welcome – the local indigenous group of this particular region. We will be spending the first half of the day learning about the process of how the sheep’s wool is turned into yarn, with hands-on practice and participation. You will also learn about how some of the natural dyes are made, and be able to help dye some of the yarn yourself!
From the natural dye ingredient selections to the fermentation to the dyeing itself – it is an ancestral practice that gets passed down from one generation to the next. You may be surprised at just how labour-intensive it is, to turn these basic (and sometimes unusual) ingredients into the beautiful colours and dyes you see in textiles all over Mexico!. We are sure you will find a newfound appreciation for this ancient tradition and the labour involved!
We will take a break to eat some snacks and try some local drinks, such as mezcal and tepache – a locally produced beverage made from fermented pineapple and raw sugar.
Now for the really fun part! You’ll get to see how all these ingredients get turned into the beautiful tapestries you see all over Mexico!
There will be a demonstration of how the looms work. You will even get a chance to help thread one of the looms in preparation for its use! After trying some of the loom work yourself, you are ready to make your own mini tapestry.
You will be able to choose your favourite colours of yarn and will be shown how to spool the yarn for the loom. Once you have all your colours selected and spooled, you will be taken to another loom and start creating your own mini-tapestry – a woven table coaster for your morning Cafe de Olla (a local coffee).
Once we’ve finished the weaving, you’ll have an opportunity to sit down for a traditional family meal together, with some food you’re almost guaranteed not to try anywhere else! You can chat more about your experience, and what you learned together with your host family, before departing ways.
This is most of a full-day experience where you will learn and appreciate the hard work of the weaving families and communities of Mexico. It will be a window into a normal day in these people’s lives and allow you to connect deeply by participating in their activities and connecting to the land they live off. The objective is that you can get a bond with the sacred practices of textile production – in the ways the weavers have bonded with this practice for generations.
Please note: There is not a Dress Code! You will be visiting a traditional family in the villages, so dressing respectfully is appreciated. You don’t need to dress to impress – you will be getting your hands dirty. It is recommended to bring modest, comfortable clothes, and that you don’t mind getting a bit dirty in. A more detailed list of suggested clothing attire can be found below.
What to bring to the Oaxaca Artisanal Textile Experience?
Though this could vary seasonally, this is the basic list of what we suggest you bring with you. Keep in mind, that your transport is private and secure, so you can leave some items in the vehicle when not needed:
– Jeans or long pants (this is most customary in Mexico, though shorts/dress are fine if you are most comfortable in that).
– Sneakers/comfortable shoes.
– Long sleeves or bug spray (there are mosquitos where we are going).
– Sunblock.
– Hat/cap.
– Covid Mask.
– Cash. The producers do not accept credit cards if you want to buy any textiles after your experience. There is no pressure to buy anything. Unlike other tour companies, the producers we work with will always get paid fairly for their time, regardless if you buy a textile or not.
What is included with the Oaxaca Artisanal Wool Textile Experience?
Your experience includes:
– information provided before your experience to educate you and properly prepare you
– a specially trained and licensed English-speaking guide who will facilitate your experience
– transportation during the tour (a private vehicle to and from Teotitlan)
– translations with your weaving host family
– meal (includes a meal at the end of the day. Alcoholic beverages are not included with the meals)
– Mezcal and Tepache samples (please drink responsibly, you are at someone’s home)
– a special small gift to take home with you
What is not included during your Wool Textile Experience?
– Travel Insurance (Compulsory)
– International flights
– Transportation (outside of the included itinerary)
โ Accommodation in Oaxaca
– Alcoholic beverages (outside of the included mezcal tasting)
– Gratuities and tips
– Spending money if you wish to purchase additional textiles, souvenirs, or items.
Need a place to stay in Oaxaca?
Weโve made finding accommodation a little easier. Below, youโll find an interactive map to help you compare hotels and short-term stays in and around Oaxaca City. Just plug in your travel dates and the number of guests, and explore your options. Youโll be able to see listings from trusted platforms like Booking.com, Hotels.com, VRBO, and others, complete with reviews, prices, and availability. Weโve also placed a marker on the map showing the center of Oaxaca City โ the closer your stay is to that point, the closer youโll be to many of the cultural experiences and historic sites Oaxaca has to offer.
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Supporting Local Projects with our TRiP Foundation
For every TRiP that you go on with WSE Travel, we will donate 2% of the total sales price to an environmental or community-based project in the country you’re visiting. We want to ensure that every guest we help, in turn, helps support and preserve the destination we’re experiencing together as a direct result. We live by an ethos to Travel Responsibly & Impact Positively (TRiP).
For more information on the projects supported by this experience, please visit our Mexico TRIP projects.
Cancellation & Rebooking Policy
All tours, services, and experiences booked through WSE Travel are bound to our Terms and Conditions, which were modeled after most other travel services such as flights, hotels, and other tour operators.
At Where Sidewalks End, your reservation is more than a transaction โ itโs a direct contract with local professionals who rely on this work as a primary source of income. As such, we are obligated to honor the livelihoods of our local partners โ including guides, Ajarns (masters), and drivers โ who dedicate their time exclusively to your experience.
In many of the destinations where we operate, labor protections and fair wage commitments are upheld by local laws โ and we are both ethically and contractually required to adhere to them. Once a booking is confirmed, the service providers committed to your experience are financially compensated for reserving their time โ even in the event of cancellation. This ensures fair and dignified treatment for all involved in delivering your experience.
If You Need to Cancel or Reschedule
All bookings are subject to the following terms:
More than 14 Days’ Notice
Your payment will be placed into a Lifetime Deposit (Safety Deposit Box). This can be:
- Used for a future date
- Transferred to a friend or family member
Refunds are not available unless WSE Travel cancels your booking due to reasons beyond your control.
7โ14 Days’ Notice
A 50% rebooking fee will apply. This helps offset the compensation obligations to your dedicated team of local guides and service providers, who have reserved their day exclusively for your private tour and may not be able to secure alternate work with us or others on short notice.
Less than 7 Days’ Notice
The full cost of the tour is retained to pay the locals contracted in full. As this is a private experience, your local teamโs time is fully dedicated to your session. A new team will be hired for any future rebooking.
These policies are a compassionate extension of our official Terms & Conditions, designed to support both our guests and the ethical standards of responsible tourism.
Travel Insurance or Liability Waiver Required
Because life can be unpredictable โ and because we are required to uphold our commitments to local partners โ all guests must either:
- Provide proof of comprehensive travel insurance, or
- Sign a Liability Waiver Form at the start of their trip
We highly recommend SafetyWing Nomad Insurance โ trusted by global travelers for its flexible, affordable coverage and very competitive rates.
Travel insurance can help protect you from financial losses related to:
- Illness
- Missed flights
- Emergency cancellations
- Non-refundable bookings
If you choose to travel without Travel Insurance, you will be required to fill out a Liability Waiver Form at the beginning of your trip.
Thank You for Traveling Responsibly
We deeply appreciate your understanding and support of ethical tourism. Your booking directly sustains local communities and helps preserve cultural traditions in a meaningful and lasting way.
If you have any questions or need help rescheduling, please contact us โ we’re always happy to assist.
Kurt Souder (verified owner) –
This experience was amazing! Our guide Christian was kind, funny, and very knowledgeable. This was one of the greatest tours we have ever taken. The tour was well planned, and also left room for conversation and questions. The family was welcoming and very knowledgeable, I recommend this experience for anyone interested in the arts, history, and learning about the local culture. Ten out of ten!
-Kurt & Andrew
Don Richards –
What a wonderful experience from start to finish. Our guide Victor shared an excellent travelogue along the way and his translation skills were essential in making this a memorable experience. After visiting Josefina, he gave us a tour of Teotitlan de Valle that added to the experience. It will truly be the highlight of our time in Oaxaca.
marthacrossen1 (verified owner) –
We had a wonderful day learning about traditional weaving and dyeing from Josefina. In addition, her lovely daughters prepared a light, delicious lunch. Connecting with this artist and her family of weavers was truly the highlight of our Oaxacan trip. Victor was a wonderful guide. He assisted us with language barriers and was very knowledge about Teotitlรกn . His respect for these artists and the great affection between them was evident. In addition he showed us other highlights of the area. I highly recommend this tour.
Danica Pupa (verified owner) –
Incredible, immersive experience in the Oaxacan tradition of wool textile dyeing and weaving. Our wonderful guide Victor provided so much historical and cultural information on the ride to and from the village of Teotitlรกn. When we arrived at the home of Josefina and Javier we were warmly welcomed into their beautiful
Weaving studio where Josefina took us through the entire process starting from carding the wool from the Criollo
Sheep, spinning it into thread, dyeing it using crushed Cochineal bugs and other plants to get different colors, to finally weaving our own small pieces on a 100-year old loom. We met the whole family who are all learning the craft and Josefina even cooked a lovely
Lunch for us all. The grace and beauty that this family shared coupled with their amazing expertise in this art form
Was just amazing. Victor our guide also made a special stop for us at a candle- making studio nearby and was incredibly knowledgeable and warm. If you want a true experience of Oxacan artistic tradition donโt miss this!!! THANK YOU Ian, Victor and the whole WSE crew for arranging this special day!!
Ilyas (verified owner) –
What an amazing day! Where to begin? From the richness of the beautiful colors of natural dyes to the hands-on experience of weaving on a 200-year old loom, to the patience and generosity of Josefina and Javierโs teaching. The quiet, countryside setting of this sixth generation of family weavers was so inviting. My terrific guide Christian was very attentive and sensitively offered nuanced suggestions that helped make the day complete. It would be lovely to bring friends to share this day with next time.
Jason Gill (verified owner) –
I went in this tour in earlier this year in January and was quite blown away. I learned so much about the process of making a textile and what it actually takes to do it manually. My time spent with the family was really lovely and I could tell they really put their heart and soul into his work. I’m grateful for the opportunity and would definitely do it again if I was in Oaxaca. I just recently went through numerous photos and videos of the experience and my heart just feels so full remembering all the good times.
Eric Whitaker (verified owner) –
The prior reviewers have summed up this wonderful experience perfectly. Josefina, Javier, and their daughters were welcoming and kind, and Laura was terrific. We learned an incredible amount and will treasure the memory. Very highly recommended!!!
Donna Rose Ritchie (verified owner) –
We spent an amazing day with our guru Laura meeting Josephine and Javier. Their traditional textile production passed down for generations is incredible. Meeting their family and getting to try the traditional methods gave us such an appreciation for their incredible artistry ,skill and dedication. A beautiful family and a wonderful experience. Glad we chose Where Sidewalks End to support local artisans. We would absolutely recommend this experience to anyone. Laura was a wonderful host and translator as we have very little Spanish. She shared a wealth of local knowledge and it was a pleasure to meet her.
Anne Everett (verified owner) –
This was an incredible day. Our hosts Josefina and Javier were welcoming and made us feel at home immediately. We also met their children and a grandson. A wonderful peaceful home. The weaving studio is amazing. As weavers, my sister and I were fascinated to look at different dyeing and weaving techniques. The chance to weave a small piece on a 200 year old loom was priceless. Our driver and guide Laura was first class. Lunch was outstanding. Our favorite day in Oaxaca so far. Highly recommended to weavers and non-weavers alike.
Luna Rodriguez (verified owner) –
I totally recommend the Oaxaca Sacred Textile Experience with WSE! I joined this tour at the beginning of November 2021 and I had a marvelous time with Josefina and Javier at their workshop! The tour was very informative and I loved that I could interact with them and be part of the weaving process. I even created a coaster myself and took it home with me! If you are in Oaxaca, this is a must-do tour!