HANDICRAFTS (West-East valley)
In this tour we visit first: the weavers in the eastern side of the Valley were the famous wool rugs are made and then we go to south side of the Valley of Oaxaca where we will see the black pottery, the wooden carved Alebrijes figures, the textiles of Jalieza and the decorated terracotta of Ocotlán.
About This Tour
Handicrafts are `produced in many communities in the Valley of Oaxaca which are very proud of their heritage and are proud to share that with visitors. This tour takes us to 3 different places where ceramics and textiles are produced.
To the west side of the Valley, is Atzompa, only 30 min from the city and is well known for its utilitarian Green pottery, its Terracotas and some other decorative kinds of ceramics; but there is also ART level production of ceramic sculptures and other artistic decorative items by already very famous artists.
After this visit we go to the east side of the valley to visit the weaver’s village where wool rugs are produced in very simple looms. You find there very fine pieces of rugs to be used for the floor or for hanging on the walls.
In this same village we visit also a place where Wax Candles are made; some of them very decorative and used for marriages and other special events.
Also, in this community there is a workshop producing silk textiles, beautiful but not wo well known and seldom visited.
The last community to be visited will be San Marcos Tlapazola where Red Pottery is produced mainly by women artisans.
Tour Price
Tour pricing is tailored to accommodate the specific needs of your group, taking into account both the number of participants and the season of the year. We invite you to request a personalized quotation to ensure you receive the most accurate and competitive pricing for your memorable journey. THE FEE INCLUDES TRANSPORTATION AND GUIDE SERVICES ONLY.
Duration & Start Time
The tour lasts for a full day, from the time we leave the hotel to the time we return to it. You will have not only the visit itself to buy things but, at times, a good demonstration of the different processes to produce the crafts.
The suggested starting time 9 am.
Itinerary
If your hotel is in the city, you will be picked up from your hotel lobby. The trip then goes first to the ceramic village of Atzompa. From there we head to Teotitlán del Valle for the various kinds of handicrafts and finally we visit San Marcos Tlapazola at the foot of the south mountains.
Then we return to the city. The tour ends at the starting point or any other point downtown, at your convenience.
Meeting Point & Transportation
The standard meeting point is the lobby of your hotel if it is located downtown in the city. If you are in a place around the city, we will need to set a convenient meeting point in the city. Transportation is in an A/C VAN, fully authorized for tourism service.
Recommendations
If you already have a list of workshops you would like to see, it would be useful to have it at hand and also to send it to the guide to find out more about them, just in case they are not so well known.
Bring enough money just in case you think you might buy something.
Included With This Tour
Transportation in an A/C VAN
Guide Service by a Fully Licensed And Certified Guide
A soft drink
Additional Costs
Additional cost for admission fees, extra beverages & food as needed, tips.
Tour Reviews
☆☆☆☆☆
“Juan was a wonderful guide - extremely knowledgeable, friendly and kind. He took us to just the kind of places we'd hoped to see. It's clear he has the respect of the artisans we visited. A truly lovely day trip in which we learned so much and had a very enjoyable time.”
— DC, USA
☆☆☆☆
“Juan's personal connection with artists made this tour special. In the village that does wood sculpture, we toured 3 studios, each run by a different member of the same family. Each had a distinctive feeling. At lunch he suggested wonderful dishes that were typical Oaxacan. We were very happy with this tour.”
— SR, USA
☆☆☆☆☆
“We spent two and a half days with Juan during Thanksgiving week. Day one was a walking tour of the city, day two was Monte Alban and the surrounding area and day three was Mitla and the surrounding area. Juan's congeniality, knowledge and experience bring Oaxaca to life for the client. Even though he has been doing this for a long time his sharing the region remains fresh and engaging. You'll be missing a lot if you try to do Oaxaca without Juan.”
— YC, USA
☆☆☆☆☆
“What a fabulous tour! Juan is an engaging, thoughtful, knowledgeable and excellent guide. We learned so much from him about Oaxaca both present day and its history plus so much about handcrafts in the Oaxaca valley. Juan is well connected with the artisans so he was able to take us to some amazing artisans's studios where we had time to chat with them and learn much about their handcrafts. We had a most amazing day enjoying all that we did. We highly recommend this tour!”
— DA, CANADA
☆☆☆☆☆
“Simply put, you could not ask for a better guide. HIGHLY recommended.”
— RB, USA