Textile Traditions Oaxaca: Coast & Isthmus!

Guerrero and Oaxaca: March 11-20 (9 Nights): $2,685 per person, double occupancy

Itinerary

Pre-Arrival: Thursday, March 10 

If you’d like an extra day in Acapulco, schedule your arrival for today. The hotel is not included, but we’ll make the arrangements.

Day One: Arrival Day: Friday, March 11, Arrive Acapulco, Dinner included (D)

Arriving to the Acapulco airport (ACA) you will take the airport transportation to our hotel: the famed and legendary Las Brisas. Think pink jeeps! This was the hotel of the movie stars, back in the day, in the 1950’s / 1960’s­. We’ll meet in the lobby to go to dinner at another famed and legendary restaurant, Susana Palazuelos’s Zibu, overlooking the Acapulco Bay. We will time our dinner to enjoy the singular sunset; one that was painted in its multiple manifestations by Diego Rivera in his later years. Return to Hotel and Overnight Hotel Las Brisas Acapulco, Included: Hotel and Dinner

Day Two: Saturday, March 12, Fuerte San Diego Acapulco, Transfer to Ometepec (B, L, D)

After breakfast, we’ll visit the Museo Fuerte San Diego. Here, we’ll learn about the fascinating history of the Manila Galleon and the trade that transformed Asia and the Americas, plying trade for over 250 years between Manila and Acapulco. After our visit, we’ll begin our journey on the Coast of Guerrero, making our way to Ometepec, the Municipal Center of the region. We’ll enjoy a fresh seafood meal en route. Arriving in Ometepec, we’ll settle in to our hotel, enjoy some tacos and overnight. Overnight Ometepec, Guerrero

Day Three: Sunday, March 13, Xochistlahuaca (B, L)

Before we leave Ometepec, we’ll visit the local market. Arriving in Xochistlahuaca, we’ll also visit the very local Amuzgo market, only on Sundays. Then we’ll visit some of our favorite coops, weavers and shops, to learn about and purchase the famed and beautiful brocade woven huipiles. Overnight Ometepec, Guerrero

Day Four: Monday, March 14, Pinotepa de Don Luis, San Juan Colorado (B, L) 

Today, we say goodbye to Xochis and continue our journey, traveling towards Oaxaca. En route, we’ll make a quick stop at the Afro-Descendent Museum in Cuajicuinilapa, Guerrero, to learn about the history of the African presence in Mexico and in this region. We’ll then visit the two Mixtec towns in Oaxaca: Pinotepa de Don Luis and San Juan Colorado.  In these two communities, we’ll learn about the traditional dress of the region, such as the pozahuanco wrap skirt of caracol purpura, indigo and cochineal stripes. We’ll also see the beautiful native coyuche cotton in these communities. Overnight Pinotepa Nacional

Day Five: Tuesday, March 15, Huazolotitlan-Jamiltepec-Puerto Escondido (B, L) 

Today, we make our way to Puerto Escondido. We make stops in two communities: Huazolotitlan and Jamiltepec, to learn about their unique textile traditions and styles that identify the women of these communities. Arriving in Puerto Escondido, we’ll check into the Hotel Santa Fe, enjoy lunch overlooking the ocean. The rest of the afternoon is at leisure, to walk along the beach, relax at the hotel or visit the Manialtepec Lagoon. Overnight Hotel Santa Fe Puerto Escondido

Day Six: Wednesday, March 16, San Agustin, Caracol Purpura Dye Demo (B, L) 

This morning we leave early, to arrive to the Bajia de San Agustin, to catch the low tide. Today is the day we will witness one of the great relationships between biology and culture, the “milking” of the caracol purpura mollusk to obtain the revered purple dye. The Mixtec dyers are the only people authorized to engage in this sustainable activity. The purple threads have been woven into the women’s pozahuanco wrap skirts for thousands of years. Overnight Huatulco

Day Seven: Thursday, March 17, San Mateo del Mar, Tehuantepec (B, L, D) 

Today we leave the Coast and continue to a singular and the narrowest region of Mexico: Isthmus of Tehuantepec. On a map, you can see why it’s called Mexico’s waistline! It’s only 90 miles across from the Gulf of Mexico to the Pacific Ocean. Sometimes the “norte” winds blow fierce.  Hence, many wind generators!  The beauty and mystique of the Istmena women have captured the imagination of many artists and poets. Their dress style is often associated with Frida Kahlo, as she frequently wore Istmena dress. Her mother Matilde was from here.

We’ll stop in Mateo del Mar, seemingly at the end of the earth, and home to the ikoots or huave people.  Here they weave charming brocade cloth on a backstrap loom. Arriving in Tehuantepec, we’ll have lunch, visit the market, then rest up at the hotel before our fun evening, enjoying a fashion show of Isthmus dress, followed by a reception and dancing to the regional tune, La Zandunga. Overnight Hotel Cali, Tehuantepec

Day Eight: Friday, March 18, Juchitan (B, L) 

On our second day in the Isthmus, we’ll visit the region of Juchitan, visiting an embroidery school in the town of Asuncion Ixtaltepec. We’ll learn about the school and their initiatives to revive the cadenilla style of machine embroidery. We’ll enjoy a light lunch, before going to the recently renovated market in Juchitan. Returning to our hotel, we can rest, relax and take a swim in the hotel pool. Overnight Hotel Cali, Tehuantepec.

Day Nine: Saturday, March 19, Transfer to Oaxaca City (B. L, D)

Group will transfer to Oaxaca City. We’ll stop at our favorite weavers in Teotitlan del Valle, before arriving in Oaxaca City to enjoy our farewell dinner together. Overnight Oaxaca City

Day Ten: Sunday, March 20, Depart or extend a day or two in Oaxaca City!

Photos From This Tour

• All
• Textiles of Oaxaca Coast and Isthmus

agave

cochinilla

cochinilla2

inking

coloring

staining

explanation

dining

spinning

natural-colors

shopping

fiber

empanadas

extracting

beach

frida

monte-alban

muches

tecas

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