Arrival Oaxaca International Airport or officially Aeropuerto Internacional Xoxocotlán

Airport pickup any time night or day. 

We will start 

Let’s dive right in and explore a vibrant Sunday market on our first morning in Mexico.

Local supplies, delicious foods and crafts abound.

In the afternoon we will take a walk around Centro- the beautiful Old City of Oaxaca to get orientated in this atmospheric place before we share a Welcome dinner together.

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Cochineal was known as Red Gold to the conquering Spanish and trade in this natural dye was a tightly guarded secret for many centuries…. Chemical dyes and demand diminished yet recent interest in natural dyes has led to a resurgence of the bug and cactus cultivation.

We are visiting a small workshop and garden to learn about cochineal production and participate in a workshop to dye a beautiful cotton scarf.

The scarf is a local handweave.

Afternoon is free to explore Oaxaca, do you want to come on a wander through the local market in Oaxaca- fabulous fresh fruit and other commodities?

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Fundacion Ev Via is a local NGO who specialise in Micro-loans and education to support women developing their entrepreneurial skills.

We plan to spend the day visiting some of these amazing women.

• Angelica – a local seamstress who produces the most amazing, embroidered aprons and party dresses

• Angelina who produces stunning and functional Red Pottery ware. It is so interesting the way that hand build in the Zapotec Indian way, she makes it look easy but that is only because she has such skill and experience.

• Lunch will be memorable

• Rosa and her husband and their silk production business. I was amazed to learn there was silk production in Mexico pre-Spanish invasion

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Travelling across country today through stunning mountains covered in cactus and agave plantations.

We will visit a Mescal artisanal production unit along the way.

We are heading to Tehuantepec, the city is known for its women and their traditional dress, which was adopted by Frida Kahlo. Tehuantepec has a reputation for being a "matriarchal society” Let’s check it out.

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The landscape transforms today as we head up into the mountains of Chiapas and San Cristobel de las Caras a beautiful old town, we move on from culture of Zapotec Indians into the region of Mayan Indians.

You might need a jacket for the cooler air.

Let’s take a walk, if I can drag you away from our stunning hotel, to get a feel for town and have dinner at a fabulous restaurant where all the locals go for a good dinner.

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Our plan today is to visit some of the local villages that have a strong and active textile culture.

Amazing local dress, Churches that mingle Christianity and Mayan Traditions and a delicious home cooked lunch.

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A slow start to the day, Isabel will be joining us and teaching us a little of the embroidery you will have noticed at Chamula yesterday.

We will make a small purse with rich embroidery from local wool.

Afternoon is free but if you're interested  I'd love to take you to the Centro deTextiles del Mundo Maya - a stunning museum of textiles.

In evening we will visit an extraordinary man. 

Don Sergio moved to the region many years ago and worked in the surrounding Indian villages on community development projects - sanitation, clean water and much more.

Along the way he learnt a lot about local traditions and culture. 

He will lead us through his collection of traditional garments, talk a little of traditions and observations of what he has seen over the years.

Don Sergio runs a free clinic from his home, if you have access to sterile gloves, antiseptic creams etc you might bring them to donate. 

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Moving onto the Yucatan today, be ready for a whole new landscape.

It is tropical here, the jungle tries to cross the roads!

Let’s get settled in and take a walk to the Town Square, dinner will be a grand old house with inner courtyard.

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Slow start to the morning, get ready for the most amazing collection of Mexican Folk Art, we visit a private home and experience their life’s passion – collecting from artisans across Mexico.

Onto visit Cenote Zací. A Cenote is an open cave with crystal clear water inside. The name Zací (“White Hawk”) comes from the Mayan settlement that was located there. It is where the Capul clan fought against the first conquistadors. Valladolid was later founded in 1543. The cenote was once the city’s water source and now is a fabulous place to cool off. 

You might like to take a dip or simply view it from the café where we will have lunch.

Later we will walk across the Old Town to see the former Convent of San Bernardino de Siena in Valladolid – where the Christianisation of the Mayans started.

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Early start and heading off into nature for a day of peaceful wandering.

We are heading to the Lagoon of Rio Lagartos for boating. We’ll see flamingos, crocodiles and lots of birds.

Fresh seafood for lunch, 

A colourful cemetery and an afternoon visit to the Mayan Archaeological site of Ek Balam. 

Wear good walking shoes and be ready to scale the monument for the view and beautiful Mayan carvings on tomb of Ukit Kan Lek Tokʼ, a king buried in the side of the largest pyramid

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Museo de Ropa Etnica de Mexico today. We’ll hear a little of work taken to support Mayan culture, see a stunning collection of costumes and learn A Mayan embroidery stitch that predates Spanish Conquest.

Textiles samples found at an Archaeological site confirm these stitches have a very long local history.

Lunch with our hosts at the Museum.

Afternoon is free.

Lets meet up for dinner.

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Today we will make our way to Merida via a few small villages.

Some are full of textile studios, one is golden and a real site to see.

In the evening, we will join the locals in one of the parks in Merida for an evening of music and dancing.

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We will visit the impressive Museo del Mundo Maya this morning, Mayan history and culture, it is a great museum.

Heading towards Cancun we will stop off at a community run restaurant and have the opportunity for a dip in a Cenote on the way.

Cancun is tourist central, a big difference to the more local areas we have been, it will be a perfect spot to share a farewell dinner together.

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Departures from Cancun International Airport

We will drop you to meet your flights.

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