Chiapas Textile Study Tour 2026: Deep Into Textiles

Dates

March 3-11, 2026

price

$3,575
(double occupancy)
$4,500
(single occupancy)

about

We go deep into the Maya world of southern Mexico. This tour explores the culture Chiapas through the textile traditions from the highlands, we visit traditional cooks, healers, weavers, dyers, and embroiderers along the way!

Trip Highlights

At Oaxaca Cultural Navigator, we aim to give you an unparalleled and in-depth travel experience to participate and delve deeply into indigenous culture, folk art, and celebrations. The Maya World of Chiapas, Mexico, spans centuries and borders. Maya people weave their complex universe into beautiful cloth. Symbols are part of an ancient pre-Hispanic animist belief system. In the cloth, we see frogs that signal coming rain, the plumed serpent — guardian of life, woman and man and family, earth and sky, the four cardinal points, moon and sun and stars, birds, flowers, and symbols of the natural environment. Each weaver chooses her and his themes based on what is important to her.

Duration

9 days, 8 nights

Locations

San Cristobal de las Casas, Tenejapa; Chamula, Larrainzar, Aldama Zinacantan,

Physical Activity

Moderate

Itinerary:

Day 1

Tuesday, March 3

This is a travel day. Arrive and meet at our hotel in San Cristobal de las Casas. You will receive directions to get from the Tuxtla Gutierrez airport to our hotel. The airport is a clean and modern facility with straightforward signage. You will book your flight to Tuxtla from Mexico City on Volaris or Aeromexico. To find the best routes and rates, search on Skyscanner and then book directly with the carrier. Taxis and shuttle services can take you from Tuxtla to San Cris. The cost of transportation to/from San Cristobal is your own. Taxis are about $60 USD or 1,000 pesos. Shared shuttle is about 200 pesos or about $13 USD. Join us for a no-host dinner if you arrive by 6 pm. Overnight in San Cristobal.

Day 2

Wednesday, March 4

On our first day in San Cristobal de las Casas, we orient you to the textiles of the Maya World. You will learn about weaving and embroidery traditions, patterns and symbols, women and villages, history and culture. After breakfast, we will visit Centro Textiles Mundo Maya Museum, Sna Jolobil Museum Shop for fine regional textiles, compare and contrast quality at the vast Santo Domingo outdoor market. We finish the morning together with a Group Welcome Lunch. In the early evening, we meet with Sergio Castro, famed humanitarian healer, whose vintage textile collection is an important basis for our orientation to understand the mix of Maya language groups and the location of their villages. Meals included: Breakfast and lunch.

Day 3

Thursday, March 5

Tenejapa is about an hour and a world away from San Cristobal de Las Casas. Today is market day when villagers line the streets that are filled with fresh fruits, vegetables, meats, and household supplies. Peer into dimly lit doorways to find hidden textile treasures. We’ll meander the market to see what’s there. In the past, I’ve found some stunning shawls, huipils and bags. Keep your eyes open. Then, we will visit an outstanding textile cooperative and then the best pom pom maker in the region. After a box lunch, we go to the centuries- old Romerillo Maya cemetery, then continue up another mountain to visit Maruch (Maria), a Chamula woman at her rural home. Surrounded by sheep and goats, Maruch will demonstrate back-strap loom weaving and carding and how she makes long-haired wool skirts, tunics, and shawls. Perhaps there will be some treasures to consider. Return to San Cristobal de Las Casas in time for dinner on your own. Meals included: Breakfast and lunch.

Day 4

Friday, March 6

Today, we make a study tour to the textile villages of San Andres Larrainzer and Magdalena Aldama. This is an ultimate cultural experience to immerse yourself into the weaving culture of two of the best weaving villages in the region. We visit four families of weavers in their humble homes. Their work includes blouses, dresses, bags, and home goods. One family is the last to work with ixtle, the agave fiber used to weave market bags that are often a deep coffee color, gotten by hanging the bags over the smoky cooking fire. A small bag takes 42-hours to make. Several of the artisans we visit are recognized as Grand Masters of Mexican Folk Art by Fundacion Banamex. We will see how they weave and embroider beautiful, fine textiles, ones you cannot find in the city markets or shops. They will host a show and sale for us, and we will join them around the open hearth for a warming meal of free-range chicken soup, house-made tortillas, and of course, a sip of posh! Meals included: Breakfast and lunch.

Day 5

Saturday, March 7

We set out by foot to a nearby textile studio founded by Alberto Lopez Gomez, a Magdalena Aldama weaver and designer, who was invited to New York Fashion Week in 2020, Sweden Design Week in 2022, and the Santa Fe Folk Art Market in 2025. We hear presentations about creativity, style, innovation, and how to incorporate tradition while breaking new ground. Then, after lunch, we set out for Na Bolom, Jaguar House, the home of anthropologist Franz Blom and his photographer wife, Gertrude Duby Blom. The house is now a museum filled with pre-Hispanic folk art and jewelry. We walk the gardens and learn about Franz and Trudy’s work with the Lacandon tribe and their relationship with Frida Kahlo and Diego Rivera. Meals included: Breakfast and lunch.

Day 6

Sunday, March 8

This is a big day! First, we go to San Lorenzo Zinacantan, where greenhouses cover the hillsides. Here, indigenous dress is embellished in exquisite floral designs, mimicking the flowers they grow. We meander the open-air market, then visit the church, bedecked in fresh flowers. The next stop is magical, mystical San Juan Chamula, where the once-Catholic church is given over to a pre-Hispanic pagan religious practice that involves chickens, eggs and coca-cola. You’ll find out why. We’ll roam Chamula’s abundant textile market, where you can compare and contrast fabrics and designs. Meals included: Breakfast and lunch.

Day 7

Monday, March 9

About an hour-and-a-half from San Cristobal de las Casas is the farming and weaving village of Chenalho, situated deep into the mountains with stunning views. This is not a tourist destination! We have found a cooperative there that was started 41-years ago by cultural anthropologist Christine Eber when she did her PhD dissertation about the weaving and women there. We hear the women’s stories, see demonstrations, and have an opportunity to support them by purchasing what they make if we wish. Then, we will return to San Cristobal de las Casas for you to choose your own lunch spot and enjoy the rest of the day on your own. Meals included: Breakfast and snacks.

Day 8

Tuesday, March 10

This is expoventa day! We have invited one of the finest embroiderers of Aguacatenango blouses, an organic coffee grower/roaster, and a pottery artisan to show and sell their work. The afternoon is yours to do last-minute shopping and packing in preparation for your trip home. We end our study tour with a Regret’s Sale (just in case you have any) and a Grand Finale Group Dinner. Meals included: Breakfast and dinner.

Day 9

Wednesday, March 11

Depart. You will arrange your own transportation from San Cristobal to the Tuxtla Gutierrez airport. We can help. It takes about 1-1/2 hours to get to Tuxtla, plus 1-2 hours for check-in. Connect from Tuxtla to Mexico City and then on to your home country.

What's Included

Lodging

8 nights in San Cristobal de las Casas

Guide

2 Bilingual guides and translators: English and Spanish

Transport

Private Mecedez Benz luxury van

Meals

8 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 1 Gala dinner (see itinerary for details)

Activities

Museums and galleries visits; artisans studio visits, weaving and dyeing demo.

Important Information

Pricing
Double Occupancy: $3,575/person (Double room with a private bathroom)
Single Occupancy: $4,500/person (Single room with a private bathroom)

Activity Level
Moderate- You should be able to stand for at least an hour and walk up to two miles on flat surfaces, unpaved paths, and small inclines.

The tour does NOT include airfare, taxes, tips, travel insurance, alcoholic beverages, local transportation, and meals outside of what’s noted in the itinerary. We reserve the right to substitute artisan guides and alter the program as needed.

A $500 non-refundable deposit is required to guarantee your spot. The balance is due in two equal payments. The second payment of 50% of the balance is due on or before October 1, 2025. The third 50% payment of the balance is due on or before January 1, 2026. After January 1, 2026, there are no refunds. If you cancel on or before January 1, 2026, we will refund 50% of your deposit received to date less the $500 non-refundable reservation deposit. After that, there are no refunds.

You are required to carry your own international accident/health insurance that includes $50,000+ of emergency evacuation insurance. Some travel insurance options are here.

All documentation for plane reservations, travel insurance, and personal health issues must be received 45 days before the program starts or we reserve the right to cancel your registration without reimbursement.

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FAQs

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How many people are on each tour?

For private, custom date tours, you choose the number of people. Please refer to the tour details for any restrictions. Our group tours are usually 8-12 people, but no more than 15. We intentionally keep groups small for a more intimate experience – like a local friend showing you around their favorite places.

Airfare, airport transfers, travel insurance, alcoholic beverages, personal expenses, tips, and some meals (see the tour itinerary for what’s included).
There are several options here and we can offer suggestions after you register.
Absolutely not! Anyone who is interested in art, culture, history, traditions, and personally connecting with artisans is welcome.
No. Our mission is to help these artisans support their families and keep their traditions alive. 100% of any purchase you make (you’re not obligated to buy anything) goes directly into their pocket.
Absolutely! Our tours are a great way to meet other like-minded travelers and solo travelers often join us. Our tour prices are noted in both double and single occupancy. We welcome solo travelers and those who want to share a room.
After you register for your tour we can provide hotel contact information to arrive early or extend your stay. We also offer day tours and workshops you can add onto the beginning or end of any tour.

No, you are responsible for getting yourself to and from the airport, but once you register for a tour, we’ll recommend a few safe and reliable options.

There is an ATM at the Oaxaca International Airport and many throughout Oaxaca City. Airport transportation options accept credit cards, but some restaurants and shops are cash only.

We’ll provide a suggested packing list as your tour date approaches.

Dates

March 3-11, 2026

price

$3,575
(double occupancy)
$4,500
(single occupancy)
Book Now
Book Now

Dates

March 3-11, 2026
Book Now
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