Culture and Crafts of Chiapas & Oaxaca

Join Joan Weber and a small group of women for an immersion in the highlands of Chiapas and Oaxaca (Wa-HA-ca), the Mexican states most known for their indigenous cultures and craft traditions. This ten-day trip is based in two extraordinary locales, first San Cristobal in Chiapas and then Oaxaca town. Navigate the cobblestone lanes, absorb the life in the plazas, browse the artisan boutiques and local markets. Breathtaking mountain views, intense color, mystical cloud formations and clear light provide a visual treat. On day trips to nearby villages, spend time with weavers, potters, wood carvers, painters and ceramicists who learned their art from their grandparents and still practice in home workshops. The traditional cultures in Chiapas are Mayan; in Oaxaca they are Mixtec and Zapotec. We include the archaeological sites of Monte Alban and Mitla in the core 10-day itinerary. We offer spectacular Palenque as a pre-tour extension and Mexico City as a post-tour extension.