Culture & Crafts of Chiapas & Oaxaca

Arrive in San Cristobal, either by plane or overland from Palenque. San Cristobal is a municipality located in the Chiapas highlands, an area known for the light air and brilliant sun at 7,000 feet. Check into a centrally located hotel and take in some first impressions of this high altitude colonial city, founded by the Spanish in the 1530s. The city was named after the first Bishop of Chiapas, Bartolome de las Casas, known as the “conscience of the conquest” because of his tireless campaigns to end Spanish cruelty. Overnight San Cristobal.

Lodging: Casavieja (or similar)

Today’s guided walking tour of San Cristobal will take us to the Santo Domingo Church and surrounding market, textile cooperatives, select shops, the Zocalo, and the Sergio Castro Museum of Regional Dress. The evening is free to explore the San Cristobal’s bohemian atmosphere. Overnight at San Cristobal.

Meals: Breakfast

Lodging: Casavieja (or similar)

Venture today into Zincantan and Chamula, highland villages of Tzotzil speaking Maya. From the cultivation of geraniums, carnations, and mums to the brightly embroidered flowers on the huipil capes worn by the villagers, flowers are everywhere in Zinacanta. Daily life in this cheerful village centers on weaving and textile traditions for the women, while men tend to religious and civic affairs. Our next stop is the nearby highland village of Chamula. Entering the San Juan Chamula Church sends us to a surreal, mystical place where eggs, coca cola, and posh (sugar cane based firewater) co-mingle in a religious ceremony dedicated to healing the infirm and driving out evil spirits. Returning to San Cristobal, we will visit Na Bolom and receive a guided tour of the museum, the former home and study center of Frans and Gertrude Blom. A Dane and Swiss who met on an expedition to the Lacandon jungle, they dedicated their lives together to the study and preservation of the Lacandon forest, its people, and its culture. Overnight San Cristobal.

Meals: Breakfast

Lodging: Casavieja (or similar)

Today’s trek takes us into the highlands to visit the Mayan community of Amatenango, the home of master potters Albertina and Mari. They will demonstrate how they make pottery from local clay on open fires, the same way it has been done since pre-Hispanic times. Next we’ll visit the Tzeltal community of Tenejapa to see the master weavers at the local co-op. The evening in San Cristobal is free to explore the city or just sit in a local café. Overnight San Cristobal.

Meals: Breakfast

Lodging: Casavieja (or similar)

After breakfast we’ll transfer to Chiapa del Corzo, then take a boat ride down the Grijalva River for a breathtaking view of the massive Sumidero Canyon gorge, a dramatic rift caused by a seismic fault in the earth’s surface. The river runs between the massive 3,000-foot walls, engulfing us in this dramatic geological phenomenon as we travel through the canyon. Returning to town, we’ll set out for a guided tour of this small but architecturally rich town before transferring to the airport to depart for home or to continue to Oaxaca. Overnight Oaxaca.

Meals: Breakfast

Lodging: Casa Vertiz

The Octolan Market is one of the most colorful in the Valley, and a favorite among locals. We’ll visit the former Dominican Convent, which was established as a museum by famed Oaxacan artist Rodolfo Morales. This Southern Craft Route takes us on to San Antonino to see their beautifully embroidered blouses, Tilcajete for extraordinary whimsical “alebrijes”, Jalieza for back strap woven belts and bags, and Coyotepec for the black burnished pottery made famous by Dona Rosa.

Meals: Breakfast

Lodging: Casa Veritz

Enjoy an optional half-day market visit and cooking class with Pilar Cabrera of the Casa de los Sabores, where you will learn to make mole, tamales, salsas, flan, and other regional favorites. The Botanical Garden is an Oaxaca City treasure, showcasing native and rare plants from regions throughout the State. The guide will review these plants, such as the nopal and agave cacti, and native cotton and corn varieties, and explain their importance to the region’s development. Lunch is at the famed Marco Polo, where the fresh fish is cooked in wood-fired ovens. In the afternoon, you may enjoy an optional traditional Temascal ancient cleansing/steam bath.

Meals: Breakfast

Lodging: Casa Veritz

Today takes us to the east side of the Oaxaca Valley, where we’ll visit the ancient ruins at Mitla to see one-of-a-kind design motifs made of carved stone frets and learn about the Zapotec and Mixtec Cultures that inhabited this region in the pre-Hispanic era. Afterwards we’ll see the Sunday market in Tlacolula and the ornate Dominican church and chapel, vestiges of the colonization and evangelization era. On the way home, we’ll stop at a very special weaving and natural dye co-op. The Centro de Arte Zapoteco, Bii Dauu, to learn about natural dye traditions that use cochineal, indigo and “pericon,” a yellow dye producing wildflower. Our friends at the co-op will also take us to their orchard to see how they cultivate plants for use as dyes.

Meals: Breakfast

Lodging: Casa Veritz

Today we visit the first urban center of Mesoamerica, Monte Alban, to learn about early Zapotec civilization and the various periods of construction on this hilltop site. The Zapotec were among the earliest of the Mesoamerican civilizations, dating back to the pre-Classic era. The Zapotec and Mixtec people had highly developed art forms; the Mixtec’s metallurgy and jewelry making was an extremely developed and respected craft. We’ll enjoy a visit to the on-site bookstore and museum before heading to lunch at family style La Capilla. After lunch, our next stop is the craft villages of Arrazola and Aztompa to see the whimsical “alebrije” woodcarvings and pottery.

Meals: Breakfast

Lodging: Casa Veritz

Transfer to the Oaxaca airport for your homebound flight or your connection to Mexico City.

Meals: Breakfast