Oaxaca Cultural Navigator

Route 1:  The Ocotlan Highway — Friday Market, Santo Tomas Jalieza and San Martin Tilcajete

Discover the beautiful market town of Ocotlan, home of famous painter Rudolfo Morales, as you depart from Teotitlan del Valle at 9 a.m.  This 10-hour journey through the heartland of the Oaxaca Valley takes you to the bustling Friday market that spreads out across the square and down every main street of this lovely village.  Center stage is the Rudolfo Morales museum, housed in a former convent that is adjacent to the church carefully restored by the master artist himself.  Across the square and down the block is the family home that is now occupied by the widow of Morales’ brother who is the caretaker.  You will have time to explore the market, the Morales museum, church and home, plus the workshop and studios of the Aguilar Sisters – famous for their hand formed and painted clay figures, before setting off for Santo Tomas Jalieza where you will meet two famous sisters known for the intricacy of their backstrap loom weaving and featured in the Morales museum.  Next stop is lunch, then a visit to several famous woodcarvers in the village of San Martin Tilcajete, include Jacobo and Maria Angeles.

This is a packed, full-day tour, departing at 9 a.m. from Teotitlan del Valle and returning at about 7 p.m.  Total time is about 10 hours on the road.

Route 2:  The Secrets of Monte Alban, Arrazola & Atzompa

Come along with your personal Chavez Family guide to visit Monte Alban, the center of Zapotec cultural, civic and political life in the Oaxaca valley for hundreds of years.  You will have time to explore the mountain top city of warriors and kings who controlled a vast and powerful region that was regarded as one of the most advanced and successful nation states.  From Monte Alban, you will travel to Santa Maria Atzompa, renown for its pottery and the skill of its artisans.  You will visit the town market, and then meet two of the most accomplished and famous potters working today.  Then, you’ll have lunch in Oaxaca City before going on to Arrazola, the famous village where artists carve copal wood figures that are extraordinarily whimsical.  They then paint them in bright, fantastic colors.  We will take you to of the most talented carvers who are working today – Hector Martinez and Berta Cruz — and make a stop at the village market where you will see a good example of the range of work created in the village.

This is a full day trip.  The total time for this excursion is about 9-10 hours.

Route 3:  Always on Sunday: Tlacolula Market, Mitla & Matatlan

Travel with your personal Chavez Family guide from Teotitlan del Valle to neighboring Tlacolula for the famous Sunday market.  Here you will wander the town streets that are transformed into one of the greatest shopping adventures in Oaxaca – only on Sunday!  You will depart from Teotitlan at 9 a.m. on Sunday morning and arrive in the neighboring town 10 minutes later.  You’ll have plenty of time to explore the market, shop for handmade woven baskets, locally made chocolate, hand sewn and embroidered fancy aprons, pottery, alebrijes, wonderful woven table linens and huipils.  The town becomes the market as all the streets become vendor stalls filled with flowers, fruits, vegetables, meats, household goods, and incredible spices and cooking ingredients, clothes, tools, and all sorts of paraphernalia.  Don’t be surprised to see a farmer selling piglets at a corner intersection. Catch a look at the famous church and eat nieves (ice cream) at the nieveria.

Next, you’ll go on down the road to Mitla, the town that is renowned for it’s incredible archeological site, where the Zapotec temple ruins have been restored.  Hear about the pre-conquest history of the Zapotec people and the impact they had on meso-American culture.  You’ll visit a family studio where fine cotton cloth is woven into table linens and dresses.

Then, you will continue on to Matatlan, a beautiful village known for its fine handcrafted mescal, the liquor made from the maguey cactus.  Some mezcal is still made by the traditional methods of crushing the cactus pineapple with a grinding stone pulled by a burro, then distilled in small batches.  You will see this, then visit the beautiful white and blue church in the village center. Your last stop of the day will be to Yagul, a partially excavated Zapotec archeological site.

This is a full 8-hour day.

About the Tours:
All low impact, small group day tours start and end in the village of Teotitlan del Valle.  We can arrange to pick you up and drop you off in Oaxaca City for Route #1 and Route #2 at no additional charge.  If you’re staying in the city, we’ll show you the easiest way to get to the village by taxi or bus.  Day tours include your personal guide – either Eric or Janet Chavez, both fluent in English — all transportation as described above, cultural history and anecdotal information about the region.  You will have lunch and snacks together, but this will be a personal expense.  A feature of each tour is that we will take you on the back roads, off the beaten path to meet the artists and artisans who create the most desirable, highest quality pieces.  Be sure to dress comfortably, including sturdy shoes, since there will be walking.  Always pack enough sun screen, too, even in the winter, and wear a wide-brim hat!

Cost:
$  75 USD for one person
$120 USD for two people
$150 USD for four people

Call or email to make your reservation:
Norma Hawthorne, in the U.S. (919) 274-6194 or normahawthorne@mac.com