The Ocotlán Valley, location 1 hour to the south of Oaxaca city is full of interesting crafts, a historic market, and mezcal production. We created this tour to offer the chance to visit multiple workshops in one day. We recommend doing a participatory activity at one place and a visit to two other places. The options are:

• Visit to a black clay potter in San Bartolo Coyotepec

• Visit to an alebrije workshop in San Martín Tilcajete learning about the history and process behind this hand carved and painted wooden animals.

  • Hands on option: Paint our own alebrijes, learning techniques and design from the artisans

• Visit to Santo Tomás Jalieza to visit a backstrap loom weaving cooperative. We will see a short demonstration of how cotton goods (table runners, bags, braclettes) are woven on the traditional backstrap looms.

• Visit to the Manos que vean workshop where Don José and his family make fantastical sculptures with red clay. Don José lost his sight over 20 years ago to glacoma, hence the name of the workshop “Hands that see.”

  • Hands on option: Two hour clay workshop making our own pieces

• Machetes

  • Hands on option:

• Ocotlán market

  • Hands on option: Friday market day

• Mezcal

  • Hands on option: tour the agave field