Dive into Oaxaca’s artisan heritage with a hands-on pottery class to craft your own mezcalero, then visit the famous Jacobo and María Ángeles workshop to learn about vibrant alebrijes. Discover the secret of shiny black clay at a renowned pottery studio.
Highlights of the Oaxaca Artisan Tour:
This tour is guided by an English-speaking guide and includes private transportation, allowing you to adjust the schedule to your needs, ensuring a comfortable and personalized experience.
This tour is a celebration of human resilience, ancestral creativity, and living tradition — all in one unforgettable journey through the artisan heart of southern Oaxaca.
We begin at “Manos Que Ven”, a powerful weaving workshop led by blind and visually impaired artisans who craft textiles using their hands as eyes. Here, you’ll witness not only artistic mastery but also the inspiring strength of a community that has turned disability into beauty. Their pieces speak through textures, patience, and stories of inclusion.
Next, we head to Ocotlán de Morelos to meet Frida, a beloved cook and guardian of the local market. You’ll enjoy a flavorful lunch at her stand — a true Oaxacan home-cooked experience surrounded by colors, smells, and laughter. This is where food and community come together, and you’ll taste the love in every bite.
After lunch, we visit San Martín Tilcajete, the iconic town of alebrijes. Here, you’ll meet the artisans who bring these mythical creatures to life, carving and painting them with extraordinary detail and symbolism. Discover the meaning behind each color, each animal, each pattern — and maybe bring a guardian spirit home with you.
Finally, we travel to San Bartolo Coyotepec, home of the legendary Doña Rosa black clay pottery. Visit the original workshop and see how smoke and fire give life to pieces that are both humble and elegant, with a shine as deep as the cultural roots behind them.
This tour is ideal for travelers seeking real encounters, inspiring stories, and the chance to support communities through conscious travel. Every stop is a tribute to Oaxaca’s spirit: strong, creative, and deeply human.
Manos que Ven” (Hands That See) is a renowned pottery workshop located in San Antonino Castillo Velasco, Oaxaca. It was founded by Maestro José García Antonio, a self-taught artisan who began working with clay at the age of seven. Despite losing his sight in his mid-50s due to glaucoma, Maestro García continued to create intricate clay sculptures, relying on his developed sense of touch. His works often feature large-scale human figures, including mermaids, which have earned him the nickname “El Señor de las Sirenas” (The Lord of the Mermaids).
Next, we head to Ocotlán de Morelos to meet Frida, a beloved cook and guardian of the local market. You’ll enjoy a flavorful lunch at her stand — a true Oaxacan home-cooked experience surrounded by colors, smells, and laughter. This is where food and community come together, and you’ll taste the love in every bite.
The second stop on our tour is at the Jacobo and María Ángeles Workshop, located in San Martín Tilcajete, Oaxaca. This workshop is internationally renowned for creating alebrijes, hand-carved and painted wooden sculptures that depict fantastic, colorful creatures.
During the visit, you’ll have the chance to learn about the entire alebrije-making process, from selecting and carving the copal wood to applying intricate designs inspired by Zapotec iconography.
The workshop also has a store where you can purchase certified alebrijes, which are considered art investments due to their increasing value each year. This visit allows you to appreciate the dedication and talent that Jacobo and María Ángeles bring to Mexican folk art, preserving and sharing the cultural richness of Oaxaca.
Our second stop is at Alfarería Doña Rosa, located in San Bartolo Coyotepec, Oaxaca. This workshop was founded by Doña Rosa Real Mateo de Nieto, who revolutionized the traditional black clay pottery, known as barro negro, by developing a technique that imparts a distinctive shine to the pieces.
At this historic atelier, you’ll have the opportunity to observe skilled artisans as they demonstrate the unique process of creating barro negro pottery. You’ll learn about the traditional methods used to mold and polish the clay, resulting in the signature glossy finish that has made these pieces famous worldwide.
