Tour Description: Teotitlan del Valle, located 28 kms (17 miles) east of Oaxaca in the Tlacolula valley, is world famous for the production of woven woolen rugs and many other artistic and craft ventures. Our first stop will be at Casa Viviana, a candle-making workshop, where we will have a demonstration of the process of creating elaborate candles from beeswax. Doña Viviana Alávez is the matriarch for a tradition spanning four generations.

We will then visit Nueva Vida, a women’s co-operative, established more than 25 years ago, at a time when independent female weavers were not recognized in Teotitlan. We will learn the history of the cooperative and its current activities and will have a demonstration of how they make their natural dyes. Following that we will visit a nearby café where a local chocolate maker and her family will demonstrate the art of making

chocolate and will offer samples to the group. This will also be our lunch stop, a favorite comedor offering intense flavors of local dishes. Finally, we will visit Arte Seda, a family-run business where silkworms are cultivated, and their silk made into thread and then woven into various articles. The family will show us the process of growing the worms. This is the only silkworm enterprise in the immediate Oaxaca area.

Additional Costs:  Lunch (including beverage) and the chocolate demonstration/tasting will cost about $200. There will be ample opportunity to buy

chocolate, woven goods, and candles at the various places we visit. Please bring cash for these purchases.

Lunch Stop: We will lunch at the El Jaguar restaurant in Teotitlan

This tour will depart on time at 9:00 am  from Calle Los Libres behind the Grand Fiesta Americana Hotel. Plan to arrive 15 minutes before departure time. Unclaimed seats may be re-sold at boarding time.

If this tour is sold out, you can take a chance that seats may be available and come to the boarding spot 15 minutes before departure. These seats must be paid for in cash.

No Refunds will be available. If you are not able to attend the event, you are welcome to sell your reservation to others. Please notify the library of change of name for reservation.