Remember arts & crafts time as a kid? Finger painting? Choreographing your own dance moves? When was the last time you created something just for the heck of it? Been a while? We hear you. Finger painting doesn’t always take priority over work, dishes and exercise...

We believe creativity is one of our most precious resources. And good news— We’ve all got it. We just need the space and a bit of inspiration to let our creative spirits run free. 

Our trips are designed to remove you from your day-to-day routine and get your hands dirty. Pick up a hammer, crush some fruits for a natural dye, hand shape + design your own wool hat. There is incredible joy in creating this way. Unblocking our creativity allows us to show up more authentically in all the other corners of our lives.

This isn’t just a retreat. It’s a deep dive into tradition, connection to the earth and the far reaching impacts of sustainable craftsmanship. A unique opportunity to gather as a small group and enjoy the infinite possibilities of creativity and empowerment that come from new experiences with like-minded women.

Flight Info:

Best airport: Quito Mariscal Sucre International Airport

Pick up time: We will offer pick up from Quito area (Hosteria Airport Garden Hotel) Saturday morning 9/30 at 9am. We recommend arriving to Quito Friday night and staying nearby. Here are some recommendations for places to stay in and around Quito. For return flights, we will drop off in Quito around 12:30 PM on Friday October 6. We recommend booking departing flights around 2:30 PM or later.

**If these transport times don't line up with the flights you find, you are able to book your own transfer from San Pablo Lake (trip start and end) to Quito. This journey is about 1.5 hours and costs around $50.

Make Your Own Wallet - An afternoon visit to our leathersmith’s home studio for a tour, wallet workshop and conversation surrounding the impacts of leather.

Make Your Own Hat - We’ll stop by our fifth-generation hat partner’s home to understand how hats are made and to make one for ourselves.

Natural Dying - We’ll spend a few hours hanging out and working alongside our artisan partners to create our own batch of natural dyes. BYOT (bring your own t-shirt or fabric!)

Understand Our Process - You might have seen how much work goes into our plant-fiber bags; We’ll join our artisan partners on the cactus farm (with beautiful views!) to see how we create cabuya, the cactus fiber we use in our bags.

plus...
Yoga, Meditation and Breath work 

Journaling & Writing Prompts

Waterfall Hike

Visit to the Famous Otavalo Market

...and so much more!

• Do I have to be an artist?
  • No! To us, creativity is all about following your curiosities and experimenting. Whether this is crafting a delicious meal, provoking vulnerable conversations or painting a masterpiece… you, my friend, are a creative ;) 
• Is everything included in the price?
  • Yes m’am! Everything except alcohol, trip insurance and your flight out here.
• How many girls will be on the trip?
  • We are keeping our group to 9 guests to create a more intimate, small group experience.
• Will you be offering any scholarships or discounts for people coming from Ecuador?
  • Yes, we will be offering 1-2 $500 scholarships for those who identify as BIPOC or come from Ecuador descent. Please Apply Here.
• Will I have my own room? 
  • No. We stay in an adobe home which gives us the space to connect through family meals and hangouts — with this comes shared sleeping quarters + shared bathrooms. There is one opportunity to share a King bed with a pal for a $150 discount. All other rooms are shared between 2-3 people.
• Can I pay incrementally?
  • Yes, we are offering a payment plan or you may pay in full. 
• What's the closest airport to fly in and out of?
  • Quito is the closest airport, about 1 hour from Otavalo.
• Do I need travel insurance?
  • Yes, we require that all participants are signed up for travel insurance that covers personal injury, medical expenses and emergency evacuation expenses. Travel insurance typically costs between $50-$100 USD. We recommend the following options: World Nomads, USI or Allianz. 
• Do you offer refunds?
  • No, we do not, but you can always put the trip towards your friends' stay.