Natural dyes and weaving workshop

San Juan La Laguna, Guatemala

E
Etnica
  • Email address verified
25 reviews
Duration: 1 day
Group size: 2 - 6
Natural dyes and weaving workshop
San Juan La Laguna, Guatemala

Etnica
  • Email address verified
25 reviews

Duration: 1 day
Group size: 2 - 6

About this trip

The handmade textiles from San Juan la Laguna are characterized by their vibrant colors, intricate patterns, and high quality craftsmanship. The weavers use plants, fruits, and insects to create a wide range of colors, from deep blues and purples to bright yellows and oranges. The use of natural dyes not only gives the textiles their unique color palette but also reflects the weavers' commitment to sustainable and environmentally-friendly practices. In this 3 hour workshop, the women will teach you the whole weaving process from scratch. This includes cotton thread spinning, extracting the natural dyes and how to assemble the backstrap loom and use it. Apart from preparing the thread, you'll also be able to dye your own white cotton garment with the natural colors you produce. 

Starts at 9:00AM in San Juan la Laguna, Lake Atitlan. 

What's included

Includes:

-3 hour weaving workshop with women weavers of San Juan la Laguna in Spanish*  

-textile demonstration

-materials for class (natural fibers, backstrap loom and threads)

-final piece (take your creation with you)

-contribution to social project visited

*If you need a translator, you can add it as an add-on option. 

Booking & Cancellation Policy

If you need to cancel your day trip package, please email us at hola@etnicatravel.com with your order reference number and “Cancellation” in the email title. Cancellations will only be effective when we receive a written confirmation of your decision to cancel the package.

If you cancel your package at least 48 hours prior to the scheduled departure time, you may be eligible for a refund. However, if you cancel less than 48 hours before the scheduled departure time, no refunds will be available. We reserve the right to assess other refund possibilities based on the circumstances of the cancellation. Please note that an email stating your desire to cancel your package is an irrevocable notice, and you will not be able to change your mind once you have sent this notice, even if we have not yet acknowledged the cancellation in writing. We understand that sometimes unforeseen circumstances can arise, and we will do our best to accommodate your needs within our cancellation policy guidelines. If you have any questions or concerns about our cancellation policy, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Available Packages

Price per person groups of 2 to 6
Available until 5 days before departure

This is the price per person for groups of 2 to 6 travelers. This price includes: 

-3 hour weaving workshop with women weavers of San Juan la Laguna in Spanish*  

-textile demonstration

-materials for class (natural fibers, backstrap loom and threads)

-final piece (take your creation with you)

-contribution to social project visited

*If you need a translator, you can add it as an add-on option. 

*Price per person, a minimum of 2 participants are required. 

*If you're traveling alone but would like to join a group, please let us know before booking and we'll do our best to accommodate you.

*Larger groups may be eligible for additional discounts. Please contact us for more information.

$100

Available options

Translator
$65

This workshop is carried out in Spanish, if you need support from a translator you can include it for an additional cost. Price per group. 

Your Organizer


E
Etnica
25 reviews
At Etnica we invite you to discover culture by experiencing it and encourage you to interact with local communities and learn about the traditions and cultural heritage that make them unique while you discover Guatemala and southern Mexico. We design tailor-made experiences, tours and workshops with local operators and families in their beautiful surroundings. If you are a hands-on travel enthusiast; we welcome you to learn from the best and participate in real and authentic cultural encounters.

Reviews

BP
This was a wonderful cooking class! The guide was very knowledgeable and cooking instructor was excellent. I learned several new cooking techniques and the food was delicious.
By Beth P for Local Cooking Class - Beth Payne on Nov 15, 2024
We had an incredible visit to Guatemala thanks to Etnica Travel! We got to pick our basic itinerary and activities including transfers and Pablo and his team did the rest. We set up activities like weaving, hikes, visiting a midwife/healers collective, bird watching, visiting Antigua, San Juan de Laguna, and Santa Catarina Polopo around Lake Atitlan. The local guides, Benjamin and Sophie, were wonderful people and incredibly knowledgeable. It was a joy spending time with them. The activities were all with local people who welcomed us warmly into their gardens, homes, and villages and we felt so fortunate to meet them and learn about their culture, history, and ways of life. Etnica also gave us great recommendations for other things to do all over Guatemala. The app was also amazing, and every driver was also incredibly prompt and drove very safe getting us to our destinations. We could not have had such an intimate and incredible experience getting to know the people of Guatemala without Etnica Travel. We had a last minute flight change but Pablo rearranged everything to make it all work. I’m very glad our tourist dollars went directly to local Guatemalans. My highest recommendations and we will definitely be booking more trips with them when we return! Thank you so much for an incredible trip!
By Jay P for Immersive Cultural Experiences in the Guatemalan Highlands - Jay Patel on Jun 28, 2024
This was an unforgettable holiday, and your hard work made it seem effortless. Huge thanks to all the drivers and guides who took us around your beautiful country. We loved all the marvellous hotels that were charming, well-run and safe. We managed to get a glimpse of how wonderful Guatemala was, and it was just stunning. I loved every moment and every place we went to. And your drivers and guides were timely, thoughtful, helpful and knowledgeable. Due to travel sickness, I often had to sit near the front, and all the drivers were kindly and helpful. The guides were intuitive, easy to talk to and full of great facts. All the hotels were terrific, although I think we would have preferred staying at Hotel Atitlan when we were at the lake. Thank you so much for helping us all discover some of the great charms of Guatemala in only 8 days!
By Rachel E for Essential Guatemala: 8 Days of Must-See Highlights on Mar 26, 2024
The trip was a truly awesome opportunity to witness the culture and natural beauty of Guatemala. The arrangements and guides provided experiences we would not have had if we ventured alone.
By Katherine S for Essential Guatemala: 8 Days of Must-See Highlights on Mar 18, 2024
Dear Katherine, we appreciate you sharing your experience exploring Guatemala with us! ¡Muchas gracias!
By Etnica on Mar 19, 2024
E
ME
We had a wonderful trip. Merida and its surroundings is a wonderful place, but the highlight of the trip was Pablo and Etnica travel. He did not leave a single detail out and the places he chose for us were incredible.
By MARIA EUGENIA DE S for Explorando Yucatán - Viaje de amigas en Mérida! on Feb 07, 2024
Dear Cuqui, we appreciate your wonderful comments and that you're taking the time to share details about your experience in Merida. We loved showing you around and Pablo's really enjoying the wonderful gift you brought from Guate! Muchas gracias! Come back and visit whenever you can!
By Etnica on Feb 07, 2024
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References

I had a truly incredible experience in Guatemala - and I have Pablo and the Etnica team to thank for it! Pablo worked closely with me to design a custom trip for my friend and me, taking into consideration our logistical preferences, interests, time window, and budget. As the primary planner for my friend's and my trip, I was in frequent communication with Pablo, and I was impressed by his expertise, professionalism, warmth, and dedication. It is clear that he is passionate about what he does, and wants his travelers to experience the best of what Guatemala has to offer! During our trip itself, everything was smooth, efficient, and executed perfectly, from airport transfers / transportation, food and cultural recommendations, and comfortable, conveniently-located accommodations. All of our guides were incredibly friendly, treating us like friends rather than "tourists"; in fact, I felt that my interactions with the locals were perhaps the best part of this whole experience. At the end of the trip, I remained in Guatemala solo, while my friend returned to the states. During this time, I continued to take tours and explore Guatemala per Pablo's recommendations, and I felt safe, met incredible people, and gained a huge appreciation for the culture and people. I will recommend Etnica to my friends and family with great enthusiasm, and I can't wait to return! Thank you for everything, Pablo! -Kim from NYC
By Kim T on 21 Apr, 2023
I traveled as a teacher with students and can say with full sincerity that our tour guide, Pablo, exceeded every expectation I had for the trip! Not only did my students see beautiful tourist attractions and learn about the history of those places, but the best was them having multiple opportunities to meet and spend time getting to know people and their different ways of life all across the country. Having chaperoned educational tours with various companies, I can easily say that this one facilitated the best cultural learning and human connections for myself and my students. Many thanks, Etnica, for the experience and the memories!
By Emily H on 31 Aug, 2022