Oaxaca Craft + Culture Tour

Written By Kirsten Dickerson

DATES: AUGUST 2027 (more details soon)

GUESTS: 10 adults + 2 hosts

PRICING: $3,600 per person, shared occupancy

  • $1000 deposit due with registration to secure a spot

  • Registration opens July 2027

  • Please inquire about single supplement/private room availability.

Interest List
 

Oaxaca is a culinary and folk art lover’s dream - rich in history, culture, color, and charm. 

This magical week in Oaxaca will be a delight to all your senses as we explore the beauty of traditional artisan crafts, taste some of the most incredible cuisine, hike the Sierra Madre mountains, and discover why this little corner of Mexico has been such an inspiration and influence around the world. This is a journey for people who desire to experience the richness and diversity of Oaxaca authentically and colourfully. One of the key aims of our tour is to weave connections between foreign travelers and locals that place a strong emphasis on cultural sensitivity and respect, to give recognition to the traditions, artisans, and culture of Oaxaca

A 7-day, 6-night culinary and folk art lovers’ dream in the heart of Oaxaca.

Oaxaca is a culinary and folk art lover’s dream, rich in history, culture, color, and charm. We will be staying at a delightful designer hacienda in the heart of Oaxaca city, handpicked by ARTIST & NOMAD.

Our local co-host, Ana Paula Fuentes, is at the forefront of Oaxacan culture and will be an excellent guide in helping us experience this incredible city from an insider’s perspective. She is a Mexican social designer and photographer living in Oaxaca and creating participatory and relational art. Ana founded and directed the Museo Textil de Oaxaca, is a cultural travel guide and textile consultant, and specializes in the culture and traditions of Mexico.

We will dine at some of our favorite restaurants, learn about the history and local customs, hike the Sierra Madre Mountains with an indigenous naturalist, take a cooking class to learn how to make Oaxacan cuisine, and visit historic sites such as Monte Alban. We will visit multiple artisans’ workshops to learn from the artisans about natural dying, various weaving techniques, black pottery, wood carving, and traditional candlemaking. And of course there will be tastings of mole, mezcal, and chocolate.

The tour will finish with a very special dinner and screening of Handmade Future in Oaxaca City with the artisans from Oaxaca featured in the film.

What’s included

Accommodations: We will be staying at a beautiful restored historic designer hacienda in the heart of Oaxaca City, handpicked by ARTIST & NOMAD. We have stayed at many places in Oaxaca City, and this is our favorite.

Transportation: All local transportation and airport transfers are included.

Meals: All meals as noted on the final itinerary are included. A few meals will be on your own in Oaxaca City, and we will provide a list of suggestions. The culinary scene in Oaxaca is world renowned for such a small city. We will eat in artisan homes as well as some well known Oaxacan restuarants. Everything will locally sourced, incredible cuisine that is deeply tied to the culture and history you will encounter. Are you craving mole yet?

Experiences:

  • All daily guided tours and experiences listed on the itinerary, including our co-host who is an expert in all things culture and craft in Oaxaca.

  • Visit to artisan homes to learn about their culture and crafts.

  • Oaxaca cooking class that starts with a chef guided tour of a local market to source ingredients

  • Multiple artisan workshop visits as well as visits to artisan homes. Workshops include hands-on demonstrations in weaving, natural indigo dying, candle making, and black pottery.

  • Exploring Zapotec and other ancient cultural sites such as Monte Alban.

  • Visits to some of our favorite museums in Oaxaca City, such as the Textile Museum and Culture Museum.

  • Special foodie experiences such as mezcal and chocolate tastings.

  • A day trip to hike in the Sierra Norte Mountains with a local indigenous naturalist who will teach us about the local herbs and plants that influence Oaxacan culture.

  • Curated insider list of our favorite artisan shops, restaurants, and museums in Oaxaca City.

  • Screening of Handmade Future with the artisans from Oaxaca in the film

  • ARTIST & NOMAD tote bag and journal

A detailed itinerary and specific accommodations are provided to registered travelers only.

What’s not included?

Airfare, travel insurance, airport transfers outside of group plans, tips, extra food, alcohol, and personal purchases.

Details

  • Age Requirement: All travelers must be 18 years or older.

    Pricing Per Person:

    • $3,600 USD- shared occupancy.

    • Please email us about single supplement/private room availability and extra fee

    • A portion of your fee goes toward the ARTIST & NOMAD Artisan Fund.

    • You participation on this tour will fund meals for Oaxacans in need through our local partners (we donated the equivalent of the number of meals eaten during the tour.)

    Due with registration : $1000 USD (non-refundable).

  • Deposit: $1000 USD due with registration.

    2nd payment due Feb 1, 2027: $1300 USD (+ if applicable, single supplement room fee)

    3rd payment due May 1, 2027: $1,300 USD

    Payment Terms: Our tours and retreats are intentionally small, and cancellations have a significant impact on our team and our local partners. For this reason, all payments are required, non-refundable, and non-transferable, except for the few situations noted in our Terms.

    ARTIST & NOMAD Full Terms: Please review our Full Terms before registering.

  • Travel Packet: 3-4 weeks after your tour registration, you’ll receive a detailed packet to help you prepare for your journey. This will include everything needed to prepare for your journey, including a detailed itinerary, travel arrival/departure guidelines, packing list, travel insurance information, cultural insights, and other travel tips.

    • Flights: The tour packet we provide will have detailed information you need to book your flights and travel insurance. You are responsible for booking both on time and following the arrival and departure details we provide.

      • Please don’t purchase flights until ARTIST & NOMAD sends you the detailed itinerary and arrival/departure guidelines.

    • Travel insurance: This is required to protect you in case of a medical emergency or unexpected change of plans. We recommend a plan that includes medical care, accidents, cancellations, etc and your ARTIST & NOMAD tour fees.

      • Select a plan level, from a company of your choosing, which brings you the most peace of mind. For the most complete protection—such as “Cancel For Any Reason” or coverage for pre-existing medical conditions—be sure to purchase within 21 days of your ARTIST & NOMAD deposit.Passport & Visa: Please ensure your passport it is current and secure any visa needed, depending on your nationality.

      • European and US citizens do not currently need a visa to travel to Morocco.

    Connect Online: ARTIST & NOMAD will host a group video call via Google Meet, usually 2-3 months before the tour. This invites our travelers a chance to connect, ask questions, and learn more about the upcoming adventure in Morocco. You will receive an email with a detailed link when it is scheduled.

  • Activity Level: This tour requires a moderate level of activity. While not overly strenuous, it includes lots of walking and hiking, sometimes on uneven terrain. Please ensure you are physically able to keep up with the group if you plan to join this tour.

    Vaccines: Please check the CDC website for updated health notices and vaccine recommendations, and visit your doctor or a travel nurse to discuss what is best for you.

    • You are responsible for ensuring you have the vaccinations or vaccination exemptions required for travel and entry into your destination.

    • Currently, there are no vaccines required to enter Mexico.

    Health Policy: Please be sensitive to being guests in a foreign country (many locals do not drink) and avoid all excessive drinking. If alcohol is available on this tour, we kindly ask that you enjoy it mindfully and in moderation. Please note that smoking and drug use are not permitted.

  • Please read ARTIST & NOMAD’s Full Terms and Travel Philosophy before you register. Agreement to these terms is required to travel with ARTIST & NOMAD.

  • Questions? We are updating our FAQ page. In the meantime, please email us, and we’d be happy to connect and answer any questions.

 

Meet Your Hosts

Kirsten Dickerson, founder of A&N, will be co-hosting this tour with a trusted local friend. Kirsten has traveled extensively (over 40 countries), building meaningful long-term relationships with artisans, designers, and local guides. Kirsten worked alongside multiple artisans in Oaxaca, and she is thrilled to share some of the people and places she loves with you on this journey. She is an active advocate for the global artisan community through design, film, and travel. Kirsten is also the director of HANDMADE FUTURE documentary which she co-produced with her husband Brandon Dickerson. Together they live in Central Texas and focus on living a life of intentionality focused on creativity, contemplation, creation care, and community.


Ana Paula Fuentes is our local host and is at the forefront of Oaxacan culture and will be an excellent guide in helping us experience this incredible city from an insider’s perspective. She is a Mexican social designer and photographer living in Oaxaca and creating participatory and relational art. Ana founded and directed the Museo Textil de Oaxaca, is a cultural travel guide and textile consultant, and specializes in the culture and traditions of Mexico.

Sample Itinerary

The complete itinerary and accommodations are shared with registered travelers only. Travel- especially with a group-can require flexibility. To help create the best experience for everyone, ARTIST & NOMOAD may adjust the itinerary as needed before or during the trip.

  • Arrival Day

    • Arrive in the afternoon and check into the hotel. Relax and enjoy our beautiful hotel courtyard and rooftop.

    • Welcome reception at the hotel on the rooftop. Meet your hosts: Kirsten and Ana Paula.

    • Walk to dinner at Casa Oaxaca, a favorite local spot that is well known for its delicious food.

    • Walking Tour and Cooking Class

      • Breakfast at the hotel.

      • Optional morning yoga on the rooftop.

      • Morning walking tour of Oaxaca City with Ana Paula Fuentes, including stops at key places such as the cathedral, cultural museum, gardens, galleries, and the Textile Museum. Ana is an expert in the local culture and artisan crafts. She is also feature in the Handmade Future documentary. We are so happy to partner with Ana for our tour, and you will see her throughout the week.

      • Lunch at La Olla, a favorite casual eatery,

      • Spend the afternoon at a cooking class with a local chef to discover the heart of Oaxacan cuisine. The class includes a market visit to source produce used in preparing the dinner meal together.

  • Textile Tour Day 

    • Breakfast at the hotel.

    • Optional morning yoga on the rooftop.

    • Today we visit various artisan cooperatives and experts that focus on weaving and natural dye techniques. We will head to Mitla to meet master artisan Arturo and his family of incredible weavers. Learn about natural dyes, spinning, and different types of weaving from the family.

    • We will visit with Arturo and his family from the HANDMADE FUTURE Documentary and learn directly about the beauty and importance of the traditional textiles in this region.

    • Lunch will be in one of the traditional eateries in the artisan community.

    • After lunch we will visit the ruins in Mitla enjoy a mescal tasting before returning to our hotel.

    • Dinner will be on your own in Oaxaca City, choosing from our curated list or one you find through your own research. Be sure to reserve a month ahead of our tour to ensure you get a table. Reserve for a 7pm or later.

    • Hiking with a Local Naturalist

      • Breakfast at the hotel.

      • Today, we ascend into the ancient high-country cloud forest of the Sierra Norte. Our destination is La Cumbre / Santa Catarina Ixtepeji, perched at an elevation of 3,200 meters (10,499 feet), one of the highest points in the region.

      • We embark on a 4-hour loop hike through a dreamlike landscape: towering agaves, pink-barked madrones, moss-draped fir trees, and panoramic vistas of valleys, ridges, and remote pueblos. In this sacred forest, something is always in bloom—wildflowers grace the trails year-round.

      • After the hike, we descend to the village of Las Ánimas, known as the heart of the traditional chocolate qwirl craft. A lovingly prepared local lunch here is a well-earned and unforgettable reward.

      • Return to the hotel to freshen up before dinner at Tierra del Sol.

      • Note: we have a long drive to and from the mountains, so we will have an early start and later dinner this day.

  • Artisan Craft Tour.

    • Breakfast at hotel

    • Optional morning yoga session on the rooftop

    • Ana will take us to meet special folk artisans that are masters in candle making, black ceramics, and wood carving in  Teotitlán del Valle. These artisans are preserving culture and traditions that date back centuries. You will have the opportunity to learn from.the artisans as well as shop to support them.

    • Lunch will be in one of the artisan communities in between visits at a favorite local spot during our artisan tour.

    • Return to relax and freshen up at the hotel.

    • Dinner will be on your own today. Choose from our curated list or one you find on your own research. Be sure to reserve a month prior to our trip to ensure you get a spot. We suggest  reserving for 7pm or later.

    • Monte Alban and Special Evening Event

      • Breakfast at hotel

      • We will head out for a morning tour of Monte Alban with a local expert to learn about the traditional Zapotec people and culture. There will be a lot of walking and stairs today as well as exposure to the sun. Dress accordingly.

      • We will return for lunch at Ancestral in Oaxaca City.

      • After lunch, enjoy a free afternoon. We will offer a list of the best artisan based shops to support as well as galleries and museums to explore.

      • Early evening  special screening of HANDMADE FUTURE with the artisans featured in the film followed by a wonderful final dinner together with the artisan families and our local host Ana Paula Fuentes. This will be the first time the artisans see the film and a very special way to close our tour together.

  • Departure Day

    • Breakfast at the hotel

    • Optional morning yoga on the rooftop

    • Departure after breakfast. Check by 11am. You can leave your luggage at the hotel and enjoy the city until time to head to the airport. The hotel will help to arrange your taxi transfer based on your flight time.

    • Safe journey home. It has been a pleasure to experience beautiful Oaxaca with you. Thank you for coming to learn about and celebrate the traditional food and crafts that make this region so special. Your presence has helped to contribute the livelihoods and practices of the locals so they they can preserve and continue their traditions for future generations.

Kirsten Dickerson
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