Our guiding principles are what make Tlayudona unique.
- Our hosts have complete autonomy over the experiences they offer. They control their schedules, they design their experiences, and they set their prices.
- We recognize the multiplicity of talents cultivated by our hosts and encourage creativity. One of our hosts is an expert in renewable energy AND alebrije-painting, and another is a sociologist AND coffee-enthusiast. The world is complex, and we are too.
- We work predominantly with women hosts and our core team is all women. Women’s contributions are central to every aspect of Oaxaca, and yet they are often invisibilized. We provide a platform for our narratives to be told and heard.
- Our pricing is fair. We compensate our hosts well for their time, their materials, and any food they prepare. We offer reliable, quality experiences. We are also actively seeking grant opportunities to be able to extend our service projects in the communities where we bring visitors.
- We stimulate the local economy. Unlike corporate travel that funnels earnings back to international headquarters, ALL of the money earned by Tlayudona stays in Oaxaca, with the highest percentage going directly to our partnering Oaxacan hosts.
- We build community. One of the most defining aspects of Oaxacan life is the emphasis on community and collectivity. When we work together and allow all members of our community to bring their unique contributions to the table, amazing things happen.
- We believe that cross-cultural learning and understanding can build bridges, dispel stereotypes, and forge new alliances based on love and respect. We emphasize learning through acknowledging difference, and we provide a safe space for women and minority travelers.
Our Mission
At Tlayudona, our mission is to celebrate the vibrant culture of Oaxaca through immersive and educative travel experiences. We believe that by connecting travelers with local hosts who have complete autonomy over their offerings, we can create meaningful and authentic interactions that benefit both our community and our visitors.
Our Vision
We strive to create a positive impact by empowering local communities and preserving the cultural heritage of Oaxaca. Through our partnerships with local artisans, international visitors, and community organizations; we aim to stimulate economic growth, foster sustainable practices, and create social initiatives that directly benefit our network of local women hosts.
What We Do
Tlayudona provides unique and authentic experiences in Oaxaca based upon intercultural learning and mutual respect. The idea is that our hosts design the experiences that they offer, and our visitors are their guests. We approach travel this way in order to address the needs of both our hosts and our guests without exploiting local sites, culture, or people. We’ve given a lot of thought to our model, and take pride in subverting the power dynamics of conventional tourism. That’s why Tlayudona focuses on ancestral knowledge while ensuring our hosts’ control over the experiences they offer. We maintain a strong commitment to the inclusion of women and other minority groups in our project.
Our Origins
Tlayudona was born out of the intersection of two ideas: A sociological analysis about how we experience culture, people, and places during travel; and a practical desire to connect people who are visiting Oaxaca to our local community. Tlayudona was founded by a woman who had noticed how visitors arrive in Oaxaca wanting to connect with Oaxaca´s culture in authentic and respectful ways, but how the path to doing so was not always evident. At the same time, so many of our friends here in Oaxaca were doing amazing things that the rest of the world knew nothing about. So we decided to build that bridge across cultures, customs & languages, and call it Tlayudona.
Tlayudona has been delivering authentic experiences to people from around the world for more than 7 years now! Our current core team is composed of three local women and one from the US, and you can visit us in our cozy space in Oaxaca’s city center. We continue to work with our beloved network of thirty local hosts (predominantly women & their families) to bring you the best of Oaxaca while making a positive impact on our community!
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