Experience Oaxaca with Tlayudona
Our immersion experiences are the heart of Tlayudona’s programming. We focus on people-centered travel rather than traditional sightseeing, fostering genuine human connections across cultures.
Over the last eight years, we have developed collaborative hands-on programming with a network of local hosts. Each host has complete autonomy over their offerings, ensuring no two Tlayudona experiences are alike. Our hosts’ unique interests, knowledge, experiences, and communication style blend with your own engagement to shape how these immersions unfold.
We believe it is crucial for women to be at the forefront of as many experiences as possible, ensuring their voices and narratives are part of the dialogue that emerges from their agency as protagonists in their own stories. We also seek to challenge the pitfalls of conventional tourism by removing the filters that often romanticize or oversimplify complex cultural phenomena. We invite you to engage with our experiences and our hosts, to ask lots of questions, and to immerse yourselves in these worlds within worlds.
Below are the four immersion experiences we are hosting for your group. You are welcome to participate in any or all of them. A Google Form will be sent to collect your sign-up details, dietary restrictions, and other relevant information. Pre-registration helps us determine how many groups or vans to allocate for each activity. (Last-minute registrations will be accepted later, subject to availability.) Our Art Walk has two dates, although we can open more slots depending on interest. Our other activities that require transportation have one date open for sign-ups, although we have a potential second date blocked off once the van capacity is reached. We will update the Google Form options as specific dates are filled. You will receive an email notification regarding your specific itinerary once we have received all sign-ups.
1. Not Your Average Art Walk
Dates:
January 8th 10:00 am- 2:00 pm (Group 1) full
January 8th 3:00 pm- 7:00 pm (Group 3) optional*
January 10th 10:00 am- 2:00 pm (Group 2) available place
January 10th 3:00 pm- 7:00 pm (Group 4) optional*
Duration: Approximately 4 hours
Starting Location: Oaxaca Centro, Tlayudona (M. Bravo 210 C, Oaxaca de Juárez)
Description: In a 1996 article, a New York Times correspondent described Oaxaca as an “artistic epicenter,” noting that the city has gained an international reputation for the descriptors attributed to it– “cultural Mecca“, “land of creation”–and its representation as an authentic, multicolored place with its past remaining “alive within the present“. This external vision conceives us, in some way, as artistically exceptional.
But how are aesthetics and politics intertwined in Oaxaca’s artistic production? And at what specific moments do these dimensions merge to influence the culture and identity of the region?
We will begin with a presentation that will transport you through the 20th century to understand the artistic context of Oaxaca, highlighting the importance of Rufino Tamayo, Rodolfo Nieto, Francisco Toledo and Rodolfo Morales, who were pillars of the well-known “Oaxacan School of Art”–a term that Andrés Henestrosa used to describe the artistic production of that time. But what does this term really mean? What are the similarities and repetitions across Oaxacan works of art?
We will journey across the city center, navigating a complex cross-section of protest art, museums, graphic art spaces, and murals to address these questions. As we explore contemporary artistic production, we find that while each artist forges their own path, these parallel trajectories often intertwine, creating powerful intersections of resistance and visibility. In some cases, this sparks change and creates platforms for social organization around specific injustices. Throughout this dynamic process of constructing a collective geographic and historical memory, there is an omnipresent dialogue between aesthetics, politics, culture, and identity in art.
Oaxacan street art is constantly evolving, so you’ll get to interact with a current and often transient depiction of pertinent issues in our community. After the presentation, your host will lead you through the streets of Oaxaca’s city center on a curated route that includes various dynamic art spaces.
Costs & Registration Info: 4-8 people per group.
Borchard Fellow Discount: $950 MXN pp (Cost to the public $1,100 MXN)
Additional Information: Wear hats and/or sunscreen. There is art available for purchase at some of the stops along the route. (Bring pesos optional.)
2. Hands in Clay: Black Pottery
Date/s: January 11th (Group 1) January 13th (Optional Group 2 if group 1 is filled)
Duration: Approximately 7 hours
Location: The village of San Bartolo Coyotepec
Transportation: Included.
Description: Meet Doña Sandra, a bold, proud ambassador of San Bartolo Coyotepec’s barro negro, (black clay) pottery traditions. As the host of Tlayudona’s hands-on black clay experiences, she welcomes visitors with a remarkable warmth and openness that transmit her passion for her craft and community.
Exercise your creativity and develop new skills alongside Sandra’s dynamic family, who are dedicated to this traditional art form. Sandra is just as sharp and quick with her anecdotes as her hands are with the clay. Her husband, Rogelio, is her clay sous chef, consistently handing her the precise tool she envisions before she even verbalizes the need. Sandra’s daughter studied culture and tourism from a critical lens and has a pointed analysis that adds depth to our dialogues while we are working in clay. And Sandra’s son is a herpetologist with a menagerie of rescued animals in various stages of rehabilitation that might make an appearance.
Our host family will take you through the intricate process of molding and shaping the barro negro, giving you the freedom to explore your creativity while sharing tales of their experiences. You’ll learn how the distinctive black sheen of the pottery is achieved through a process that requires patience and precision, and how a myriad of found and upcycled objects are adapted into decorating tools.
Sandra can help you hone your techniques if you already have some pottery experience, or introduce you to the basics of working with clay if you’re a beginner. Regardless of your experience level, the unique characteristics of black clay and the special cultural context of San Bartolo will make this a new and memorable experience for you. Even more than the techniques at hand, it’s the human stories—those of resilience, quirky familial anecdotes, and adaptation in a changing market—that draw you into Sandra’s world. Her work with clay encapsulates tradition and organic cycles and processes, but also the complexities of a market driven by capitalism and a shift from utilitarian forms to commodities.
Sandra will prepare a typical Oaxacan brunch made from local ingredients, accompanied by the rich, frothy hot chocolate that Oaxaca is known for. As you work, there will be water, fruit water, and locally-distilled mezcal on hand.
Costs & Registration Info: 8-12 people per group
Borchard Fellow Discount: $1,700 MXN pp (Cost to the public $1,800 MXN pp)
Additional Information: Your pieces will be laid out to dry for 5-7 days in order for them to dehydrate evenly and not crack when fired. They will then be fired and returned to your hotels. In the case that your pieces are not ready to be fired in time for your departure (due to erratic weather conditions), you are welcome to take them home unfired, or to have them fired & delivered to you at your own cost.
3. Mezcal Immersion: Yagul Valley
Date/s: January 12th (Group 1) January 14th (Optional Group 2 if group 1 is filled)
Duration: Approximately 8-9 hours
Location: The village of Yagul
Transportation: Included.
Description: Step into the rugged terrain of Yagul, Oaxaca, and let the aroma of fermented agave accompany you through Don Jerónimo’s palenque, a place where farming traditions meet artistry, science, and innovation. Nestled amongst broken remains of a Zapotec city, Don Jerónimo’s family-run distillery feels a bit timeless.
Don Jerónimo has just as much personality as the drink he crafts. With a leathery expression marked by years beneath the Oaxacan sun, he welcomes visitors with fast Spanish peppered with Zapotec and English words. Every bottle of mezcal he produces carries his story—of the agave plants that take years to mature, of generations of farming, and of the ancestral medicinal plant knowledge passed on to him when he was young.
For Jerónimo, mezcal is not just a spirit. Amidst his conic oven, his collection of pre-hispanic artifacts retrieved over time from the same soil that nurtures his agaves to harvest, and the inviting aroma of his wife Natividad’s cooking, Jerónimo shares the process behind each step of transforming agave into mezcal. You will learn about the roasting, crushing, fermenting, and distilling—an age-old rhythm that has been adapted in certain ways to meet an exponential market demand, but in other ways, decidedly adheres to ancestral practices.
Don Jerónimo has a way of weaving mezcal into the very fabric of life. His stories are vivid and filled with the warmth of Oaxacan hospitality, but also laced with dark humor and fascinating doses of medicinal plant wisdom and spiritual anecdotes. Whether you’re seeking anecdotes for your own narrative or simply a moment of grounded connection with the earth and the harmonious juncture where plants, trees, and water come together to create mezcal, Jerónimo and Natividad’s palenque offer both.
Nature will dictate some of the details of your day’s experience, as weather is always a factor. Go on a hike amongst an array of agave varieties, or hop into the back of a pick-up truck to journey farther out into the fields. Engage with whatever part of the distillation process is actively unfolding, and walk through the rest with our maestro distiller. Train your palate to identify aromas, tastes, aftertastes, alcoholic percentages, plant varieties, and more. Feast on a delicious homemade meal, a culmination of Natividad’s loving labor.
You will feel at home in mezcal country without a doubt, and you’ll know where to return when your bottle and your spirit need to be filled!
Costs & Registration Info: 8-12 people per group
Borchard Fellow Discount: $2,300 MXN pp (Cost to the public $2,400 MXN pp)
Additional Information: You can purchase mezcal directly from the distilling family in Mexican pesos (wholesale if you bring your own recycled bottles) or bottled for airport security.
4. Painting Alebrijes: Dream Creatures of Arrazola
Date/s: January 13th (Group 1) January 14th (Optional Group 2 if group 1 is filled)
Duration: Approximately 7 hours
Location: The village of Arrazola
Transportation: Included.
Description: Join us for an immersive experience in the polychromatic village of Arrazola, one of the birthplaces of the world-renowned Oaxacan alebrijes. In collaboration with the talented Talladores de Sueños (Dreamcarvers) Jiménez family workshop, you’ll have the unique opportunity to paint your very own alebrije—a brightly colored, hand-carved wooden figure that’s a signature of the region’s artistry and ancestral history.
An alebrije is a whimsical, hand-carved piece brought to life with vibrant, intricate colors and imaginative designs. These fantastical creatures, often blending features of animals both real and mythical, are rooted in the artistic traditions of Oaxaca’s indigenous communities. Each alebrije is a unique creation, representing not only the skill and creativity of the artisan but also the deep cultural significance of storytelling and symbolism woven throughout Oaxacan heritage. From dreamlike dragons to colorful jaguars, these captivating figures have become an iconic folkloric symbol.
Under the guidance of your iconic Jiménez family hosts, who have been crafting alebrijes for three and four generations now respectively, you’ll not only bring your creation to life but also hear personal anecdotes and this particular family’s formative role in the village’s cultural heritage.
After the painting session, enjoy a delicious home-cooked Oaxacan meal made for you with love by our host family, sharing stories and flavors from the region. This workshop is the perfect blend of creativity, culture, and connection—a chance to bring a unique piece of Oaxaca home with you.
Costs & Registration Info: 8-12 people per group
Borchard Fellow Discount: $2,000 MXN pp (Cost to the public $2,065 MXN pp)
Additional Information: Alebrijes made by our host family are available for purchase with cash (pesos) or with a debit/credit card. *Optional.
Borchard Fellow Group Excursions
Tlayudona is pleased to be collaborating with the Borchard Foundation to offer two quintessential routes for your entire group. These group trips are designed to hold space for your whole group to convene at Oaxaca´s iconic open-air sites, allowing you a chance to network, mingle with old friends, and create new ones. Both routes are an unforgettable combination of photogenic places and memorable people. We are looking forward to seeing you at these Borchard Fellow group excursions!
Route 1:
Date: January 9th, 8 a.m.
Duration: Approximately 9 hours.
Locations: Monte Albán, Arrazola, San Agustín Etla,
Costs and Registration Info: $ 1,650 pp
Capacity: 47 participants. The entire group will visit Monte Albán together where some of you can opt to take an archeological guided tour, while others can stroll around at your own pace and convene in the on-site museum & restaurant. Please have breakfast at your hotel prior to our departure, as you will need your energy for Monte Albán. The sun is strong, so hats & sunscreen are suggested. Comfortable walking shoes are key.
Includes: Transportation to three sites, drivers, tolls, parking fees, your contribution to our Arrazola host family & a typical brunch at their home, Guided Tour of CaSA
Does Not Include: Additional purchases, drinks at the buffet and tips.
Description:
You cannot visit Oaxaca without making a trip to Monte Albán, the Zapotec city that will welcome us the morning of our first group excursion. There you will see the iconic “tomb 07”, discovered by Alfonso Caso, and the unique sunken patio that placed the archaeological spot on the map as an emblematic destination for curious academics from various disciplines.
As your trip approaches, we will provide the opportunity to further organize yourselves into the following:
- Those of you who would like to enjoy Monte Albán at your own pace and convene in the on-site museum & restaurant
- Those of you who would enjoy a comprehensive archeological tour that delves deeper into the history and significance of Monte Albán
You will visit two additional destinations: Our alebrije making hosts, Isa and family, in the village of Arrazola, and the picturesque museum CaSa in San Agustín.
The iconic Jiménez family will guide you through their family´s museum and workshop for a bit of cultural context regarding the region and their craft. They will provide us with a typical brunch of memelas. A vegetarian option is available.
You will also get to see the fascinating converted-factory art mecca that is CaSa in Etla. This museum is the home of the first ecological arts center in Latin America, which opened its doors to the public in 2006. Founded by Francisco Toledo, the Arts Center was designed by the architect Claudina López Morales and is made up of a set of buildings dedicated to professional creation and artistic innovation. It’s a space that was built to be utilized by the local community, and evokes creativity, wonder, and artistic development. CaSa consistently hosts a range of artistic workshops and invites fascinating creatives from around the world to share their techniques. They have a unique artisan paper-making workshop on site, nestled into lush plants alongside a creek.
The best part? The museum will be holding a commemorative exhibit honoring Toledo himself while you are here, so you will get to see key examples of his textile, architectural and social justice legacies! Those of you who sign up for our Art Walk will get to draw the connections between Toledo´s socio-cultural and historical significance and the visual homage collected in the exhibit.
Our day will come to a close with a late group lunch, giving everyone a chance to catch up and unwind before heading back to the city center.
Route 2:
Date: January 15th, 8 a.m. Pick up Time Agrado & Diablo y la Sandía
Locations: Hierve el Agua, Brunch, Mitla, Tule, Lunch
Duration:
A. Early Departure Option 8 a.m.- Approximately 4 p.m.
B. Full-Day Excursion 8 a.m.- Approximately 6:30 p.m.
Costs and Registration Info: $ 1,470 pp
Includes: Transportation, Entry Fees to Hierve el Agua and Mitla, Parking Fees, Tolls
Does not include: Food costs, optional purchases, tips for drivers, translators, and site-specific guides
Capacity: 47 participants. Please have breakfast at your hotel prior to our departure. We know it’s early, but the drive to Hierve el Agua is nearly two hours. The sun is strong, so hats & sunscreen are suggested. Comfortable walking shoes are key. Bring swimsuits, towels, and flip-flops if you want to get in the water. There will be room on the vans for storing backpacks with a change of clothes.
*Please bring MXN pesos for your food costs and optional purchases, tips, etc.
Description:
This route covers the other must-see Oaxacan landmark, Hierve el Agua. Although its name translates to something akin to “boiling water”, the most impressive aspect of these natural “hot” springs is the enormous petrified waterfall located in the municipality of San Lorenzo Albarradas. It was formed thousands of years ago by a combination of runoff of water with a high concentration of minerals and a strong ravine current that allowed the liquid to petrify once it came into contact with the air. The panoramic views of the valley are absolutely stunning, especially early in the day before the crowds arrive, which is why we´ll get an early start. Once we have a breakdown of attendees, we will provide you with the opportunity to further organize into the following subgroups:
- Hang by the pools and enjoy a relaxing opportunity to swim or soak in the views
- Embark on a full hike to the bottom of the petrified waterfalls for additional spectacular views and a more comprehensive experience with the flora and fauna
You will have brunch at a local spot, Mezcal and Leña, overlooking the valley, and then we will visit two additional destinations. The Mitla Mictlán ruins, which in Nahuatl means “place of the dead”, a name that the Mexicas gave to their structures known for their intricate symbolic carvings. Mitla has been preserved with precision, and in contrast to Monte Albán, it boasts the opportunity to enter the structures and experience them tactically from within. The Zapotec name for Mitla is Lyobáa, which loosely translates to “resting place”, “grave”, “tomb”, “place abundant in corpses”, or “cemetery”; a distinctive hallmark of the Zapotec lineage that lived there at the fall of Monte Albán.
*AT THIS POINT, ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO RETURN TO OAXACA IS WELCOME TO BOARD THE EARLY-RETURN VAN.
From there we will make our final stop in the village of Tule, home to what has been deemed the widest tree in the world. Tule is a lovely village known for its markets, nieves, and moles in addition to its impressive trees. We will have a late lunch at a typical Oaxacan restaurant that captures Oaxaca´s flavors, colors, and spirit in a rural setting. Those of you who would like to walk over and check out the tree can do so while we are at the village (it´s a couple of blocks away from the restaurant).taurant that captures Oaxaca´s flavors, colors, and spirit in a rural setting.
We reserve the right to modify or substitute services, activities, or personnel as necessary due to circumstances beyond our control, including but not limited to natural disasters, health concerns, or changes in local conditions. We will make every effort to provide equivalent alternatives whenever possible. In the event of changes to your booked services or personnel, we will notify you as soon as reasonably possible.
Any questions?
Feel free to contact us at tlayudona@gmail.com with the subject line: Borchard Fellow.