Experience Local Culture Through the Eyes of Its Artisans

Small group tours and experiences offer rare access to indigenous communities and centuries-old handcraft techniques.

Intimate Artisan & Textile Tours

Artisans are the keepers and protectors of cultural traditions, using techniques that have been passed down for hundreds or even thousands of years. We’ll visit their homes and workshops to watch them create extraordinary works of art while learning about their local practices and community life. Many are village leaders and distinguished award winners. All are revered for preserving their heritage.

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a group shot of norma with visitors in front of casa de artisana

People Love Traveling With Us

More than 100 5-Star Reviews on TripAdvisor… and counting!

a TripAdvisor badge for the travelers choices awards, as well as the New York Times logo

Why Choose Us

Exclusive Access

The artisans you’ll visit are cherished friends who graciously invite us into their homes and workshops because of the relationships we’ve built over the years.

Trusted Experts

Tours are organized by a textile expert and led by a fourth-generation Zapotec rug weaver from the Oaxaca valley. We've been operating since 2007.

Small Groups

Tour numbers are capped to keep it personal - it’s like having a local friend show you around their favorite places, introducing you to the people they admire.

Community Impact

Your participation directly supports the people and communities we visit, improving their standard of living and preserving their cultural traditions.

a woman sitting on a chair, removing seeds from raw cotton by hand, a time-consuming process that yields stronger, higher-quality yarn with fewer broken fibers
Caracol purpura (a marine mollusk found in the coastal waters of Oaxaca) is used to dye yarn purple. Each snail produces a small amount of dye, making it incredibly precious.
A women is kneeling down and working on organic cotton ready to be beaten with wood sticks. This process allows the fibers to align prior to the spinning process. No carding tools are used here.

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Cultural Appreciation & Sustainability

We are dedicated to preserving cultural integrity, supporting economic development, and expanding opportunities for artisans to share their work. By traveling with us, you gain a deeper understanding of their culture and appreciation for their craft. More importantly, you have a direct and positive impact on their livelihood while helping to sustain indigenous artisanry. Our mission is to give these artisans the respect and recognition they deserve so their traditions live on.


Norma's Blog

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New Website Coming Soon!

Hello friends,We have been working behind the scenes to improve Oaxaca Cultural Navigator and have a few big updates to share. First, after we go live on or around April 15, notices will be coming...
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Today! Expoventa in Albuquerque

Where: Fiber Arts on 4th, 6463 4th Street, Los Ranchos de Albuquerque, NM 87107When: 10 am to 7 pm — Opening Reception from 5 pm to 7 pmAt 1 p.m., I am talking about Craft...
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2026 Bucket List Tour: Monarch Butterflies + Michoacan Folk Art

Come with us to Mexico, 9-nights, 10-days, February 11-20, 2026Back by popular demand! I never knew that visiting the Monarch butterflies in Mexico should have been on my bucket list until I got there. Tucked...
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Textile ExpoVenta in Albuquerque, NM: April 3-5, 2025

   SPECIAL EVENT! EXPO-VENTA SALE!April 3-5, 2025 — Albuquerque, New Mexico  Oaxaca Cultural Navigator Textiles-Folk Art-Jewelry ANDHoon Arts Uzbek Silk Ikat + Baskets of AfricaNorma is Participating One Day ONLY — Thursday, April 3, 10 a.m....
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Oaxaca Coast Textile Study Tour: Discover the Mixteca Baja

Arrive on Tuesday, December 2, and depart on Wednesday, December 10, 2025 — 8 nights, 9 days in textile heaven! Home in time for winter holiday preparations. Please send us an email to tell us...
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Guatemala 2026: Study Tour in Textile Cloth + Culture

Registration is now open: January 22-February 2, 2026, 11 nights and 12 days. A $750 non-refundable deposit will reserve your space.We begin first in Guatemala City, with an overnight stay at one of the best...

Shop Handmade

Everything in our shop is made by hand using traditional methods. We buy directly from small family businesses and co-ops we trust, paying what they ask because their work is exceptional. Some pieces take weeks or even months to complete. Each purchase supports these artisans and keeps their traditions alive.

Stay Connected

Receive updates on tours, posts, and special offers. Sign up to get notified. 

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