Visiting Teotitlán Del Valle, Oaxaca

An honest review of the best textile tour in Oaxaca and how to make the most of your visit to Teotitlán del Valle, Oaxaca.

The state of Oaxaca stands out for being one of the most culturally diverse states in Mexico. With over 16 languages and ethnic groups, it is considered Mexico’s cultural heart.

The local communities here have a unique way of using art and traditional handicrafts not just as expressions of creativity, but as powerful tools for social mobilization and resistance.

These artistic practices play a big part in strengthening and showcasing the region’s distinct identity, making Oaxaca a vibrant center for cultural expression.

Local communities take great pride in their heritage and are eager to share their rich cultural traditions with visitors who are curious to learn and engage.

Take the Zapotec community in Teotitlán del Valle, for instance. They’re master weavers, known for their exquisite rug making that’s been passed down through generations. 

In Teotitlán del Valle, several families have come together to form a collective to support one another and keep their traditions alive.

Where is Teotitlán del Valle, Oaxaca?

Tucked away in the heart of the Oaxacan Central Valleys is the quaint village of Teotitlán del Valle. This small community is an important center of Zapotec culture, with deep-rooted weaving traditions that go back centuries.

Every family here seems to have a pedal loom, very different from a backstrap loom, and the air is filled with the clacking sound of weaving, a tradition that goes back to pre-Hispanic times.

As you wander through the village, you’ll see beautifully intricate rugs and textiles displayed outside homes and workshops, each piece telling a story through its colors and patterns, colored using local natural dyes like indigo, marigold, and cochinilla (cochineal).

Why is Teotitlán del Valle famous?

Visiting Teotitlán is a truly immersive experience. The locals are not only craftspeople but also proud guardians of their heritage, eager to share their skills with visitors.

Many workshops offer demonstrations, allowing you to see firsthand how raw wool is transformed into stunning textiles. 

It’s a community where artistry and craftsmanship go hand in hand with everyday life, offering a unique glimpse into a world where tradition and pride are woven tightly together. 

For travelers visiting Oaxaca City, adding a tour to Teotitlán to your itinerary is a must and really easy. The village is only a short drive away, but the best way to visit is by joining a dedicated tour that focuses on the community and the sacred art of weaving.

As a key hub for Zapotec textile traditions, it’s the perfect spot to immerse yourself in the craft, and maybe even pick up a beautifully woven tapete (rug).

Review of Oaxaca Wool Textiles Experience

I visited Teotitlán del Valle by joining the Oaxaca Wool Textiles Experience  with WSE Travel, a small group tour operator, and I’m excited to share my honest review, with all you need to know about the experience and why this is the best textile tour in Oaxaca.

I can guarantee this tour to Teotitlán del Valle is one of the best tours in Oaxaca and it will be one of the most memorable experiences you will have here.

Meeting the family and learning about the process

On arrival I met our hosts, Josefina and Javier, a 5th generation family of textile producers, at their textile workshop and home. 

Their family tradition goes way back, and their great-great-grandfather was one of the first people to export textiles to the USA in 1945. One of his pieces is on display at the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City.

A few generations later, Josefina and Javier continue the tradition specializing in pre-hispanic weaving techniques. They will show you how they process the wool using their traditional techniques from start to finish – from brushing, spinning, dying, drying and finally the weaving process.

​​The most fascinating part for me was the demonstration of the dying process, and how they use natural pigments for the multitude of colors they create.

They dye the wool in vibrant shades of gold, red, green and blue using natural ingredients like pecans, alfalfa, pomegranate skin, indigo, and cochinilla (cochineal) bugs.

As part of this process, Josefina and Javier showed us their grana-cochinilla farm, where they grow this incredible insect used to extract the color red. Cochinilla produces carmin acid, which when mixed with different elements results in other colors. It’s pure magic!

Getting hands-on with the process

My favorite part of the tour was the hands-on aspect of it all. I got to help Josefina brush the wool in preparation for spinning and threading it.

And on top of it all, I got to weave my own coaster in a 100 year old loom. This is part of everyone’s experience on this tour, so you will get to do this too! It’s a great way to get an insight into the amazing skills needed to do this work.

I chose two colors to combine, a pattern, and Josefina guided me through the process of weaving. It was a great souvenir to take home with me and remember this amazing day.

Ending with a home-cooked family meal 

The day ends with a delicious home-cooked lunch with Josefina and Javier in their own home, a great chance to ask them anything about their everyday life you haven’t asked already.

And finally, a visit to their showroom, where you can see the breadth of styles they work on.

No purchase necessary (but you’ll likely want to)

At the end of the tour, you will have the opportunity to buy a piece of traditional Teotitlán del Valle textile art here, directly from the family. However, as mentioned, this is not a sales pitch like you’d get on other textile tours.

Although there is no obligation or expectation, it will probably be hard to resist buying one of their beautiful hand woven rugs. And of course, if you decide to buy something it’ll always be appreciated. Plus you’ll have a unique piece of Oaxacan culture and tradition to take home with you.

I got myself a rug to hang on my wall at home, and I will remember and appreciate the skill and hard work it took to make it whenever I look at it.

This tour is a great example of community-based tourism in Oaxaca.

The family doesn’t depend on the sales they will make on the day. They get paid fairly for their time by WSE Travel, the tour company I used, which is (sadly) unusual. This is one of the things I loved about this particular tour operator.

Why choose Oaxaca Wool Textiles Experience

Tour length: Up to 10 hours | Rating: 5 out of 5 stars | Book Now

With a perfect 5 star rating, it’s not just me saying that the Oaxaca Wool Textiles Experience is the best textile tour in Oaxaca. It’s a textile tour with a difference, and an experience I’ll personally cherish forever!

This cultural tour in Oaxaca includes everything you need to learn all about this important weaving tradition through the perfect balance of cultural interactions with a local family of textile producers, participating in their day to day activities.

It includes a home-cooked lunch with the family, a unique opportunity to connect with them further in a meaningful way, which is unique to this tour and very few people get to experience.

Unlike other tours, this textile tour in Oaxaca is not a sales pitch, so there is no pressure to purchase anything, and there are no additional hidden costs.

What’s included in the Oaxaca Wool Textiles Experience

What past guests have said about this tour

“This was an incredible day. Our hosts Josefina and Javier were welcoming and made us feel at home immediately. We also met their children and a grandson. A wonderful peaceful home. The weaving studio is amazing. The chance to weave a small piece on a 200 year old loom was priceless. (…)”
Anne Everett (Read more reviews)

Learning more about textiles in Oaxaca

If you would like to learn more about the pre-Hispanic tradition of textiles in Oaxaca after this tour, don’t miss a visit to the Textile Museum (Museo Textil de Oaxaca), located in the heart of the city.

The museum is housed in an 18th century mansion and it’s free entry.

Other highly recommended Oaxaca tours

Here are other highly recommended WSE Travel tours that work closely with the traditional artisan communities of Oaxaca. I have done all these tours myself, so I can personally recommend them:

Do you have any questions about this Oaxaca textile tour?
Let me know in the comments!

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Disclosure: This post has been created as a partnership with WSE Travel. As always, all views are my own.