Learning1 week or longer
Learning · Learn the backstrap loom from master weavers
Spend time with Maya women weavers to learn natural dyeing and backstrap-loom techniques, and to understand the stories woven into every huipil.
The experience
In Guatemala, traje is far more than clothing. The patterns, colours and motifs of a woman's huipil can say which town she comes from and carry symbols that go back centuries. Many women still weave on the backstrap loom, which ties around the waist at one end and to a post or tree at the other. It is the same technique their Maya ancestors used.
We work with women-led cooperatives in places like San Juan La Laguna on Lake Atitlán and villages around Antigua. You will see how cotton is spun by hand and dyed with plants such as indigo, achiote and coffee husks. Then you sit at a loom yourself and weave a small piece to take home.
These visits are relaxed and personal, and the money goes straight to the weavers. Many guests say this is when Guatemala really clicked for them.
Best for: Craft loversBest for: FamiliesBest for: Responsible travellers
What's included
- Private session with a weaving cooperative or family workshop
- Spinning and natural-dye demonstration
- Hands-on backstrap-loom weaving lesson
- The small textile you weave to take home
- Interpreter for Spanish or Maya languages
- Private transfers or boat to the workshop
Good to know
- A traditional huipil can take weeks or even months to weave, so prices reflect real artisan labour.
- Workshops suit all ages and are a lovely activity for families.
- Buying directly from cooperatives is the best way to support the craft.
Where: Lake Atitlán, Antigua, Quetzaltenango (Xela)
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