A CREATIVE JOURNEY TO REMEMBER

Join me + a group of local artisans and chefs and artisans to learn some of the crafts, ancestral skills and traditions that define Oaxaca’s rich and colorful culture.

During our time together, we will visit my artisan friends and spend 5 days learning and creating: harvesting clay + learning pottery with Macrina, dyeing wool with plants + bugs with Elena, toasting + grinding cacao to make traditional drinking chocolate, making tortillas from scratch and a delicious mole. When we are not in one of our classes, we will walk my favorite markets + eat at the most delicious restaurants, visit beautiful shops + stroll down colorful streets.

At the end of this journey, your relationship with Mexico and with your creative self will (hopefully) deepen and shine even more. Join me on this experience I have been crafting for years, with the hope of sharing the joy of my favorite place on Earth with someone like you!

Traditional Chocolate Making

Oaxaca is known for its chocolate and amazing foods + drinks created using cacao . In the middle of Oaxaca City, hidden in an alley, there is a small school led by X, dedicated to teach others the magic + beauty of cacao + traditional chocolate making. We will spend a few hours learning about cacao, toasting our beans, peeling + manually grinding them to make our own drinking cacao. If you are not in love with this beautiful seed yet, you probably will be after this fun day.

WOOL PLANT DYEING

Discover (or go deeper) the incredible world of natural dyeing. Using local plants and bugs (yes, bugs), we will spend 2 days (a total of 10 hours) learning how to dye wool in 18 different colors! If you love color, you will LOVE this. It is so much fun.

POTTERY MAKING

We will visit Macrina in San Marcos Tlapazola, a town that is known for its beautiful red clay pottery. She leads a “colaborativa” of 15 other women, including her sisters, sisters in law and cousins: they have all dedicated their life to this beautiful craft they learned from their ancestors. They call themselves “Mujeres de Barro Rojo” - and their work is so beautiful it has been recognized by the MOMA in New York City.

We will go to the mountain to harvest our clay, and then come back to their workshop / home for a demonstration + practical class. She will show us how she works with the tools she learned to use from her mother + father, and then will guide us into making our own small bowl or plate. We will enjoy a simple + delicious meal of quesadillas, veggie soup + guacamole, followed by visiting their magical little shop.

A LOVE STORY WITH OAXACA

I was born and raised in Mexico City (another magical city), and over 10 years ago, I visited Oaxaca for the first time and my life was forever changed. At the time, I was working with Turkish artisans to create beautiful jewelry, and was selling it all over the world. I loved my work, and I really wanted to work with Mexican artisans. My soul craved to feel a deeper connection to my roots, and learn more about the beauty of our beautiful culture and country. My friend Mariana, who is originally from there, took me to visit a group of weavers in Santo Tomas Jalieza, and I began working with them. From then on, I kept coming back, meeting more artists, crafts people and creating a deeper relationship with the area. With every visit, I fell more and more in love with its food, people, art, markets and culture.

Years later, I created Rawmona’s Kitchen, and began diving deeper into the history + spirituality of ingredients + kitchen tools, and sourcing ingredients from Oaxaca + Chiapas.
In Mexico, food, art + spirituality are deeply intertwined. Now, I have woven a beautiful experience for others to hopefully see Oaxaca with the same eyes as I do: as a magical place full of depth and whimsy, color, flavor, and lots and lots of LIFE.

What does the price include?

7 nights; arrival + departure airport transfer, private transportation for all day trips and workshops, 5 workshops, 7 (daily) breakfast, most lunches and dinners.

What does the price not include?

Airfare, travel or medical insurance, alcoholic drinks, hotel incidentals (including room service, laundry service + hotel bar tabs), gratuities, meals not included in itinerary, personal shopping.

Where do I fly into?

You must arrive to the Oaxaca City airport, and fly out from the same airport. If you decide to stay after the end of our journey together, or arrive before the start, we cannot accomodate transportation to-from airport.

Who is coming?

Karla, her partner Adam, and 8-10 people. This is not a big tour; the goal is to create an intimate experience where we all get to know one another and enjoy a fun journey together. This journey is only for travelers 18+ years old. If a minor comes accompanied by a parent, 16+ year olds are welcome.

Do I need travel insurance?

This is really up to you. The trip will cover what has been stated above, and will not cover lost luggage, medical emergencies (hopefully we don’t have any), or any incidentals outside what has been stated. If you feel more comfortable, please purchase it.

Can I cancel my trip?

You may cancel 90 days or more before departure and receive a full refund minus a x per person service fee. If you cancel on or after 89 days in advance, there is a 50% cancellation fee. On or after 59 days in advance, there are no refunds.

For any additional questions please fill out the form below. Please allow 1-3 business days for me to get back to you.