Discover the roots of an ancient culture and experience the heart of Oaxaca with the Zapotec Roots: Mezcal and Textiles sightseeing tour, a unique experience that will connect you with the essence of a people through their flavours, colours, and ancestral traditions.
The tour begins in the city of Oaxaca, where an expert guide in Zapotec culture will welcome you and share some historical context about the Zapotecs, one of the oldest indigenous peoples. This people have kept their traditions alive over the centuries, expressing them in their textile crafts and in the production of mezcal.
The first destination is a mezcal-making workshop in the Central Valleys, a region deeply linked to Zapotec history. Upon arrival, you'll be greeted by a master mezcalero, who will explain how this sacred drink has been an integral part of the life and ceremonies of his people for generations.
You'll be able to see up close the traditional process of making mezcal, from selecting the agave, cooking it in underground stone ovens, grinding it with a tahona (a stone wheel pulled by horses), to fermenting and distilling it. Throughout the tour, you'll learn about the spiritual importance of mezcal for the Zapotec people and how each stage of the process honours the teachings of their ancestors.
At the end of the visit, you'll take part in a guided tasting, where you'll learn to distinguish the unique flavours and aromas of different types of mezcal, appreciating how the land and ancestral knowledge come together in each sip.
The sightseeing tour then continues to Teotitlán del Valle, a Zapotec village internationally renowned for its textiles. Upon arrival, you will visit a family-run workshop where generations of weavers have preserved and perfected foot-operated loom weaving techniques. They will explain how each design and colour used in their tapestries and rugs has a special meaning, representing elements of nature, mythological stories, and Zapotec symbols.
You'll be able to see how the yarns are prepared, dyed with natural dyes extracted from plants and insects such as cochineal, and how the patterns are created on the looms. The artisans will share with you the stories that inspire their creations, revealing how their work is not only an art form but also a way of preserving and honouring their Zapotec identity.
