TEXTILES, NATURE & ARCHAEOLOGY
WOVEN POETRY OF THE MAYA
"Jen is very passionate about art and artisans of Mexico, and she has an incredible background in Indigenous art in British Columbia, having owned an art gallery for many years.I am glad I am so glad I signed up for the Meseta Art Collection Tour, we visited 12 towns in the Tarascan area of Michoacan, with her ace tour guide, Jaime, of Animecha Tours." - Sharon (Art Collection Tour 2022)
WOVEN POETRY OF THE MAYA
EXPLORING MAYA TEXTILES OF THE MAYA CIVILIZATION
STARTS: San Pedro Sula, Honduras
ENDS: Guatemala City, Guatemala
DATES: April 20 - May 10, 2026
DURATION: 19 Nights / 20 Days
PRICES INCLUDE TAXES AND ARE BASED ON COST SHARING. IF YOU WOULD LIKE A PRIVATE ROOM FOR 1, THE EXTRA COST IS $16,050 MXN. PLEASE REQUEST A ROOMMATE, AND WE WILL TRY TO MATCH YOU WITH SOMEONE TO AVOID THIS EXTRA EXPENSE.
PRICES ARE BASED ON COST SHARING AND INCLUDED TAXES
12 GUESTS - $85,000 MXN EA (APPROXIMATELY $4800 USD / $6500 CAD / $4000 EURO).
Please note: If we can find 14 Guests, the price will decrease to $80,000 MXN per person. If we only have 10 Guests, the price will increase to $90,000 MXN. This is due to the cost sharing for our guides, their expenses and our transportation.
INCLUSIONS: TBA
Hotels are based on double occupancy, but we will try our best to match you with a roommate if you are travelling solo. In some cases, this may not be possible, depending on the room configurations. We will confirm the price for everyone before accepting deposits.
Would you like a detailed itinerary? Please email Jennifer at coppermoontravels@protonmail.com. We have stopped posting our itineraries in detail due to an issue we had involving someone from abroad who promoted one of our tours as their own. In order to keep our guests safe from online scams, we ask that you please contact us directly.
CURRENCY CONVERTER
TRIP OVERVIEW
Ix-Chel is the Maya Goddess of weaving, among other things...
Weaving among the Maya is an ancient art form that predates the arrival of the Spanish. Though the weaving has evolved since contact, many of the designs woven into Maya huipils today were ornamenting ceremonial clothing well over one thousand years ago. The Maya goddess Ix-Chel is said to have taught Maya women to weave more than two thousand years ago. Though often depicted with a youthful figure and perky breasts, in the Maya Codices, Ix-Chel is shown as a mature woman with sagging breasts...
and the back-strap loom an object of femininity representing the womb...
Scholars of today credit Ixchel as the goddess who gifted the back-strap loom to women, based on the codices. Back strap looms are anchored around a woman's waist, with the garment laid out before her, in much the same way the womb is positioned. The weaving process is correlated with the nurturing of a baby, with the woman responsible for creation. The thread that serves as the weft symbolizes the umbilical cord, with the loom itself representing and behaving as a womb, for it holds the garment that will eventually will be released. While men do weave in some cultures, the back strap loom is solely synonymous with women...
The woven textiles of the Maya are part of community identity...
In ancient times, Maya women who married outside of their villages adopted the clothing of their husbands. In modern times, some Maya women in Guatemala stopped wearing their huipils for fear of retribution during the civil war. The concept that clothing identifies one with their village is specific to the Maya, as there are no pan-Maya styles that blur the lines on group affiliation. We will be exploring various styles and learning to identify them throughout our journey...
and have offered economic stability for Maya women for decades...
During the civil war in Guatemala, textiles played a major role for women who desperately needed income. Gender roles changed alongside necessity, for many Maya men were murdered or disappeared during the war, forcing women to take on the tasks traditionally doled out to men. This role-change is documented in the textiles of Nebaj, where depictions of women in sombreros appear on garments that are absent of any male characters. Nebaj was known as "The Village of Widows" due to the horrors of the war, and this story quietly emerges in their weaving. For many men who did return, untreated PTSD resulted in domestic violence and alcohol abuse, leaving many women without any other choice besides separating and establishing themselves independently from their male counterparts. There are many narratives around Maya textiles and trauma that will arise during our travels, including a morning spent with an important organization called Trauma Textiles, where the local Maya women will teach us how to weave a small project...
Natural dyes can be affected by the tides pull of a full moon..
When Maya women want the deep blue dyes Due to the schedule change for this tour, we will not be at Lake Atitlan during the full moon. That said, we are going to still go ahead with the dye workshop, as there are many other colours we can derive - and also, the anil plant will offer a pale blue colour, which we can compare to samples of pieces that were coloured with dyes derived on the full moon...
and we will have the chance to learn how raw cotton is processed...
While we are in San Juan la Laguna, we will also have a chance to learn how raw cotton is processed. The collective we are visiting has reclaimed the ancient back-strap loom from the harvesting of cotton to natural dyes and the weaving of traditional garments. Also important is the fact that their textiles today are syncretic, as they represent symbols from the ancient Maya and the calendar dates of June, leading up to the celebration of their patron St. John the Baptist on June 24th. The textiles of the Maya civilization continue to evolve with the culture of the people, for they remain an integral expression of everyday life...
Most of our days will be full, with several hotel changes along our path..
Forging a path from Honduras to the Guatemala Highlands means quality experiences are stretched across a significant distance. We will stay in 9 different hotels over 19 nights, with all activities planned for the day time so guests can rest after dinner each evening. Most of our days will begin with breakfast at 8 AM, though we have one day that will start at 6 AM. Though we have a few one-night stays, we are in Antigua and Lake Atitlan for 4 nights, and Semuc Champey for 3 nights, and we do have scheduled time for rest...
and the reward is exploring a plethora of villages celebrating unique styles...
We are going to visit 12 unique textiles villages and 2 major textile markets where one can see huipils from dozens of towns. By the time this tour concludes, we would like for you to be able to identify various weaving techniques that are employed for different applications, such as brocade vs discontinuous weave, etc. We will also dissect the parts of the back strap loom to understand how it works, and you will have a small loom of your own, to experiment with along the way. We hope you anticipate an educational journey that will put you in close contact with the heirs of this timeless skill, and will consider this one of the most culturally extensive and exploratory experiences of a lifetime.
TRIP ITINERARY
Monday April 20, 2026
Please arrive at the San Pedro Sula airport today. Once we have everyone's flight confirmation, we will figure out taxis to the hotel from the airport. We are not including dinner tonight, in case some of you arrive late, but your guides will be here to meet you. For those of you who arrive in late afternoon, we will make arrangements to have dinner together.
Tuesday April 21, 2026
We will have breakfast at 7:30 AM, departing San Pedro Sula at at 8:00 AM. Our commute to Copan Ruinas is approximately 3.5 hours, delivering us directly to the Macaw Mountain Bird Sanctuary. We will have lunch here and explore the gorgeous wilderness reserve. From there, we will check into our hotel and have dinner.
For those of you who are interested, we have an optional activity for the evening. La Luna Jaguar SPA is open until 9 PM. With two hot springs to choose from, mud-baths and facials etc, please let us know if you are interested so we can make appointments ahead of time. The massages are $25 USD for 30 mins, Mud Facials are $15 USD for 25 mins, and general entrance is $15 USD. We are not including this in our price as some of you may want to just unwind at the hotel and relax. The SPA is a gorgeous property that is well regarded.
Wednesday April 22, 2026
Designated a UNESCO site in 1980, Copan was first occupied in the Early Pre-classic Period, between 1500 and 1000 BCE. It grew into an important ceremonial centre, with a population expansion from 400 BCE - 250 CE before peaking in the Classic Period (250-900 CE).
The most significant feature of Copan is the longest known Maya inscription on the Hieroglyphic Staircase, which has 62 steps and more than 1800 glyphs. The Acropolis and Ballcourt are well preserved, with the latter considered one of the best preserved courts of the Maya civilization. What stands out to everyone who has visited other Maya archaeological sites, are the incredible stelae here. Deeply intricate and detailed, these stelae's commemorated important occasions, and are why so many refer to Copan as Paris of the Maya Civilization. The artistry of Copan exceeds other known sites.
This morning we will rise early to have breakfast and arrive at the gates of Copan before the heat of the day. We will enjoy a guided tour of the site, followed by ample free time to explore and take photos.
The museum here has a replica of the Rosalila Temple. As it is at the site, we will visit the museum directly after our tour.
We will depart Copan by 1:00 PM for the colonial city of Antigua, checking into our hotel at around 6 PM.
Thursday April 23, 2026
Antigua was founded in 1543 as Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala, becoming the first capital of the Spanish Kingdom of Guatemala. At that time, Honduras, El Salvador, Nicaragua, Costa Rica and Chiapas also fell under the same umbrella as Guatemala.
The University of San Carlos was founded in 1676 as the first of Central America in the city already known for convents, monasteries and elaborate churches. Semana Santa (Holy Week / Easter) became an annual celebration here, a colonial tradition that remains part of Antigua's cultural and religious identity today.
Today we will be exploring Antigua's history, then indulging ourselves with a window-shopping tour of the boutique galleries and vintage huipil selections of downtown. We will also make a small jade pendant or keychain at the museum, so will divide everyone into small groups for that activity.
Please Note: If you are a geology enthusiast who would prefer to spend your time here scaling lava-scapes, please let us know so we can offer you some options and suggestions.
Friday April 24, 2026
This morning we depart after breakfast for a weaving collective in San Antonio Aguas Calientes, which is about 15 mins from Antigua. Today, we will receive small looms, which we will experiment on as we weave our way across the highlands of Guatemala.
San Antonio Aguas Calientes has a well-organized exhibit of different textiles from across the country, so we will have a chance to show you textiles from the communities we will be visiting.
After our weaving class, we will enjoy a coffee roasting workshop!
Saturday April 25, 2026
We are leaving one free day for some optional activities, as Antigua is an exceptional colonial city. Guests can opt to visit Pacaya Volcano, or browse through the boutique galleries in centro.
Sunday April 26, 2026
This morning, we depart the enchanting city of Antigua for Quetzaltenango, or in Maya, Xela. We are here to visit a special collective called "Trauma Textiles," whose team includes a heartfelt and intense explanation of how the textiles of Guatemala are deeply tied the traumas that came out of her civil war.
Delving into civil war history here is delicate, as it's imperative we don't pry into the lives of the local people or disrespect their privacy and healing process. At the same time, Trauma Textiles is a space where we can learn and ask in a more open setting, about how the civil war affected communities here, with a special emphasis on how the women had to alter their expectations and gender roles in order to keep their communities functional.
Here begins our second weaving workshop and first real project. Guests can choose a 2 hour workshop to make a small coaster, which is what we assume most of you will want to do.
If you would like to make a larger project, you can opt for a longer workshop.
Monday April 27, 2026
This morning we are off to a small village called Zunil, where we will visit a beautiful collective with intricate woven headbands that sell for a pretty penny due to their exquisite stitches.
We will arrive at a local hot-springs for lunch before submerging ourselves in medicinal and thermal waters. The lower pools are natural and private and we will spend the afternoon in bliss.
We will depart the hot springs at around 4:00 PM, returning to Quetzaltenango by dinner time.
Tuesday April 28, 2026
We will be learning about Jaspe weaving, which is a resist-weaving technique that involves gathering long strings into cords that are tightly bound together in measured segments to create patterns, prior to being dyed. After the cord is removed from the dye, the strings are unknotted to reveal the original white thread wherever the cord threads were covered. Historians are unclear as to whether this technique was utilized by the ancient Maya prior to contact, or brought via the Manilla Galleon trade route from Asia, due to Ikat technique of Indonesia, but this particular skill is important to the economy of Salcaja, as they provide swaths of Jaspe fabric across the country, which is traditionally used for beautiful skirts, but also for purses, blankets and other clothing. It is the most important part of their local economy and part of their cultural identity.
There are two types of Jaspe weaving. One style of Jaspe is called Jaspe de Trama, with patterns dyed into the weft threads. The other style is called Jaspe de Urdimbre, with the patterns dyed onto the warp threads. The weavers use Spanish introduced peddle looms, as opposed to back-strap looms, to weave Jaspe fabric.
We will spend the morning learning about this style of weaving before departing for San Juan La Laguna at Lake Atitlan. Our driver will drop us off in the village before taking our luggage to our hotel. After we visit the textile collective in San Juan La Laguna, we will catch a boat across the lake to our hotel.
Wednesday April 29, 2026
to Friday May 1, 2026
For the next three days, we have a number of activities lined-up, but are still working on the schedule with the collectives offering our workshops. We will need to split into smaller groups for at least one of our weaving workshops, as they cannot provide all of us with enough looms. We will spend the day weaving a scarf with one of the artisans in her home, which is a wonderful way to spend time with the local Maya women. The scarves use a technique called deshilados, which means "unravel." In this case, rods are used between the weft threads, then removed, creating a loose weave perfect for spring and autumn weather.
We will enjoy a wonderful cacao workshop and ceremony with local Maya in San Juan La Laguna at Casa Flor Ixcaco. Cacao ceremonies have popped up all over New Age & Wellness communities in recent years, which is causing a lot of resentment among the Maya, as they feel it is an appropriation culture, with many aspects of these ceremonies being misconstrued and lost in translation. We have chosen to support Casa Flor Ixcaco, as they are Maya owned, fair trade, they source their cacao through farmers from the cacao region, procuring beans that are hand-processed, cured through sweat baths and sun-dried using traditional methods. We will be roasting the beans and grinding them using a metate (stone grinder), learning about the history of cacao, its uses as currency and for ceremonial ritual and more.
Our dye workshop is taking place in San Juan La Laguna, where we will learn about harvesting plants for their natural pigments, what processes are involved, along with preparing anil for rendering the famous "Maya Blue" indigo. The women at the collective here process all of their cotton from raw material by hand-pounding, spinning, dyeing and weaving into the softest cotton huipils. The spinning process is particularly labour intensive, as they must spin each thread ten times before it is strong enough to weave with, without breaking. We will have the chance to participate in these processes, and also to buy natural threads for our looms.
One last excursion we have planned, is a sacred fire ceremony. These ceremonies are held by the local Maya for their own families and communities, but they open them to guests who want to observe and participate. This is part of instilling pride in younger generations through the sharing process, and teaching guests about their world view. We will drive into the mountains to their ceremonial caves to observe their fire ritual, before enjoying a lovely hike to enjoy sensational views of the lake area. The shaman who leads the ceremony is well versed on Maya cosmology, so will explain your birthdate and glyph from the Maya worldview.
We still enjoy some free time while here, with one afternoon left open so guests can pick and choose what other communities you would like to visit. We will help arrange your excursions, which will all be accessible by boat. You can easily visit 2 towns in one afternoon, depending on what you are wanting to experience.
Saturday May 2, 2026
This morning we are heading to Santa Catalina Polopo, where colourful houses are painted with the geometric designs seen in their textiles. We will spend the morning here before departing for the much-loved village of Chichicastenango. Here, we will enjoy a tour with a local textile expert, have a wonderful lunch and explore the cemetery and town. We will also have a fun workshop session with two teachers. One is a local wood carver who crafts beautiful saints and masks. We will be painting a small saint, though if you prefer a larger piece, there will also be some masks and larger saints for optional purchase. The other is an embroidery artist who sells lovely starter kits with traditional flower patterns drawn on them. We will be working with her on some embroidery, and guests can purchase more projects from her, if you think you would like to create more pieces of have children or grandchildren who would be intrigued.
Sunday May 3, 2026
Early risers may love meandering the streets this morning, as market vendors arrive with their wares to sell in Chichicastenango's iconic Sunday market. If you are not fond of crowds, please be warned that today will be a very crowded market day. For textile lovers, this is a must for your bucket-list. There will be syncretic religious rituals. taking place near the church, where abundant vendors sell a plethora of flowers that scent the air, with baskets of rose petals and chickens that are sold for rituals in the cemetery. If you feel overwhelmed, our hotel is located in the centro, close enough for you to retreat for a rest. The vendors here can be aggressive, and some will chase you down the street, but this is an opportunity to see a plethora of huipils from across Guatemala's highlands, in various styles including an abundance of vintage pieces dating to 30-40 years old. We will also point-out the machine-made huipils that have grown in popularity with locals who have a difficult time affording the authentic hand-woven huipils. For many textile collectors, these are distressing due to the skills that are quickly disappearing beneath the machine, but they also allow locals to afford their own cultural identity, which is also so important.
We will leave Chichicastenango at 2:30 PM, arriving in Santa Maria Nebaj at approximately 6:30 PM, on time for dinner and an evening stroll to stretch our legs.
Monday May 4, 2026
Santa Maria Nebaj is a small village located in the Quiche Department of the Sierra de los Cuchumatanes in the western highlands of Guatemala. Nebaj is part of the Ixil Triangle, a cultural and linguistic region that includes San Gaspar Chajul and San Juan Cotzal, the latter of which we will also visit.
In the 1930's, Italian homesteader Giuseppe Azzari arrived in Nebaj and introduced Italian cheesemaking. Today, his descendants continue to produce this alp-style cheese called Queso Choncal. We will be visiting one of the Haciendas to have lunch and taste this local treat.
We will be visiting the nearby village of San Juan Cotzal and exploring the textiles of Nebaj today. Please bring your looms with you if you would like to experiment with discontinuous weave, as we will be visiting with some master weavers today!
Tuesday May 5, 2026
This morning we will check out of our hotel and travel to Coban, which is a lengthy commute. We are having lunch there and visiting a textile collective to learn about the deshilados, which is a loose-weave with white-on-white animal designs, with deer being one of the most popular motifs here. From Coban, we will conclude our journey with the rough road to Semuc Champey, where we will settle into our cabins right outside the park boundary.
Wednesday May 6, 2026
to Thursday May 7, 2026
The next two days are for pure relaxation on your own terms.
Semuc Champey is a pristine environment with clear emerald green and turquoise waters, cascades, birds, lush tropical vegetation and plenty of places to unwind. There is a cave tour option here, which we can organize for you, though we are not including it with the tour as it will appeal to active guests who don't mind rugged terrain, and are keen on cliff jumping.
If you aren't overly fond of swimming in the pristine river, our lodgings also has a pool and of course, this is a fabulous place to catch up on journalling, read a book, work on weaving or embroidery projects, visit, bird watch and enjoy afternoon naps.
Friday May 8, 2026
This morning we will check out of the lodge by 6:00 AM to reach the Biotopo del Quetzal by around 9:00 AM. We are aiming to be here early, as birding activities are more abundant before 11:30 AM. We will take our breakfast to-go, along with our coffee!
The Quetzal is a prominent motif in Maya textiles, for they were the most sacred bird of the Maya civilization. It isn't surprising that the Quetzal is the National bird of Guatemala, and namesake for the local currency. Quetzals live in cloud forests, and the Biotopo del Quetzal is a perfect reserve for observing them, especially in May when they are very active to due mating season coming to an end.
From the reserve, we will have lunch before commuting to Guatemala City for our final night together.
Saturday May 9, 2026
This morning we will fly home from the La Aurora International Airport in Guatemala City. If you would like to return to Antigua to spend more time there, we highly recommend this, as our short stay only scratches the surface of how much enjoyment is to be had there. Please let us know if you would like help with transportation to get there. It takes about 1 hour in a taxi.
We truly hope you enjoy this magnificent tour and will join us for one of our other adventures!
HIGHLIGHTS OF THIS TOUR
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San Pedro Sula
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Copan Ruinas
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Antigua
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Quetzaltenango
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Lake Atitlan
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Chichicastenango
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Santa Maria Nebaj
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Copan Archaeological Site
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Macaw Mountain Bird Sanctuary
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Fuentes Georgia Hotsprings
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Semuc Champey
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Biotopo del Quetzal
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Weaving Workshops
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Jade Workshop
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Cacao Ceremony & Workshop
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Fire Ceremony
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Wood Mask Painting
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Embroidery Workshop
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Dye Workshop
This trip departs from San Pedro Sula, Honduras
San Pedro Sula International Airport is located in Honduras, about 3.5 hours away from the famous archaeological site of Copan. We are staying here for 1 night, departing the next morning.
We recommend departing early late if it's your first time....
If this is your first time in Guatemala, we recommend staying in Antigua for a few days after our tour ends, as there is so much to see and do there. It's a safe city to navigate on your own, with a plethora of tours available for various activities and places in the surrounding region...
QUESTIONS?
Please do not hesitate to contact Jennifer if you have any questions or would like to schedule this tour at a different time for a private group.
Email: coppermoontravels@protonmail.com
WhatsApp: +52 443 639 2782 (Please text first)