Andean Textile Arts Up Close
Whether you are a textile enthusiast or an adventure traveler, accompany us on a remarkable journey. We offer annual tours that let you experience traditional Andean life far off the beaten path. Meet with Andean artisans and try your hand at backstrap weaving and spinning on a drop spindle. Taste local food and visit sites that have helped define Andean culture and textiles. Plus, a portion of your travel fee will go to Andean weaving communities to help advance their fiber arts traditions.
Images from Past Tours (Click to view full size):
Upcoming Tours
PERU FALL TOUR 2023: Sunday, October 15, 2023 – Thursday, October 26, 2023
Download the 2023 PERU TOUR brochure
- Visit remote weaving communities accompanied by Quechua master weaver Nilda Callañaupa.
- Encounter many of the greatest archaeological sites of the Incan Empire: the massive ceremonialncenter of Sacsayhuaman above Cusco, the fortresses of Pisac and Ollantaytambo in the SacrednValley, and the crown jewel, Machu Picchu.
- Explore the ruins as our private guide Raul Jaimes shares his knowledge of Incan architecture and history.
- Stop for views of the glacier Chicon on your way to Nilda and Raul’s hometown of Chinchero, where you’ll have a traditional Andean lunch and take part in a natural dye workshop.
- Cap off our tour in Lima with a viewing of the Amano Museum’s private collection of exquisite pre-Columbian textiles
Optional Extension to Ecuador: Thursday, October 26- Tuesday, October 31
See 2023 PERU TOUR brochure for details
Explore Quito, including the museum of Ecuadorian handcrafts. Then spend three nights at the lovely Hacienda Cusin, discovering the hacienda’s own textile collection and visiting artisan weavers and embroiderers in and near Otovalo.
Interested in joining our next trip? Contact Pam Art at pam.art@icloud.com
BOLIVIA SUMMER TOUR 2023: August 8 – August 21
Explore the traditional arts, cultures, and natural wonders of Peru’s southern neighbor.
Download the 2023 Bolivia Tour brochure
- Visit the artisans of ARTECAMPO in Santa Cruz and the Cochabamba weavers at ASUR in Sucre.
- Spend time with Jalq’a and Candelaria weavers in their villages, and explore the famous Tarabuco Market.
- Tour a silver mine in Potosi (UNESCO World Heritage site) and visit the Royal Mint House.
- Travel through the high plateau, see herds of llamas and vicunas, and meet local quinoa growers.
- Watch the sunset over the magical salt planes of Uyuni, and spend the night in a salt hotel.
- Visit the National Museum of Ethnography and Folklore in La Paz.
- Explore the shores of Lake Titicaca.
- Wander through the Witches’ Market in La Paz and view the city from above on telefericos.
$5,770 double occupancy; single supplement $650; Includes $500 donation to ATA
Interested in joining our next trip? Contact Pam Art at pam.art@icloud.com
ECUADOR FALL TOUR 2023: November 3 – 14
CANCELED
Join us in exploring folk art traditions and extraordinary landscapes!
Download the 2023 Ecuador Tour brochure
- Visit master artisans offering textiles, pottery, leatherwork, guitars, and Panama hats.
- Explore two UNESCO World Heritage cities: Quito and Cuenca, with renowned Spanish colonial architecture, busy markets, numerous museums, and world-class dining.
- Meet new Ecuadorian cooperatives, communities, and museums promoting traditional crafts.
- Discover natural wonders of the Andean highlands, the Equatorial line, Indigenous villages, an orchid farm, and bustling markets in the Andean highlands Sierra.
- Relax at Otavalo’s gracious sixteenth-century colonial Hacienda Cusín in a volcano-ringed valley with fine farm-to-table dining.
- Enjoy ease of travel. You can see a lot in a short time! Ecuador uses the U.S. dollar so no confusing exchange rates.
$3,700 double occupancy; single supplement $400; Includes $500 donation to ATA
Interested in joining our next trip? Contact Ginger Jones at tours@andeantextilearts.org