Oaxaca to Teotitlan del Valle and Tlacolula: Day trip

Experience Mexico's finest rug-weaving tradition where Zapotec artisans create masterpieces using techniques unchanged since pre-Columbian times. Visit family workshops where master weavers demonstrate backstrap and pedal loom techniques, natural dye preparation using cochineal insects and traditional plants, and complex design patterns carrying cultural and spiritual significance. Learn about sheep raising, wool processing, and traditional dyeing methods while purchasing rugs directly from artisans and understanding fair pricing principles. Explore the baroque church dedicated to the Precious Blood with its elaborate altarpieces and religious art while experiencing traditional Zapotec religious syncretism. Local restaurants serve traditional Zapotec cuisine, including mole coloradito, traditional breads, and tejate corn beverages, while families offer cultural tours, including traditional cooking demonstrations and craft workshops. This site is open every day except on Mondays, from 10:00 to 18:00.

Immerse yourself in Mexico's most authentic indigenous market where Zapotec vendors gather weekly to sell traditional products, handicrafts, and regional specialties using commercial practices unchanged for centuries. Experience the vibrant Sunday market where vendors speak Zapotec languages and sell everything from traditional textiles and pottery to live animals and medicinal plants. Visit the magnificent baroque church with its elaborate gold leaf decorations and religious art representing Spanish colonial artistic achievement. Sample traditional market foods, including tamales oaxaqueños, traditional moles, and tropical fruits, while learning about traditional measurement systems, bargaining customs, and product seasonality. Local vendors demonstrate traditional crafts, including pottery making, basket weaving, and traditional food preparation, while the market atmosphere provides authentic encounters with indigenous Mexican commercial culture. This Sunday market is typically open from early morning to late afternoon, though visitors should verify its hours locally.