Teotitlán del Valle
Zapotec weaving village famous for wool rugs with natural dyes
Overview
Teotitlán del Valle has been a weaving center for 2,000+ years, and today this Zapotec village produces Mexico's finest wool rugs using traditional backstrap and pedal looms with natural dyes. Watch artisans create intricate geometric and pictorial designs, learn about cochineal (red from insects), indigo, and other natural dye sources, and buy directly from family workshops at prices far below city shops. The village also features a 16th-century church built atop a Zapotec temple, excellent local restaurants, and a small community museum. A perfect companion to El Tule, Mitla, or Hierve el Agua.
Highlights
Practical Information
2-3 hours
Free
Free workshop visits. Rugs range from 500 pesos for small pieces to 10,000+ pesos for large masterworks. Colectivos run 15-25 pesos from Oaxaca.
Weekday mornings to see artisans at work. Tuesdays host a small local market. Combine with eastern valley route to Mitla and Hierve el Agua.
More Day Trips Nearby
Monte Albán
Former Zapotec capital and UNESCO World Heritage site with 360-degree valley views
Hierve el Agua
One of only two petrified waterfalls in the world with natural infinity pools
Mitla
Unique geometric mosaic stone friezes found nowhere else in Mesoamerica
El Tule
The widest tree trunk in the world at 42 meters circumference
Santiago Matatlán
World Capital of Mezcal with family distilleries lining the highway
Tlacolula Sunday Market
The largest and most authentic weekly market in the Oaxaca Valley