Southern Valley

Southern Valley

Our first stop is the village of San Bartolo Coyotepec, famous for its tradition of making black pottery in a technique preserved through generations. Then we’ll continue on to the village of San Martin Tilcajete to visit woodcarvers who create spectacular carvings in the shape of animals and mythical creatures. We’ll make a stop in Santo Tomas Jalieza. The women of this village weave using the prehispanic backstrap loom to make placemats, table runners, handbags, and belts. Our next stop is the city of Ocotlán, the hometown of Oaxacan painter Rodolfo Morales. Visit his house-museum, and the church and ex-convent restored by the Rodolfo Morales Cultural Foundation, which is now home to a museum of religious and folk art. Visit the workshops of the Aguilar sisters, folk art masters specializing in miniature figures that reflect rural life in Oaxaca, nativity scenes, the tree of life, market women, as well as Frida Kahlo replicas. If you plan this tour for a Friday, market day in Ocotlan, you’ll be able to visit the market which fills up the streets adjoining the central plaza.

We can recommend a restaurant along the way for lunch, or you may choose to eat in one of the stalls in the market – we can suggest a good place.

Painting an alebrije

Tour includes: Stops at San Bartolo Coyotepec, San Martin Tilcajete, Santo Tomas Jalieza and Ocotlan. This tour includes transportation in a comfortable, air-conditioned vehicle and guide service with a knowledgeable, bilingual guide.

Duration: around 7 hours

Recommendations and tips: Wear comfortable shoes. It’s a good idea to bring sunglasses and a hat, sun block, and extra cash in case you want to purchase souvenirs and food.

Cost:  private tour for one to three people: $275 USD. For four people or more, contact us for pricing.

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Our clients say...

Benito led us on a marvelous 4-hour introductory city tour (including a must see of Santo Domingo Church and Museum) and on a full day took us to a livestock market followed by a large fresh produce, meats and home goods area all in the Ocotlan Market. Marvelous early lunch at delicious food stall run by a Frida Kahlo look alike! Visited amazing artisan wood carved creations. More markets and endless questions answered with knowledge and patience. Another day with Benito's wife Suzanne was equally interesting with a thorough and fascinating visit of Monte Alban, Mitla and a most impressive weaving generational family business in Teotitlan del Valle. We have never had more intuitive, intelligent, caring tour guides.
Our family recently had the opportunity to take several tours with Discover Oaxaca and we loved them. They were very flexible and customized several tours for us. We customized a day tour that included the city walking tour with a visit to Monte Alban and a visit to the village of San Antonio Arrazola for alebrijes, no doubt one of the highlights of our trip to Oaxaca. Benito our tour guide was exceptional. Friendly, knowledgeable and a pleasure to tour with. His demeanor and attitude were very engaging and he was always very flexible and attentive to our likes. We would highly recommend using their tour services in Oaxaca. You will not be disappointed, as I can't imagine another tour company with as much passion and knowledge for their city. Their love for Oaxaca was very evident and really brought out what this great city and its surroundings has to offer the conscientious traveler.
Benito and Suzanne are both experienced and knowledgeable guides, but they are so much more. They are friendly, giving and warm people who want to share their Oaxaca with you, all the while making suggestions and small adjustments to planned activities that reflect what they learn about your preferences over the course of time. They are a wealth of information about the history, culture, religion, cuisine, archaeological sites, master artisans, religious iconography and art....and they make every effort to share as much as they can with you. They also know the most skillful masters of Oaxaca crafts like making alebrijes and rugs - and when they take you to the workshops they are greeted warmly by the masters themselves.I cannot say enough good things about Benito and Suzanne or about our experiences with them. If you come to Oaxaca, I hope you are lucky enough to have Benito and Suzanne as your guides as well. I have no doubt that it will be a marvelous experience.

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