Unleash Your Creative Spirit!
An Aventure in Vibrant Oaxaca
October 6th – 13th, 2022
Join us in the mystical mountainscapes of Oaxaca as we set off on an adventure to unleash our creative spirit! Known for its rainbow-colored architecture, incredibly rich history, and diverse community of artists, we can’t think of a better place to get inspired!
Weave your way through vibrant artisan markets famous for their pottery and handwoven textiles, discover new and exotic cuisines in one of the most famous regions for street food, and visit the heart of the countryside for a behind-the-scenes glimpse at craft in action.
Along the way, we’ll lead you through creative prompts as we take time to draw inspiration from the beautiful places we visit. Our talented guest artist and Oaxaca expert Yoli Manzo will share all her insider tips about this wonderful city and has designed custom workshops just for us from Day of the Dead altar building to her signature Latin folk art paintings!
This journey is for anyone looking to explore their creative side and all of our activities and workshops are for beginners and seasoned artists alike! No Art experience necessary!
Our adventure begins in the heart of the city where we’ll explore Oaxaca’s rich history. Named a World Heritage Site in 1987, Oaxaca is one of the most beautiful and best-preserved regions in all of Mexico. Our private tour of the city includes all the famous sites and hidden gems as well as chocolate tasting! Oh yes, you heard that right! We’ll learn all about the chocolates and moles of this region as well as get a taste of all that deliciousness! Yes, please!
Our journey continues to the neighboring villages of Ocotlan de Morelos, Santo Tomas Jalietza, San Martín Tilcajete & San Bartolo Coyotepec, also known as the magic route of handicrafts. Experience the amazing artisanship and ancient traditions of hand-dyed textiles, Oaxaca infamous black pottery, and hand-carved wooden sculptures with live demos, artist talks, and of course shopping!
Day trips to open-air markets and art galleries, street food, and mezcal tastings along with creative workshops that celebrate the local culture highlight our stay.
The charming Las Bugambilias with its bright and colorful rooms featuring local artwork, beautiful common areas, and a rooftop terrace will be our home base as we explore all Oaxaca has to offer!
If you’ve been looking to take some time for yourself to reconnect and explore your creative side with an awesome group of women, consider this your invitation!
Why should you join us?
Ok, can we just discuss how crazy stressful the last couple of years have been?! You deserve to take some space for yourself, that’s right! Not the kids, family, or your job, but something just for you! So buckle up buttercup cause we’re offering an adventure to reset and explore your best self… It’s more than a retreat, it’s an experience, so let’s loosen up, get inspired, and above all have fun!
Come Wander with us!
A peek into our adventure!
Where we’ll be staying
We went all out and booked the entire Las Bugambilias, a beautiful B&B brimming with charm! They are not only one of the top-rated and award-winning B&Bs they are also famous for their delicious homemade breakfasts, not to mention being in the heart of downtown which makes it perfect for exploring! Soak in the instagrammable decor or enjoy the perfect sip of mezcal from the rooftop bar!
Meet our Guest Artist
Meet Yoli Manzo! Yoli is known for her Latin folk art such as Dia de Los Muertos, Frida Kahlo, and Religious Saints. Yoli’s artwork, including shrines, jewelry, skulls, and paintings have been featured in art galleries, television, and art festivals throughout Northern California as well as internationally. We love her use of bold and fun color palettes along with a healthy dose of playfulness! She can’t wait to share her culture and techniques with a new group of ladies!
Meet our Featured Local Artists
There is so much talent in this region we couldn’t just feature one! We’ll travel to the heart of the countryside to neighboring villages and towns home to women artisans in multiple media from weaving to pottery and even wood carving!
Get a behind the scene glimpse at these amazing women in action with live demos and more! From sacred embroidery to hand-dyed textiles and intricate wood carvings there is so much talent and tradition and we can’t wait to take it all in!
A Word From Your Host
Hi Everyone! Cassie here, founder of Wandering Women Retreats and art and travel lover!
I can’t tell you how excited I am to share Oaxaca with an awesome group of gals! With over a decade of experience in the travel industry and as a professional artist, it’s been a long-time dream to merge the two and offer unforgettable journeys that both nurture your creative side and immerse you in local culture.
I’ve cooked up a seriously dreamy itinerary that has a taste of it all! We’ll not only be visiting different towns and villages throughout Oaxaca but with creative workshops, amazing day trips and a culture steeped in history this retreat is chock full of inspiration!
So join me in the vibrant city of Oaxaca for the adventure of a lifetime!
Our Itinerary
Day 1 : Arrival, Opening Circle & Welcome Dinner
Arrival in Oaxaca, group transportation to get you from the airport to the hotel will be provided. Check-in, get refreshed!
Our charming Bed & Breakfast is located right in downtown Oaxaca near all the action and is the perfect place to explore from! Join us for cocktails and an opening circle followed by a scrumptious Welcome Dinner.
Day 2: Private Walking Tour of the Historic Plaza, Chocolate Tasting, Travel Journaling and Watercolor Workshop
Opening circle followed by a private walking tour of the city. Find out all about Oaxaca and its hidden gems and unique history. After exploring we’ll head over to a local chocolate shop where we’ll learn all about the chocolates and moles of the region and of course taste all that deliciousness!
We’ll break for lunch, in the afternoon we’ll lead you on an art walk throughout the city. We’ll gather inspiration from its vibrant centuries-old colonial buildings as we capture all of the little details, the different-colored doorways, the intricately hand-carved moldings, potted plants, wrought-iron lamp posts, and all of the delicately painted murals.
After resting from a day of exploring, meet us for an evening art party as Yoli goes over tips for sketching out the day’s inspirations into beautiful watercolor paintings! Enjoy a margarita, or two!
Day 3: Full Day Artisan Excursion featuring Textile, Pottery and Wood Carving Artists, Market Visit, Food Tastings & Lunch.
Join us on a full-day adventure as we discover the artisans of the magic route of handicrafts! Starting in the nearby town of Ocotlán de Morelos we’ll explore the “tianguis” which is a traditional open-air market where we’ll enjoy a walking tour and tastings of locally made tamales, chapulines, tejate, pulque, and nicuatole!
Our next stop is Santo Tomás Jalietza where we’ll visit the home of Crispina Navarro Gómez who is one of the finest weavers from México to learn how they weave their textiles using ancient techniques on a back-strap loom.
We’ll break midway for a special lunch at the Restaurant “La Azucena Zapoteca” to taste the traditional food of this region.
After lunch, we’ll head out to the studio of Jacobo & María Ángeles to learn all about the “alebrijes” (wooden carvings) made with copal and painted with natural dyes. After a live demo we’ll have the opportunity to see and shop all the finished wood carvings made in the gallery.
Our last stop will be in the town of San Bartolo Coyotepec where we will visit the workshop of Doña Rosa Real de Nieto to see how they make the infamous oaxacan black pottery by hand.
Day 4: Local Artisan Markets, Mezcal Tasting & Altar Building Class, Dinner in the Plaza
No journey to Oaxaca would be complete without market visits! Known for their colorful open-air markets awash with fantastic food, colorful artisans, jewelry, pottery, and woven goods we’ll be diving into some of the most famous markets such as the Zocolo!
Located in a plaza ringed with artisan vendors and an 18th-century cathedral, it is the center of social activity in Oaxaca! Known as the capital of mezcal, we’ll make a special pit stop to enjoy a tasting of this smoky spirit made from the native agave plants of the region.
Shop to your heart’s content, people watch, and enjoy the street food!
Later we’ll meet back at our private oasis for a special altar-building workshop. Our guest artist Yoli will go over all the history of Day of the Dead ( Dia de los Muertos ), how the altars are made and what they represent. Create your very own Dia de los Muertos, altar to take home!
Rest, get refreshed and in the evening meet us for a special dinner in the plaza. Sundays are great for people watching and live music and we’ll enjoy a nice stroll after dinner to take it all in!
Day 5: Free Day to Explore as you Wish
Explore the city at your own pace. Enjoy a spontaneous adventure or choose from one of many suggestions. From the historic plazas to ancient ruins to street food and mezcal tastings, there’s an adventure around every corner!
Stumped on what to do? No worries we got you! Our welcome packet includes a guide to local attractions and places of interest with plenty of options for your day off!
Day 6: Gallery Visit, Studio Tour & Frida Inspired Portraits Workshop
Dive into the local art scene with a fun day of “ gallery hopping” as we go from one gallery to another discovering local artists along the way. We’ll have a special visit and studio tour by local artist Sandy Ramos Garcia. Sandy will go over her inspiration and the creative process behind her beautiful work.
In the afternoon we’ll gather on the rooftop for a sunset painting session as Yoli teaches us how to create our very own Frida Kahlo-inspired portraits! She’ll go over a step-by-step process on how to bring this iconic artist to life and you’ll complete your own custom portrait to take home!
Day 7: Free time, Mixed Media Sacred Hearts Workshop, Margarita Party & Farewell Dinner
We’ll start our day on a colorful note with our last creative session. Explore mixed media sacred hearts, a combination of collage pages, bits of found papers, and maps for the perfect souvenir of our journey!
The afternoon is yours to enjoy as you please with plenty of free time to enjoy any last-minute shopping or packing away all your cool market finds!
Join us in the evening as we margarita it up with a fun closing circle and sharing of our art journals along with our favorite takeaways followed by a private 4-course farewell dinner of local Oaxacan delicacies.
Day 8: Breakfast & Departure
We’ll share one last opening circle and breakfast together before departing for the airport. Remember to stay in touch with your new creative besties and we hope you Wander with Us on our next adventure!
PLEASE NOTE: THIS IS OUR PROSPECTIVE ITINERARY. SMALL CHANGES MAY BE MADE DUE TO WEATHER, DESIRES OF THE GROUP, AND UNEXPECTED OPPORTUNITIES
(such as spontaneous adventures, can we say heck ya?!)
Our retreats aren’t just about the wonderful things we’ll see and do but about building relationships, that’s why we like to keep our groups small and intimate. This enables us to travel like a local and have an inside look at all the region has to offer! This retreat is limited to 12 guests.
Cost: Double Occupancy $3125 | Single occupancy $3675
(Airfare not included)
* Our Travel Affiliate Amy of T-travels will be handling deposits and payments
A $1000 Non -Refundable deposit is required to hold your spot balance due by July 6th, 2022. Payment plans are available please see our FAQ below.
This Retreat Is Sold Out!
Message us through our contact form if you want to be added to the waitlist or hop on our newsletter for the latest updates!
WHAT DOES THE COST COVER?
- 7-night accommodations
- Group Airport Transfers
- Private Transportation to and From all Destinations/Activities
- Intimate group limited to 8-12 women
- Tips for our guides, drivers
- Daily Homemade Breakfast
- 3 Dinners ( Plaza, Welcome & Farewell Dinner) and one lunch
- Private Walking Tour of Oaxaca
- Chocolate Tasting
- Day Trip to Magic Route of Handicrafts Featuring Local Artisans With Live Demos
- Market Tour with Street Food Tastings and Lunch
- Art Gallery Tour
- Zocolo Market Visit & Guided Shopping
- Mezcal Tasting
- Margarita Party
- Four Creative Workshops! City Streets Watercolors, Day of the Dead Altar Building, Frida Inspired Portraits, and Mixed Media Sacred Hearts with Guest Artist Yoli Manzo
- Daily Art Exercises and journaling prompts to get your creative juices flowing
- Return Covid Testing before departure ($150 dollar value)
Sweet Extras
A private Facebook Group so you can get to know your fellow 
A curated bag of goodies, aka the most amazing swag bag ever, including art and local Oaxacan finds!
A Concierge Travel Specialist should you need any assistance with flights or travel outside the retreat dates
WHAT ISN’T COVERED IN THE COST?
- Airfare from your hometown to Oaxaca
- Any meals not listed in the itinerary
- Travelers Insurance (required for this retreat)
- Alcohol and specialty drinks not in listed in the itinerary
- Any extra tours, spa treatments, excursions that you choose during your free time if you choose to go.
- Transportation & lodging outside of the retreat dates, should you choose to arrive early or stay later in Mexico.
- Anything you buy in the markets or on various outings.
- Personal tips and gratuities (hotel staff, maid service, etc)
Faq’s
Book with Confidence – A note about Covid 19
We have a great team in place that is monitoring the global pandemic and travel advisories on a daily basis. In the event we need to cancel the retreat due to Covid 19, retreat participants will be offered the option of moving funds to a rescheduled departure date . We are also requiring all participants to get travel insurance with a “ cancel for any reason” policy. We want you to feel fully comfortable and confident when booking that you are covered!
Return covid testing is included in your package! We want to make this as convenient as possible for our ladies!
* Please note that we will NOT be refunding cancellations for any reason, including if you yourself contract covid before the retreat and can not attend. Due to the planning, logistics, and upfront costs of these events, we have a strict no refund policy regardless of circumstance. We are requiring retreaters to get trip insurance for this very reason, trust us the peace of mind alone is worth it!
It is your responsibility to be up to date on what the visa requirements are for entering the country as well as whether you are required to be vaccinated/Covid Testing etc. Most countries require either proof of vaccination or a negative Covid test prior to entering.
Absolutely! All of our workshops and activities are for beginners and experienced artists alike!! We’ll provide you with creative prompts but you will be at your own pace and it’s completely up to you how you’d like to use your art journal and creative time.
Yes! Upon receipt of your $1000 non-refundable deposit, you may divide your remaining total into up to 2 separate payments. Total balance is due on or before July 6th, 2022.
Yes, travel insurance with a ” cancel for any reason” policy is required in order for you to attend the retreat. Trust us, it’s worth it! Stumped on what policy to choose? Reach out to our travel concierge, we are happy to assist!
That is completely up to you and depends on how much shopping you plan to do. ATMs are available to you and credit cards are taken at some major retailers.
Our accommodations for this retreat are as follows: Four of the rooms are single occupancy which will be given on a first-come-first-served basis. The other 4 rooms are double occupancy with two twin beds per room. In the event you are traveling solo and book a shared room we will do our best to pair you up with someone we think you’ll match well with.
Cute Story I met one of my besties on an art retreat where we shared a room! Little did we know we only lived 20 minutes apart and we have been inseparable ever since!
Oaxaca is famous for its cuisine and street food! Our B&B provides a delicious homemade breakfast with egg dishes, fresh breads, and pastries.
Local Oaxacan fare will be served at both our dinners and lunch on our day adventure.
Meals not included in the itinerary are a great chance to explore local restaurants. We really want to give you a taste of the country through its food, in most cases, we will have vegetarian options but unfortunately, severely restrictive diets and other food sensitivities can not be accommodated.
We have arranged group transportation to and from Oaxaca International Airport.
When booking your flight please fly into Oaxaca Xoxocotlan Airport (OAX). We recommend booking your flights at least 90 days before the beginning of the retreat.
Weather in Oaxaca will be pleasantly warm during the days with temperatures ranging in the low 80s. Evenings can cool down and we’d recommend packing layers and a light jacket or cardigan.
Oaxaca is best explored on foot. There will be lots of cobblestone streets so opt for comfortable shoes, sneakers, or sandals. For our day trip to we’ll be most of the day outdoors.Plan outfits that will work for exploring but will also be nice enough for a relaxed dinner in town. Layers are always a great idea!
The last thing we want is you having to lug a ton of supplies around so we’ll send a minimal list of art supplies such as your favorite brushes, art journal, and watercolor set! We’ll also include a simple packing list and tips a couple of months before the retreat.
We also recommend that you bring an extra bag (a collapsible duffel or tote works great) to bring home your goodies you have collected on our shopping trips. Oaxaca is known for its artisan and handicraft markets, so trust us you’ll want the extra room to take back your one-of-a-kind finds! The temperatures will vary, so don’t forget layers, pack a bathing suit, sweater, and a light jacket!
One of our main goals is to lift up our fellow female creatives! When we set out to create Wandering Women Retreats we thought about all the wonderful female artisans around the world. What’s going on in their studio, what inspires them and how can we be inspired in return? Each of our retreats highlights a different woman artist with visits to her workspace and talks about her journey and creative process.
From floral foragers to textile designers to mixed media painters we strive to spotlight a diverse group of female artisans. On each of our retreat pages, you’ll find a bio for our featured female artist for that particular trip.
Still have questions? We got you! Visit our FAQ page.
Interested in a custom retreat for you and your tribe? We can create custom private retreats for your group that is tailored to your interests. Unique experiences, boutique accommodations and off the beaten path locations are our speciality! Reach out through our contact page for more info!
Come Wander with Us!
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