crafts of
COLOMBIA
july 13-18, 2026
5 spaces left
$3,250 USD PER PERSON | shared room
$3,650 USD PER PERSON | PRIVATE ROOm
Join us in Barichara, a cobblestoned pueblo flush with magenta bougainvillea and low-slung whitewashed buildings, as we experience the profound craftsmanship and artisan traditions of the verdant region. In this 6-day craft retreat, we will weave with the local agave fique fiber, learn about the regional-specific indigo practices, weave baskets and make our own paper.
Guests will also have the opportunity to explore the spectacular nature of the area, with optional visits to a bioreserve and day hiking available. Lounging by the hotel pool and pursuing the charming town are also encouraged.
ITINERARY
*Some details subject to change.
Guests will be notified if any changes occur.
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Arrive to Barichara. Settle into your room at the hotel. If you arrive early, enjoy the rooftop pool, a walk through the bioreserve, or our curated suggestion lists of shops and galleries in town.
Group meeting and orientation by the pool at sunset, followed by welcome dinner at a favorite restaurant in town. -
Breakfast at the hotel.
Option 2.5 hour moderate hike on the historic Camino Real trail to a neighboring town. Enjoy the scenic views during this walk.
Fresh, seasonal lunch at a favorite restaurant.
Return to Barichara via a fun open-air jeep.
Participate in a natural dyes workshop.
Group dinner.
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Breakfast at the hotel.
Guided walk through a natural bio reserve.
Visit fique fiber farm and learn about heirloom cotton.
Visit the historic Taller de Papel, Paper Workshop. Learn about the process of turning agave and other plant fibers into natural ecological, handmade paper. Make a little notebook of our own.
Group dinner.
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Group breakfast at the hotel.
Private 1 hour transportation to neighboring town to meet with families of weavers. Here will learn about processing agave fique fiber into threads used for weaving rugs, bags and other pieces. Option to weave a small rug of our own.
Group lunch.
Option to visit other family studios.
Private transportation back to Barichara.
Sunset by the pool.
Group dinner
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Group breakfast.
Optional basket weaving workshop led by Tuma, artisan from the Amazon region of Colombia.
Group lunch.
Free time to explore Barichara or keep working on basket weaving.
Farewell group dinner at a world-famous restaurant.
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Final group breakfast at the hotel.
Departures.
paper workshop
We’ll spend a day learning about how to make paper from agave fibers, followed by a day using natural inks and plant materials to print onto the paper. Each guest will leave with something they made.
Scenic Mountain Walks
The town of Barichara is surrounded by breathtaking mountain landscapes, which we will have the option to traverse, taking the historic Camino Real trail from Barichara to the neighboring town of Guane.
Our hotel is also located on a bioreserve, with access to peaceful walks on the reserve’s nature trails.
Boutique Hotel Accommodation
We’ll be staying at a charming boutique hotel, with a pool and beautiful common areas. Trip pricing is based on private room accommodation. Please email us if you would like to share a room with a partner.
Guided Artisan Workshops + Studio Visits
We’ll take you to visit some of the most talented craftspeople in the region. Highlights include an indigo workshop with artist Angela Jimenez Perez, a visit to a cotton weaving studio, and cotton spinning with maestro artesano Albeiro.
TRIP DETAILS
Trip Dates
July 13-18, 2026
GROUP
This trip is limited to 10 guests, who will accompanied by 2 Thread Caravan trip facilitators and our Icelandic hosts.
PRICING + PAYMENT
A non-refundable deposit is required in order to reserve your space on the trip. The remaining payment is due at least 2 months prior to the trip start date.
$3,250 usd per person for a shared room
$3,650 usd per person for a private room
ACCOMMODATION
We will be staying at a boutique hotel overlooking this charming, historic town.
There is option for guests to reserve either private or shared room with separate beds.
The hotel has a rooftop pool and is surrounded by a beautiful bio-reserve.
GETTING TO Barichara
There are several options to get to Barichara from within Colombia, including domestic flights, shuttles and private cars.
This trip fee includes roundtrip transportation to Barichara from Bogota or Bucaramanga via shuttle and/or small plane. Upon reserving your space on the trip, our team will be in touch to coordinate these logistics.
Accessibility
Barichara has cobblestone streets and very hilly terrain and is therefore not handicap accessible. During this trip we will be walking on uneven surfaces, sometimes with many steps and sometimes at an incline. A level of fitness is required for moving around town and participating in certain activities. Please contact us before reserving if you have mobility requirements, to see if we can accommodate them.
travel NOTES
Extra Time in Colombia: This trip will take place exclusively in Barichara and it’s surrounding towns. Colombia is a large and diverse country; we highly recommend extending your trip to visit more areas of the country if you’re able. Our team is happy to share our travel suggestions with you.
VISA: US citizens may travel in Colombia for up to 90 days without a tourist visa. If you are traveling from another country, please contact us or check visa requirements before reserving a space on this trip.
Passport Validity: Passport must have at least 3 months validity at time of entry as well as at least one empty page.
Trip Preparation: We will send a trip preparation packet to you one month before the trip. It will include an exact itinerary, a suggested pack list, useful country information and more.
COST INCLUDES
In-Country Transportation: We offer a shuttle service or flight from Bogota or Bucaramanga to Barichara and back. Or alternatively, guests can make their way to Barichara at their leisure.
Accommodation: Single or double occupancy boutique hotel accommodation.
Food: Wholesome meals cooked daily by talented local chefs using fresh, local produce and traditional recipes, combined with dining out in some of the town's best restaurants.
Art Education: An agave paper workshop, a natural dyes workshop, a fique rug weaving workshop, a cotton spinning workshop and more.
Extra Activities: Guided hike and time to visit local artist studios.
Support: A Thread Caravan trip facilitator will accompany the group during the trip, offering participants translation and knowledge of the country and crafts, while making sure everything runs smoothly. In addition, Thread Caravan staff is available to answer questions and assist with trip preparations beforehand.
Gift: Special arrival gift curated by our partners at Magda Made.
Carbon Emissions Offset: We’ve partnered with Trees for the Future to plant 25 trees on your behalf in order to offset the carbon emissions of your travel to Colombia.
ADDITIONAL EXPENSES
Airfare: To and from the Bogota or Bucaramanga airports
Personal Travel Insurance: Personal travel insurance is required for this trip. Please find an insurance that covers medical emergencies, theft, and trip cancellations.
Extra Excursions: We will have a little bit of free time at the end of each day. Some guests choose to use this time to relax; however, if you’d like to arrange any extra activities not already scheduled into the itinerary, we are happy to help you coordinate things. All activities during free time are at the expense of guests.
Personal Expenses: Shopping, medicine, snacks, etc.
Alcoholic Drinks: Thread Caravan does not cover the cost of alcoholic beverages.
QUESTIONS? CONTACT US.
TRIP REVIEWS
“This trip was just wonderful, I didn’t know what to expect as this was the first time I traveled in this format with people I did not know, I must admit I was a bit nervous at first but It turned out to be a most beautiful experience. We spent the week in a magical little town in Santander visiting workshops, getting to experiment with local crafts and enjoy the most delicious meals. I loved it and highly recommend taking this trip!”
— hagar a.
“Colombia is a place full of excitement and a flavour you'll always want to experience, the bonds between México and Colombia go from the all South American sound of cumbia to the joy of drinking top notch coffee. But there's something you might not expect from this trip and it's the fact that artisanal objects are as beautiful and deep than any other town in Oaxaca. The trip, curated by the young and talented Caitlin, Shannon and María, is something you don't wanna miss. 1 week of pure joy, great conversations and mesmerizing techniques is a no brainer.”
— goyo d.
“Cannot recommend these trips enough, they are thoughtfully planned and beautifully executed! The groups are intimate and the time with the artisans is inspiring, educational and very special. I traveled to Colombia with Thread Caravan and would recommend this trip to anyone interested in textiles, yarn and ceramics. Will be joining future trips, 10/10 had an amazing time!”
— rachel s.
RegisTER
HERE
50 trees planted for every
reservation made
Experience the vibrant craft culture of Colombia in our immersive workshop. Learn traditional textile and ceramic arts from skilled local artisans and explore the rich heritage of Colombian craftsmanship. Stay in a beautiful location and engage with the local community while creating your own handcrafted pieces.
Thread Caravan provides fully-funded artists residencies to our community of indigenous artisan collaborators, as part of our artisan exchange program. To date, we’ve been proud to host Gujarati turban weaver Shamji Vishram Vankar in Oaxaca, as well as Zapotec Oaxacan sisters and weavers Silvia and Dahlia Gutiérrez on our weaving retreat Guatemala. In June 2024 we will host potter Macrina Mateo Martinez from Tlapazola, Oaxaca on our pottery retreat in the Rif mountains of Morocco.
Should our community be interested in contributing to these efforts, there is the option to pay it forward when making a trip reservation. These financial contributions will be used exclusivity towards our artisan exchange program.
Learn more about this program here.