oaxaca
Field to Fiber:
cotton on the
costa chica
$2,950 usd per person
private room 1 night + shared room 5 nights
$3,450 USD per persoN
private room 4 nights + shared room 2 nights
$4,250 usd per person
private room all nights
January 3-9, 2027 | 6 spaces left
Join us on a journey to the Costa Chica of Oaxaca to experience the living traditions of the heirloom cottons that grow in earthy hues: coyuchi brown, green, red, and white.
During this trip, we’ll partner with Ñu’u Ndito, a cooperative working at the frontline of protecting Mexico’s native colored cottons. In their fields, cotton is grown as part of a living agro-ecological system, interwoven with the milpa. We will walk the fields with Ñu’u Ndito to see the cotton fiber on the plant and take part in the harvest.
Then with Katyi Ya’a collective, we’ll enter the intimate world of transformation: deseeding the cotton by hand, beating the fiber, spinning with the malacate spindle, and weaving on the backstrap loom. Step by step, we’ll witness how a plant becomes a textile, and how a textile becomes a representation of identity and autonomy.
Our journey continues on to the Puerto Escondido region, where a stay in a nature-forward boutique villa offers space to rest, reflect, and integrate all we’ve learned.
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Native cotton is fragile. Its seeds cannot be stored for extended periods; they must be planted, cared for, and passed on. Today, these heirloom varieties face threat of contamination from genetically modified industrial seeds. In the Costa Chica of Oaxaca, communities continue to protect these endangered heirloom seeds with patience and pride in their territory.
This journey is a fundraiser. Your participation directly supports Ñu’u Ndito and the indigenous communities who continue to cultivate, clean, spin, and weave these native cottons by hand. Participation in this trip contributes to a future where agriculture, textile knowledge, biodiversity, and community autonomy can grow together.
Join us on this meaningful travel experience in support of Mexico’s native colored cottons and the communities keeping them alive.
walks with cotton farmers
Visit local farmers who cultivate cotton within diverse, intercropped fields, where traditional knowledge shapes every step of the process. In this site of origin of cotton, wild and heirloom cotton varieties have been inadvertently contaminated by GMOs from industrial cotton processes from the north of Mexico, putting thousands of years of seed stewardship and local biodiversity at risk. As we walk the land with indigenous farmers, we’ll learn how they protect the genetic integrity of their native seeds, through seed selection, community exchange, and ecological practices that honor the soil.
Cotton spinning Workshop and weaving demonstration
Learn to spin short-staple heirloom cotton using a traditional malacate spindle. From there, witness how freshly spun threads are prepared for weaving by soaking them in atole, a corn-based starch. Finally, view a weaving demonstration, where you’ll be introduced to the techniques of the Mesoamerican backstrap loom.
boutique hotel integration experience
This trip will start in Puerto Escondido, where we will receive our group at boutique hotel Suuel before heading to the rural communities on the Costa Chica for four days and three nights. At the end of our trip, head to the outskirts of Puerto Escondido, near Casa Wabi, where we’ll spend two days unwinding in a gorgeous oceanside boutique villa, integrating all we’ve just learned.
ITINERARY
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Before 5pm: Arrive to Puerto Escondido airport.
Private transport to our boutique Hotel Suuel. Here, each guest will have their own private room with an en suite bathroom in this design-forward hotel.
Group introductions and trip orientation in the hotel lounge.
Group dinner at a favorite restaurant in Puerto Escondido. Prepare to leave early the next morning for the Costa Chica.
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Optional early morning beach walk alongside the Pacific Ocean.
Group breakfast at our hotel.
Pack our bags and prepare to leave. Private 4 hour drive to Pinotepa de Don Luis, stopping at cotton organization CATA on the way. Here, have a group lunch and learn about the CATA’s efforts to clean the heirloom seeds.
In the early evening, settle into our rural homestay. Group dinner and sleep early for an early start tomorrow.
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Early morning wake up. Head first-thing to Eziquiel an Javier’s farms to learn about cotton farming in Oaxaca.
Group breakfast on the land.
Demonstration of jicara gourd carving by Javier.
Later, presentation to the Katyi Ya’a cooperative, followed by demonstration of how they handspin heirloom cotton.
Group lunch with Katyi Ya’a, followed by continued spinning workshop.
Free time to rest in the late afternoon.
7pm: Group dinner at the house.
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Group breakfast at the house.
Meet with the Katyi Ya’a cooperative and Isabel’s home. Here, continue spinning and receive a backstrap weaving demonstration. For those interested, practice weaving on the backstrap loom.
Group lunch.
Afternoon natural dye session followed by opportunity to practice randa embroidered joining seam.
Free time to relax in the late afternoon.
Final group dinner in the community.
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Early morning visit to the Pinotepa de Don Luis market to enjoy a local breakfast.
Pack up to leave the house.
Private 3 hour drive from Pinotepa de Don Luis to Tutupec. Here visit farmer and artisan Luis Adan to learn about his work and see the variety of colored cottons he is growing and his malacate spindles.
Continue on towards Puerto Escondido. In the afternoon, arrive to our rural design-forward home, for a late lunch and relaxation.
Afternoon rest at your leisure, or enjoy a spinning session with Ana Cris and Clara.
Group dinner.
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Homemade breakfast at the house.
Free time to enjoy the beach, discuss what we’ve learned, and continue our creative projects.
Group lunch.
Free time.
Farewell dinner.
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Homemade breakfast at the house.
Farewells and departures.
Transportation to the Puerto Escondido airport.
A Note About This Fundraiser
This trip will fundraise for the efforts of the Ñu’u Ndito organization.
In 2019, Dr. Ana Wegier, a molecular biologist at Universidad Autónoma de México (UNAM) detected GMO contamination in Oaxaca’s native colored cotton seeds. The modification was intended to create artificial insect and herbicide resistance; something that is not wanted or needed.
In 2022, Ñu’u Ndito constructed an experimental greenhouse, as a living seed bank of four distinct cotton colors, at Centro de Aprendizaje Rural en Tecnologías Apropiadas (CATA), a campus extension of the Universidad de Chapingo. This is where Ñu’u Ndito grows cotton plants that test negative for GMOs at the UNAM laboratory in Mexico City and where they can produce GMO free seeds, the first step in a longer process, which permits the annual harvest of GMO-free, native, colored cotton.
Ñu’u Ndito has been engaged in this work for eight years now. 2026 is the first year that they have been able to harvest cleaner seeds directly from the farmer’s fields; which are mostly GMO-free.
It is important to maintain this seed rescue program in order to guarantee the continuous production of clean seeds. Our actions are inspired by the desire for a healthy and bio-diverse environment and the desire to conserve one of the world’s most important fiber crops in its site of origin.
Through this trip’s reservations, we will fundraise $5,000 usd that will be donated directly to Ñu’u Ndito’s seed-cleaning and preservation efforts.
If you would like to contribute more to this program, you can do so directly on their GoFundMe page.
Below are the annual expenses of Ñu’u Ndito’s seed cleaning and preservation program (not including overhead, supervision, fundraising etc.)
Salary to maintain the plants, run on-site experiments and collect data (doesn’t include ISR). | $120,000 mxn / ~$6,870 usd
Materials and supplies such as gasoline to pump water, natural insect control, fertilizer/compost, shelving and containers to store the seeds, greenhouse repairs, cleaning of the well, replacing hoses, etc | $30,000 mxn / ~$1,722 usd
Things we need and we don’t have such as a computer, air time, transportation of plants from CDMX, repair the large cistern and water line, etc, | $50,000 mxn / ~$2,869 usd
Contribute to the cost of laboratory expenses to test our seeds annually. | $50,000 mxn / ~$2,869 usd
TRIP
DETAILS
Dates:
January 3-9, 2027
A Note About the Trip:
This journey invites a different understanding of luxury. During this trip, luxury is the privilege of entering a world that remains true to its own rhythms, far from mass tourism and largely untouched by globalization. This trip is a rare opportunity to stand beside the people who are protecting one of Mexico’s most precious biocultural treasures.
Accommodations and meals are simple and shared. This experience requires humility, and a genuine willingness to adapt. Dietary restrictions cannot be accommodated, and participants should be prepared to receive what is offered with gratitude and openness. Please be prepared for humidity and heat, and to be offline for the duration of the trip.
Pricing + Payment:
$2,950 USD per person - private room 1 night and shared room with separate beds 5 other nights
$3,450 USD per person - private room for 4 nights and a shared room with separate beds for 2 nights
$4,250 USD per person - private room for the duration of the trip
A 40% non-refundable deposit is required in order to reserve your space on this trip. The remaining balance will be charged using your payment method 60 days prior to the trip.
When making a reservation, there is the option to Pay it Forward. These contributions are directed exclusively towards our Artisan Exchange Program, in which we invite our indigenous craft collaborators to participate in retreats in other regions, thus weaving a larger web of this global artisan community.
Cost Includes:
Donation to Ñu’u Ndito: This is a non-for-profit experience. All profits made during this trip will be donated to Ñu’u Ndito cooperative, the organization on the frontlines of preserving the integrity of the native cotton seeds.
In-Country Transportation: Transfer from the Puerto Escondido airport or bus station to our accommodations.
Airport transfers are only included if guests are arriving and departing on the trip start and end dates.Meals: All meals are included in the itinerary. Most meals will be homemade and simple. Due to the remoteness of the area, we cannot accept dietary restrictions during this trip.
Payment to Artisan Partners: Artisan instructors receive fair compensation for their time offering demonstrations and teaching workshops. This payment also covers costs for all craft materials in the case of hands-on workshops.
Private + Shared Occupancy Accommodation: We will start our trip at Suuel Hotel in Puerto Escondido, where each guest will have their own private room. Then, on the Costa Chica, our group will be at a rustic homestay with a mix of private and shared rooms (with no air conditioning) for three nights. Lastly, we’ll spend two nights in a boutique home accommodation, Las Marianas, in a remote area outside of Puerto Escondido.
Support: This trip will be hosted by the Thread Caravan, TEXERE and Donde Clara team members. Our hosts will accompany the group throughout the trip, offering participants their combined knowledge of craft and translation support, while making sure everything runs smoothly. In addition, Thread Caravan staff is available to answer questions and assist with trip preparations prior to the experience.
Additional Expenses:
Alcoholic Drinks: Thread Caravan does not cover the cost of alcoholic beverages.
Airfare/Bus Fare: To and from Puerto Escondido.
Personal Spending Money: For personal shopping and any activities in free time. Consider budgeting for textile purchases from the weavers and optional massage at Punta Pajaros.
Personal Travel Insurance: We require all international participants to have personal travel insurance. This should cover illness, trip and/or flight cancellations, theft, etc. If this is your first time purchasing travel insurance, we recommend World Nomads or Allianz.
Getting There and Away:
Guests should plan to fly into Puerto Escondido’s international airport (PXM), or arrive to Puerto Escondido by bus from Oaxaca City.
If guests plan to spend extra time in Oaxaca City before or after the trip, we are happy to share suggestions; however, guests will be responsible for getting themselves to and from Puerto Escondido.
Please feel free to contact us if you have any questions about arrival and departure logistics.
Other Info:
VISA: A visa is not required for citizens of the United States if traveling to Mexico for under 180 days. If you are a citizen of another country you can check VISA requirements here.
Passport Validity: In order to enter Mexico, your passport must be valid for at least 90 days following your departure date. You must also have at least one blank page in your passport.
Questions? Contact us.
RegisTER
HERE
50 trees planted for every
reservation made
If you choose to pay a deposit, please use a card you'd like to be charged for the remaining balance as well, as it will be automatically charged on November 3rd, two months before the trip.
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Private Room 1 night + Shared Room 5 nights | $2,950 per person
Private Room 4 nights + Shared Room 2 nights | $3,450 per person
Private Room All Nights | $4,250 per person
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.