Weaving Together

A Pedal Loom Weaving Journey in Momostenango, Guatemala

November 13-20, 2026

An 8-day textile journey centered around wool weaving traditions in the Guatemalan highlands.

During this week we spend time between Quetzaltenango (Xela) and Momostenango, learning alongside the weavers of Jun B’atz’, a studio founded by a generational weaving family.

Participants explore the full process of wool weaving practiced in the region: visiting sheep herds, preparing fiber, learning natural dye techniques, and weaving on traditional pedal looms.

November 13th - 20th, 2026 | Limited to 6-10 participants

$1950 USD per person, shared room

$2550 USD per person, private room

Reserve your place

What Makes This Experience Special

This journey focuses on wool weaving traditions that are rarely shared in depth with visitors.

Participants spend several days working in the Jun B’atz’ studio and learning the steps that transform raw wool into woven textile.

The pace of the program allows time for both learning, making, exploring, and relaxing.

  • Arrival and pick up from La Aurora International Airport.
    Lunch in Tecpán on the way to Xela. Check in and welcome dinner together.

  • Transfer to Byron’s studio in Momostenango.
    Workshop: Raw Wool to Thread.
    Afternoon Workshop: Exploring Natural Dyes.

  • Morning visit to a sheep rebaño in the mountains.
    Stop at Momostenango’s market to explore wool textiles and local designs.
    Workshop: Pedal Loom Weaving 101.

  • Inspiration day. We visit villages near Xela to explore local landscapes and textile traditions. Afternoon soak at Fuentes Georginas hot springs.

  • Return to the studio in Momostenango.
    Design session, color selection, and beginning work on the loom.

  • Day 6

    Full weaving day in the studio.

    Day 7

    Final weaving session and a photoshoot of our textiles in Xela or the surrounding landscape. Closing group dinner.

  • Breakfast together before private transfer back to Guatemala City airport.

Reserve your place

Trip Details

  • A rare opportunity to learn wool weaving traditions in Momostenango
    Spend eight days immersed in one of Guatemala’s most important weaving regions, learning directly from a generational weaving family while exploring the broader textile culture of the western highlands.

    Private studio access with the Jun B’atz’ weaving collective
    Work alongside master artisans inside their community studio and learn the techniques behind traditional pedal loom weaving used in Momostenango’s wool textile tradition. This experience is made possible through GRACIA’s long term collaboration with the Jun B’atz’ weaving family.

    Create and weave your own textile piece
    Participants will develop an original weaving throughout the week, guided by the artisans from loom setup to finishing their final piece, which you will take home as a personal textile created during your time in Momostenango.

    Traditional loom access and weaving materials
    Each participant will work with traditional looms and wool yarns used by local weavers, allowing for a hands on experience rooted in the region’s textile practices.

    Hands on natural dye workshop
    Participants will learn and experiment with natural dye techniques using plant based dyes traditionally used in textile practices in the region.

    Visit to local sheep herders
    Spend time with the sheep whose wool becomes the foundation of Momostenango’s weaving tradition, offering insight into the beginning of the textile process.

    Highland markets and cultural exploration
    Visit the markets of Momostenango and Salcajá where artisans source wool and threads, and explore the nearby town of San Andrés Xecul, offering a deeper look into the cultural landscape of Guatemala’s western highlands.

    Artisan studio and cooperative visits
    Meet the makers behind Guatemala’s craft traditions with visits to COPAVIC, a cooperative known for hand blown recycled glass, and Almacén El Comercio, a historic cotton thread shop operating since 1937.

    Relaxation at Fuentes Georginas hot springs
    Unwind in natural volcanic hot springs surrounded by cloud forest just outside Quetzaltenango.

    Seven nights accommodation in Quetzaltenango
    Stay in Guatemala’s historic highland city, a cultural center of the western region.

    Shared meals throughout the program
    Daily breakfasts and lunches during program days, plus a welcome dinner and farewell dinner shared with the group.

    Private transportation throughout the program
    Daily transportation between Quetzaltenango and Momostenango, along with airport transfers on arrival and departure days.

    Small group experience hosted by the GRACIA team
    This program is intentionally limited in size to allow for meaningful exchange with the artisans and a more personal learning experience. We will also have a translator on site for workshops on days 2 and 3.

    Welcome bag and weaving materials
    Participants receive a curated welcome gift bag and supplies for the week (bring extra space in your suitcase).

  • Dates
    Friday November 13 to Friday November 20, 2026

    Duration
    8 days / 7 nights

    Group Size
    6–10 participants

    Trip Cost
    $1950 USD per person, shared room

    $2550 USD per person, private room

    Deposit to reserve your spot
    $500 non-refundable

    Payment plans available.

  • • Seven nights accommodation in Quetzaltenango (shared room)

    • Daily private transportation between Quetzaltenango and Momostenango

    • Studio sessions and instruction with the Jun B’atz’ weaving collective

    • Hands on natural dye workshop

    • Traditional loom access and weaving materials for the duration of the program

    • Guided visits to textile markets

    • Visits to COPAVIC glassblowing cooperative and Almacén El Comercio, a historic cotton thread shop founded in 1937

    • Cultural visits including San Andrés Xecul and Fuentes Georginas hot springs

    • Daily breakfasts and lunches during program days

    • Welcome dinner and farewell dinner with the group

    • Airport transfers on arrival and departure days
    (La Aurora International Airport – Guatemala City)

    • Coordination, translation, and support from the GRACIA team throughout the journey

    • Welcome bag and weaving materials

    To allow for flexibility during free evenings and personal exploration, the following items are not included:

    International airfare to and from Guatemala

    Dinners on evenings with free time to explore local restaurants

    Travel insurance (strongly recommended)

    Personal purchases and alcoholic beverages

    Additional hotel nights outside the program dates

  • Work alongside Jun B’atz’, a weaving studio in Momostenango founded by Byron who comes from a family of master weavers.

    For generations, weaving has been an important part of life in this region.

    Today fewer young people continue the practice. Through teaching and collaboration, the studio works to keep these techniques active while sharing them with new audiences.

    Participants in this program spend several days inside their community studio and learn the techniques behind traditional pedal loom weaving used in Momostenango’s wool textile tradition.

    This experience is made possible through GRACIA’s long term collaboration with the Jun B’atz’ weaving family.

  • Our home base for the week is Centenario Hotel Boutique located in Quetzaltenango (Xela), a historic highland city surrounded by volcanoes.

    From there we travel for an hour each way to Momostenango, where the Jun B’atz’ studio is located and where our weaving sessions take place.

    The rhythm of the trip moves between studio days, local exploration, and time together as a group.

Secure your place

Who This Journey Is For

This program is designed for people who want to learn through making.

Participants often include:

• textile and fiber artists
• designers interested in craft traditions
• artists working in other mediums
• travelers interested in cultural exchange
• beginners curious about weaving

No previous weaving experience is required.

A moderate level of physical activity is required. Participants should be comfortable walking on uneven terrain, traveling on winding mountain roads between Xela and Momostenango, and spending time at high altitude.

About GRACIA

GRACIA is a Guatemalan + women + artist-run initiative established in 2019.

Through residencies, workshops, and cultural programs, we create spaces where visiting artists and local creative communities can meet through shared processes and dialogue.

This textile journey grew out of long-term relationships with artisans and collaborators across Guatemala.

  • "The weaving in Momostenango experience was an amazing way to be completely immersed in the culture and craft of weaving. We were able to be a part of very step of the weaving process: from meeting a local flock of sheep, to cleaning raw wool, spinning it into threads, and cleaning and dyeing the wool all before we even began weaving. We were also able to experience local markets, and see landmarks during the program that gave the itinerary a good break so there wasn't pressure to always be in a creative state. This program gives you the once-in-a-lifetime experience to meet a local family of weavers and learn their craft directly from them, in their home. Seeing the hard work that is put into every step of this art gives you a better understanding of the value, culture, and impact that is in every piece of hand-woven textile created by Jun Bat'z and other weavers in Guatemala. I joined the program to learn more about what kinds of natural dyes are used in the area and I left extremely thankful that I was able to join and learn about so much more."

    Bella Rossi

  • "This trip opened me up to a whole new perspective around textile production, culture and the role we play in it all. Not only was I given a platform to create and collaborate with wonderful artists, but I was also able to watch these artists create in their element and learn so much from them."

    Vianka Calderon