Top Things to do in San Juan la Laguna
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Top 10 Shopping in San Juan la Laguna, Western Highlands
Discover the best top things to do in San Juan la Laguna, Guatemala including Casa Flor Ixcaco, Galeria Imox, TinteMaya, Casa de Los Nawales, Galeria de Arte Chiya, Lema Association, Batz Textiles, Aj Toooneel Ixoq, Jovenarte, Asociacion de Mujeres en Colores Botanico.
Restaurants in San Juan la Laguna
1. Casa Flor Ixcaco
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 128 reviews
Casa Flor Ixcaco is San Juan's only Weaving Cooperative that dedicates itself to perserving the skill of spinning natural cotton thread. The products are made by 20 local women using mayan methods that were passed down for many generations. The products are 100 % natural and handmade. Visitors learn more about the spinning and dying process in a demonstration and can sign up for weaving and dyeing classes.
Reviewed By 178nienkeb - Leiden, The Netherlands
This beautiful shop is a home for woman to do their labor with dedication and authenticity. For generations these woman are making the most fine products out of cotton. The passion for their job you can tell from the bright colors and creativity you find in the original hand-made products. They give you a class/demonstration about the whole process from the cotton to the product. By selling the products they support the woman in the village and by that way they protect the art of handmade clothes with natural products. I recommend this place for families, groups and couples. You can buy products (good souvenirs for people back home, or just for yourself) and you can ask for a demonstration were you pay for. I definitely go back if I get the chance.
2. Galeria Imox
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 49 reviews
La Galería Imox lo que desea trasmitir nuestra cultura maya y tradiciones, tambien vendemos puro arte todo lo que pintamos es relacionado a nuestra cultura maya, a los protectores mayas, somos 5 artistas, cada artista tiene diferente estilo técnica y tendencia de arte, y también explicamos el calendario maya a cada visitante cobramos la explicación. Para que conoscan que cada persona, tiene un nawal o protector maya con su fecha de nacimiento podrás conocer su protector maya sus caracteristicas de cada persona, sus profesiones, y su cruz maya explicamos a cada visitante para que nos sirve en nuestra vida que debemos hacer y lo que no tenemos que hacer en nuestra vida el Calendario maya personal. Todas las personas estan asombrados por lo exacto del libro maya todo lo que dice es muy acertado lo que nos trasmite en nuestra vida, es muy sagrado. Los mayas utilizaron este conocimiento y lo aplicaron en su vida diario, si desea conocer a fondo visite la Galería Imox en San Juan La Laguna.
Reviewed By maryangelchapman - London, Canada
We visited during a free tour of the town. Juan explained the Mayan calendar and showed me my birth sign and what it meant. He took the time to explain painting techniques and was so friendly. I love the painting I bought and was so glad to have met the artist.
3. TinteMaya
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 44 reviews
Women Weaving Better Lives TinteMaya is comprised of 25 artisan women from San Juan La Laguna, a small community by Lake Atitlan, Guatemala, who are working together to promote these values: Equal opportunities for women. The local culture in Guatemala does not offer many economic opportunities for women, leaving the men in control over the family’s finances. TinteMaya enables each individual woman to transform her weaving skills into an economic opportunity and allow the work to be done at home while still taking care of the family. The sale of each product ensures a fair wage to the woman or women who made it; with this money, they can make spending decisions and contribute to the wellbeing of their children. Every purchase pushes gender equality and independence in the right direction. Ecological Sustainability. The use of plant dyes promotes local biodiversity and plant health, minimizes water pollution and creates organic waste for fertilizer. In order to divert waste, Tinte Maya uses recycled material in some weavings by harvesting thread from used sweaters and other sustainable techniques.
Reviewed By oliviassaurman
My friend and I had the pleasure of learning and connecting with these beautiful women over two days. Our first day was spent with Amalia, who taught us about the natural dying process taken to create the beautiful textiles you see all over Guatemala. We hand picked sacatina leaves and cinnamon leaves to create our dye baths, which yielded a beautiful blue and a deep red wine color. We mixed these with achote to create a beautiful mix of colors to dye our pants with. On the next day we returned to participate in the weaving workshop offered by Tintemaya. This was equally an incredible experience. I spent time learning how to weave a bag while my friend worked on a scarf. If you’re traveling around Lake Atitlan I highly recommend stopping by San Juan to participate in this beautiful experience offered by Tintemaya. I feel so lucky to have been able to learn from these women.
4. Casa de Los Nawales
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
5. Galeria de Arte Chiya
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 6 reviews
Reviewed By Lynn_TerraExperience
I return year after year to visit Galeria de Arte Chiya to see and buy the work of Angelina Quic and her husband Antonio Coche Mendoza and their extended family. I first met Angelina and Antonio in 2007 or perhaps a few years earlier when their daughter was a young girl. Angelina was one of the first woman painters in San Juan La Laguna, if not the first. Her husband Antonio Coche Mendoza is a oil painter of Mayan Naïve art and she learned from him but created her own style. I was especially attracted to the overhead "bird's eye" view of coffee picking, markets and other traditional San Juan La Laguna scenes, that were fairly unique when I first met her. The style has been widely copied, but I still like her work the best. There are other styles of oil paintings in the gallery painted by Antonio, and his brothers,Julian, Domingo, Gregorio and other friends and neighbors who are painters. I saw Angelina's daughter again today, she has grown up and now is studying industrial design at the university. I can't wait to see what kind of things she will design, coming from such an artistic family. I hope you will enjoy visiting their gallery as much as I have over the years.
6. Lema Association
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 23 reviews
Lema, one of the oldest weaving cooperatives in the Solola region, is located in the center of the historic and tranquil town of San Juan La Laguna that borders Lake Atitlan. All of the textiles at Lema are made by local artisians that use natural dyes to create a diverse array of culturally authentic textiles. In addition to the store, Lema offers an authentic Guatemalan experience in a Tzutujil village through their home stay experience! The package includes a complete cultural experience in San Juan La Laguna. Each homestay offers two bedrooms with one to two beds. Bathrooms are shared with host families and other guests. Three authentic, homecooked, Guatemalan meals are provided daily. Homestays also offer traditional weaving classes, local coffee plantation tours, fishing tours, and guided hike of the "Mayan Face."The store is located up the hill from beautiful Lake Atitlan. San Juan La Laguna attracts many tourists with its tranquility and authentic Mayan culture. You can either take the minibus from Antigua or embark on a short ferry ride from Panajachel, a more urban area with many bars and restarants.Once you arrive at the San Juan dock, Lema is about a seven minute walk directly up the hill. Tuc Tucs are available to transport guests and luggage for a small fee of 5 quetzales.A basic understanding of Spanish for the home stay experience is advisable. WiFi is not available but there are many internet cafes within walking distance. Feel free to contact us with any questions! We look forward to meeting you!
Reviewed By dianehK5760ZP - Chicago, United States
I visited Rosa's shop and had a demonstration of the local natural dyeing process, followed by a lesson in backstrap weaving. I had studied natural dyes before this demo, so was particularly interested in their cultivation of cochineal insects for dyeing. Maria gave me the tour (I had little Spanish, but she used her phone and google translate quite effectively before the translator we hired arrived...it's an accessible tour even without much Spanish). The place where the cactus are growing and harvested, including the greenhouse where they are collecting the cochineals was most interesting. Maria demonstrated the dyeing process , including using vinegar and aluminum salts to alter the pH and change the color of the dye. Following the demonstration, we returned to the shop at Lema to see how the warp is strung for the backstrap weaving process. Maria demonstrated, then gave me a chance to try some weaving. It is harder than it looks to get your mind and your hands to work together to weave successfully. I had enough time to get the feel for what I was doing, and to recognize the worth of all those woven things in the shop. It took about 2 hours, so we had the afternoon to explore the town. Rosa has built up a great business that benefits the local women, so if you're in the town and looking for textiles to take home, give this place a look!
7. Batz Textiles
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 10 reviews
Textiles made with passion. Visit us for a tour, weaving lessons or just shopping. Each product is a piece of art.
8. Aj Toooneel Ixoq
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 9 reviews
We offer handmade fabrics, use cotton as the main raw material, have original products in the region of Lake Atitlan, our products are completely organic and do not use chemical colors in your elavoracion offer handicrafts made by women originating Village San Juan la Laguna.
9. Jovenarte
10. Asociacion de Mujeres en Colores Botanico
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 17 reviews
Reviewed By huntphd - Rhinebeck, United States
This cooperative has the finer ceremonial pieces that are rare. Of course you will pay, but if you appreciate fine embroidery you will know that these textiles are special. The women who run this will point out the difference...in some pieces, the back has been embroidered to hide all the loose threads, and some have age to them. They also have what everyone else has, and a good selection. This time-intensive weaving/embroidery will disappear in the future, eg. the piece I bought took 7 months to make, an eternity in today's world. I couldn't find the quality of the textiles I bought even 5 years ago, anywhere, so buy now if you see something you like.
