What to do and see in Lake Atitlan, Western Highlands: The Best Free Things to do

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.

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.

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.

Manos Cruceñas Artisan Store stocks woven, beaded, crocheted, and ironwork products made by indigenous artisans from the Santa Cruz community. Browse products made by artisans earning fair wages while enjoying breathtaking views of Lake Atitlan. You can shop in the retail store, buy wholesale and design your own products made by local artisans, or take one of the beading or weaving courses. The store is located below Café Sabor Cruceño and makes an ideal day trip from anywhere on Lake Atitlan. All proceeds support the community of Santa Cruz La Laguna through the local nonprofit Amigos de Santa Cruz which runs education and economic empowerment programs.

Are you looking to experience Guatemala in an authentic and personal way? Step inside the culture of the Mayan women and experince the art of weaving visit with local women who love to share their art. Learn how hand spun-cotton, local dyes and the back-strap-loom weaving which keep the textiles 100% local. Experince the culture first hand and let us share our culture with you! Come and enjoy this unique experience, and together we can support indigenous women artisans around Lake Atitlan, Guatemala

Multicolores is a non-profit association of Mayan women artists who design and create hooked rugs and embroidered art. Working with 9 groups of women in 7 communities in the Guatemalan Highlands, Multicolores offers creative education, fair pay, and health and leadership programs to artists. Visit Multicolores’ headquarters to shop our exclusive gallery of contemporary textile art.