TinteMaya — Attraction in Sololá

A must do in Atitlan!! My absolute favourite part of my week in Atitlan was my classes at Tinte Maya.

On arrival we explained we just wanted to look around and maybe book a classz and were shown and explained the different natural techniques they used for dying fabrics - from the bark on trees, to magical leaves, and even by using dead bugs!? Amalia was so enthusiastic about the whole process we were addicted and decided to stay that afternoon and start our 'classes'.

I had pants I wanted to make a matching scarf for, so we dyed a few rolls of cotton my ideal shade of blue, which was utter magic to witness. I returned the next day where I was taught how to weave and assisted to make my very own Mayan scarf! It was so fun, incredibly relaxing and surprisingly addicting.

The family was so incredibly kind and patient and I spent just as much time chatting with the kids and playing with the dogs as I did weaving!

Truly one of the most special experiences I've ever had while traveling. They communicated so well despite my rotten Spanish skills, especially about things as detailed as ancient dyeing techniques, and I felt like I was part of the family!

Muchas gracias por todos, I will definitely be returning next time I am in Atitlan. Cannot recommend visiting this little shop highly enough - whether to buy a souvenir, or make...

TinteMaya was our favorite experience from the entire week we were in Guatemala!! HIGHLY recommend visiting while at Lake Atitlan!! Amalia & Bayron and their family welcomed us warmly, treating us to several types of homemade honey, delicious homemade hot chocolate, and fresh hot coffee that they sourced and ground in house. They educated us on different kinds of bees that they keep to produce the honey and on the history and culture of Mayan people. Abuela Juana taught me how to make tortillas by hand (so tasty!!) while her daughter and granddaughter taught my wife how to weave a colorful scarf! I played futbol with their awesome son who is bound to be a famous footballer one day. We had so much fun together that we missed the last boat (aka "lancha"), so the family generously offered to drive us several towns over from San Juan to San Marcos so that we wouldn't have to pay for a taxi. We already...

a favorite in all my travels! a can't miss! we only had time for this or hiking a volcano and im SO GLAD that we chose this (table runner weaving class). such a unique experience; I absolutely LOVED the weaving process. we had a beautiful piece to take home that we helped make! we also got to see bees making honey and tasted and got some honey of our own; absolutely delicious. they're so knowledgable and sustainable and one of the most authentic places I saw in my entire stay in Guatemala.

instructions are great; they're patient and thorough. great for novices.

HINT: getting to San Juan can be tricky. we negotiated a speed boat to San Pedro ($25 each for 2 people, 1 way) and then did a tuk tuk to San Juan. you can also do the ferry to San Pedro and then tuk tuk or car to San Juan. ferry doesn't go to San Juan and a speed boat won't take you directly there unless you pay ahead for them to...