About this tour
When Saskia from the crew did this workshop in the Sacred Valley outside Cusco, she didn't just watch weaving happen — she dyed her own yarn with plant-based pigments and wove a textile on a backstrap loom, then took it home. You work directly with Ruth Pimentel, a UNESCO-awarded Indigenous master weaver, and her family in their workshop space. It's a proper full-day immersion (8 hours) that puts you to work alongside people who've been doing this for generations, not a staged demo where you sit and sip tea.
Highlights
- Dye yarn using ancestral plant techniques, not synthetic dyes
- Weave on a traditional backstrap loom under Ruth's guidance
- Take home whatever textile you actually made that day
- Lunch shared family-style with the artisans in the workspace
- UNESCO-recognised master weaver teaches you directly
- All materials included; no upsell at the end
- Private transport from Cusco; wheelchair accessible throughout
- Every visit keeps the tradition alive and supports the family
What to expect
You'll be picked up from Cusco and driven to the family's workshop in the Sacred Valley. The day kicks off with plant-based dyeing — you'll learn which herbs and roots create which colours, then dye your own yarn under Ruth's watch. There's real skill involved, but she and her family are patient teachers. After that comes the loom work: backstrap weaving feels awkward at first (the loom is literally strapped to your body), but by the end of the day you'll have woven something you can actually use — a scarf, a small blanket, whatever your hands manage.
Lunch is served communal-style in the workshop itself; you eat with Ruth's family and other visitors, which breaks down the tourist-guide wall pretty quickly. The pace is unhurried — this isn't a race to finish. Saskia's main surprise was how meditative it all felt, and how proud she was of something she'd made rather than bought. The workshop space is real and lived-in, not a polished tourist spot.
What travellers say
- Work directly with a UNESCO-awarded master weaver, not a tourist guide
- You actually make something and take it home same day
- Family-style lunch eaten with the artisans breaks down barriers
- Plant-based dyeing teaches real ancestral technique
- No commercial pressure; focus is on learning and doing
- Your money directly supports the family and the living craft
- Eight-hour commitment requires patience and focus throughout
- Handmade textiles are beautiful but imperfect, not polished
- Backstrap loom takes physical effort and core stability
- Workshop is partly open-air; weather dependent
Themes summarised by our team from public information about this tour. Verify specifics on the operator's page before booking.
Good to know
If you want hands-on time with a proper master craftsperson rather than a guide reciting facts, this is it. Ruth's UNESCO award isn't ceremonial — she's the real deal. You leave with a tangible thing you made. The family atmosphere is genuine; you're in their workspace, eating their food, learning their methods. It genuinely supports their livelihood. The day is physically manageable for most fitness levels, though backstrap weaving does require sitting and some core engagement.
Eight hours is a solid commitment, and the dyeing and weaving both require focus and patience — not ideal if you're knackered or distracted. The workshop isn't climate-controlled, so heat or cold can be a factor depending on season. You'll need to be comfortable with a slower pace; there's no rushing the process. The textiles you make are beautiful but handmade and imperfect — don't expect gallery-quality results.
Wear clothes you don't mind getting plant dye on. Bring sunscreen and a hat if you're sensitive to sun; the workspace is partly open-air. All materials and lunch are included; no hidden costs. Private transport from Cusco is included. Wheelchair accessible throughout, suitable for all fitness levels, and prams are fine for infants.
Tour sold and operated by Viator via Viator. Descriptions on this page are original Global Hobo summaries written by our team — not copied from the operator. Prices and availability are confirmed at checkout.