Deposit for From Fiber to Fabric, December 14 - 21, 2025

//This is a non-refundable deposit to reserve your spot for the trip in December 2025. If you have any questions, please contact Mari at mari@kakawdesigns.com. Deadline to sign up is July 15th, 2025. Wondering how to compare the different itineraries? See our blog post. Not applicable for store discounts (we will correct the discount in your second invoice).//

We are ecstatic to repeat this unique content-rich itinerary in collaboration with our local dyeing and weaving partners. We have had such a great time slowing down and dedicating attention to processes and people, and we're looking forward to another fantastic week!

Learn from beginning to end the traditional handmade processes involved for textile production:

• Growing organic cotton (including heirloom ixcaco)
• Spinning cotton using a "malacate," a traditional drop spindle
• Looking for and harvesting local dye plants
• Dyeing with natural dyes (plants and cochineal)
• Visiting a local cochineal farm
• Designing and making warp ikat patterns by hand
• Setting up a backstrap loom
• Backstrap weaving (plain weave). The finished loom is for you to take home and continue weaving!

This has been a popular itinerary for families and friends to sign up together. If you would like to participate with children, please let us know. We will do our best to accommodate your group.

<Read about traveling with kids on our blog>

What's included?

• Five nights at Lake Atitlán at a lake-front lodge that is locally-owned and operated, with plenty of common outdoor space to practice our crafts
• Two nights in Antigua at our favorite hotel that feels like a home away from home
• All meals except for two meals at Lake Atitlán which are "free-time"
• All small group workshops and one-on-one instruction in open-air settings, sometimes overlooking the beautiful lake
  
• All materials for you to make your own backstrap loom to take home, as well as adding one garment or fiber of your choice to a dye pot
• A cotton spinning kit with a traditional malacate spindle for you to take home (and practice!)
• All in-country transport with a trusted driver. This includes airport transfers between Aurora Airport (Guatemala City) and Antigua, and we recommend participants arrive early and stay longer whenever possible. We can arrange flexible transport for you.
• A private boat at Lake Atitlán
• A printed-out "Antigua Guide" we have developed with our favorite places around town for participants to explore before and/or after the group trip
• 1-2 bilingual guides for the whole trip, with additional local village facilitators for workshops and activities

Min 6 pax / Max 12 pax

$2050 per person in single-occupancy rooms. Take $200 off per person when signing up together and sharing a room.

Reserve your spot with a $400 deposit. The deposit is per person. So if signing up with a friend, please purchase two deposits (and select "double room").

NOTES:

• COVID-19 vaccination required to participate.
• This itinerary includes home-cooked meals in a rural community. We cannot guarantee changes to the menu to meet dietary restrictions. We will do our best, but those with special dietary needs should be prepared with snacks in case an alternative cannot be provided during home visits.
• The hotels we use for this trip have plenty of steps, and the village visits require some walking. We ask that individuals with mobility challenges seriously consider these factors. When in doubt, please reach out and ask!
• The rest of the payment for this itinerary will be invoiced after the sign-up deadline. Instructions will follow. We are happy to work out a flexible payment schedule.

Trip Cancellation Policy

If the trip is canceled by the participant:
1. Up to two months to the start date of the itinerary: full amount in credit form for future travel with Kakaw Designs to be used within 365 days of the original trip dates, minus the non-refundable deposit.
2. Less than two months to the start of the itinerary: 50% trip cost in credit form for future travel with Kakaw Designs to be used within 365 days of the original trip dates, minus the deposit.
3. Less than one month to the start of the itinerary: no refund or credit.
4. Delay in joining the group for any reason: no refund or credit for missed time in Guatemala.
5. Early return home or disruption of travel with the group for any reason, including missed meals or group activities: no refund or credit and traveler is responsible for any extra expenses incurred (transportation, etc.).