//This is a non-refundable deposit to reserve your spot for the Santiago Atitlán Embroidery Week taking place from Saturday, November 22nd, to Monday, December 1st, 2025 (Thanksgiving Week is during this time). Deadline to sign up is June 15th, 2025. If you have any questions, please contact Mari at mari@kakawdesigns.com. Not applicable for store discounts (we will correct the discount in your second invoice)//
Come join us for our very first week-long embroidery experience at Lake Atitlán! Hosted in collaboration with our friends at 13 Batz, a local collective of weavers and embrodierers at Santiago Atitlán. Andrea and Atuun were our first sponsored artisans to travel with us, and now they'll be hosting us in their home town!
We welcome participants traveling with friends and family. The grounds at Santiago Atitlán are fantastic for children to explore. With plenty of activities, we're looking forward to welcoming families, especially for this holiday week.
<Read about how we accommodate children on our trips>
What's included?
- 9 nights of lodging - 2 in Antigua and 7 in Santiago Atitlán at our favorite property with lake view, lush gardens, pool, jacuzzi, temascal (a traditional sauna) and more to enjoy during your free time. We are renting one large fully-equipped house that will also serve as our workshop center, especially in the spacious garden with a large table. Five pax total will be sharing this house, equipped with three bathrooms. Others signing up together with family and/or friends can take a separate unit that also comes with well-equipped kitchens and luscious gardens.
- 7 breakfasts - 1 en route and 6 at the property restaurant in Santiago
- 2 dinners in Antigua for welcome and hasta pronto
- 5 days of instruction with master embroideresses, including Andrea. The instructors speak Spanish. Each day will have 3 hours of stitching time.
- Kakaw staff assistance with translation, facilitation, expert local input and overall leading the group experience.
- Sponsorship of 1 artisan partner to join us for this experience
- All materials: backstrap-woven and pre-stenciled huipil base as well as threads traditionally used in Santiago for embroidery of their beautiful bird motifs.
- Private transport from Antigua to Santiago Atitlán and back
- Private flexible airport pick-up and drop-off (Aurora Internatinoal Airport in Guatemala City <--> Antigua Guatemala). Come early and stay longer if you can! We will make sure to send a trusted driver for you.
- A printed Antigua Guide with our favorite restaurants and stores for you to explore on your own. If arriving into Antigua before the workshop, feel free to come pick it up early at our studio.
- A PDF guide to review the stitches learned during this trip, with close-up videos. Helpful to refresh your memory when back home!
Optional afternoon activities include: bird watching (crossing fingers for some quetzales!), cooking class, cultural tour. We would be happy to facilitate these for you during the week with our trusted contacts. But make sure to leave time to enjoy the beautiful gardens and take in the majestic lake in good company!
This is a small-group offer for personalized attention. ( Min 6 participants / Max 9 participants ) $2500 per person. The remainder is due after the registration deadline (June 15th). Instructions will follow for the payment.
$200 off when signing up with a friend/partner and sharing a room together.
$500 off for non-participating members (someone who will not take part in the embroidery course).
Want to take a separate cabin with your family? Let us know to discuss options!
Course Cancellation Policy
If course attendance is canceled by the participant:
- Up to two months to the start date of the course: 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.
- Less than two months to the start of the course: 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.
- Less than one month to the start of the course: no refund or credit.
- Delay in joining the group for any reason: no refund or credit for missed time in Guatemala.
- 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.).
Questions? Ask Mari at mari@kakawdesigns.com
