Andean Weaving Apprenticeship
The Apprenticeship Series
Step into the life of an Andean weaver.
Five days with a Quechua weavers' cooperative in the Sacred Valley above Cusco. Alpaca wool, natural dyes, looms staked into the ground.
Limited cohorts each year. Request your dates above. We reply within 48 hours, no card required.
Step into the life of
A Quechua weavers' cooperative.
In the Sacred Valley above Cusco, women weave on backstrap looms staked into the ground. The patterns date to pre-Inca times. Wool is from the family's alpacas. Dyes come from cochineal, indigo, ch'illka and qolle plants on the hillside.
You stay near the village. You walk to the cooperative each morning. You learn the loom that your great-great-grandmother could have learned.
What you will do
Alpaca to dye to woven piece.
Five days lets you spin, dye and weave a small piece on a backstrap loom. You also meet the alpacas your wool came from.
- Spin alpaca wool by hand with a puchka spindle
- Forage and prepare plant dyes with the weavers
- Warp and weave on a traditional backstrap loom
- Eat pachamanca and quinoa with the cooperative
- Walk the alpaca pasture above the village
"Every host on Apprenti Trips is someone we have met in person and would send our own family to. If we cannot stand behind them, the trip does not exist."
Who it is for
This is not for tourists. It is for the most curious of minds, the restless ones who come alive when the world opens from the inside.
The village sits at 3,400 metres. Acclimatise in Cusco first. Best for travellers comfortable at altitude and in a simple village setting.
What is included
What is included.
Included
- Five days at the cooperative
- All wool, dyes, tools and loom access
- Your finished piece
- Three meals a day with the family
- Accommodation in a village guesthouse
Not included
- Flights to Cusco (CUZ)
- Ground transfer from Cusco
- Personal expenses and a day in Cusco to acclimatise
At a glance
- Location
- Sacred Valley village, Cusco region, Peru
- Duration
- Five days at the cooperative
- Group size
- One to four apprentices
- Price
- From USD $1,490, all-inclusive
- Language
- Quechua and Spanish; interpreter on site
- Best season
- April–October (dry season)
- Not included
- Flights, transfer, personal expenses.
Questions
Common questions, plainly answered.
Do I need experience?
No. Our hosts work with adults of all levels. What matters is curiosity, presence, and willingness to slow down. Technical skill comes from being in the room.
When do I pay?
Never on inquiry. You submit your request, we confirm availability within 48 hours, and only then do we share a quote and payment link. Inquiring is free.
What if my dates change?
Date changes are flexible up to 60 days before your start date, no charge. Inside 60 days we work case by case with the host. We have never refused a reasonable change.
I am traveling solo, is that fine?
Yes. Most apprentices come alone. Group sizes are small (typically one to four), so you will not be lost in a crowd. Many trips are designed for solo travelers first.
Is travel insurance included?
No. We require apprentices to carry their own travel insurance covering trip cancellation and emergency medical care. We can recommend trusted providers on request.
Ready to step in?
Request dates with the form above. No card required to inquire. We reply within 48 hours, with a real answer.