Top Things to do in Solola Department
Things to do in Solola Department, Western Highlands: The Best Shopping
Discover the best top things to do in Solola Department, Guatemala including Casa Flor Ixcaco, Dalileo Chocolate, Jenna's Galeria, Galeria Imox, TinteMaya, Artesania Tzunun Ya, Manos Crucenas Artisan Store, Atitlan Women Weavers, Casa de Los Nawales, Galeria de Arte Chiya.
Restaurants in Solola Department
1. Casa Flor Ixcaco
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 128 reviews
Casa Flor Ixcaco is San Juan's only Weaving Cooperative that dedicates itself to perserving the skill of spinning natural cotton thread. The products are made by 20 local women using mayan methods that were passed down for many generations. The products are 100 % natural and handmade. Visitors learn more about the spinning and dying process in a demonstration and can sign up for weaving and dyeing classes.
Reviewed By 178nienkeb - Leiden, The Netherlands
This beautiful shop is a home for woman to do their labor with dedication and authenticity. For generations these woman are making the most fine products out of cotton. The passion for their job you can tell from the bright colors and creativity you find in the original hand-made products. They give you a class/demonstration about the whole process from the cotton to the product. By selling the products they support the woman in the village and by that way they protect the art of handmade clothes with natural products. I recommend this place for families, groups and couples. You can buy products (good souvenirs for people back home, or just for yourself) and you can ask for a demonstration were you pay for. I definitely go back if I get the chance.
2. Dalileo Chocolate
3. Jenna's Galeria
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 9 reviews
4. Galeria Imox
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 49 reviews
La Galería Imox lo que desea trasmitir nuestra cultura maya y tradiciones, tambien vendemos puro arte todo lo que pintamos es relacionado a nuestra cultura maya, a los protectores mayas, somos 5 artistas, cada artista tiene diferente estilo técnica y tendencia de arte, y también explicamos el calendario maya a cada visitante cobramos la explicación. Para que conoscan que cada persona, tiene un nawal o protector maya con su fecha de nacimiento podrás conocer su protector maya sus caracteristicas de cada persona, sus profesiones, y su cruz maya explicamos a cada visitante para que nos sirve en nuestra vida que debemos hacer y lo que no tenemos que hacer en nuestra vida el Calendario maya personal. Todas las personas estan asombrados por lo exacto del libro maya todo lo que dice es muy acertado lo que nos trasmite en nuestra vida, es muy sagrado. Los mayas utilizaron este conocimiento y lo aplicaron en su vida diario, si desea conocer a fondo visite la Galería Imox en San Juan La Laguna.
Reviewed By maryangelchapman - London, Canada
We visited during a free tour of the town. Juan explained the Mayan calendar and showed me my birth sign and what it meant. He took the time to explain painting techniques and was so friendly. I love the painting I bought and was so glad to have met the artist.
5. TinteMaya
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 44 reviews
Women Weaving Better Lives TinteMaya is comprised of 25 artisan women from San Juan La Laguna, a small community by Lake Atitlan, Guatemala, who are working together to promote these values: Equal opportunities for women. The local culture in Guatemala does not offer many economic opportunities for women, leaving the men in control over the family’s finances. TinteMaya enables each individual woman to transform her weaving skills into an economic opportunity and allow the work to be done at home while still taking care of the family. The sale of each product ensures a fair wage to the woman or women who made it; with this money, they can make spending decisions and contribute to the wellbeing of their children. Every purchase pushes gender equality and independence in the right direction. Ecological Sustainability. The use of plant dyes promotes local biodiversity and plant health, minimizes water pollution and creates organic waste for fertilizer. In order to divert waste, Tinte Maya uses recycled material in some weavings by harvesting thread from used sweaters and other sustainable techniques.
Reviewed By oliviassaurman
My friend and I had the pleasure of learning and connecting with these beautiful women over two days. Our first day was spent with Amalia, who taught us about the natural dying process taken to create the beautiful textiles you see all over Guatemala. We hand picked sacatina leaves and cinnamon leaves to create our dye baths, which yielded a beautiful blue and a deep red wine color. We mixed these with achote to create a beautiful mix of colors to dye our pants with. On the next day we returned to participate in the weaving workshop offered by Tintemaya. This was equally an incredible experience. I spent time learning how to weave a bag while my friend worked on a scarf. If you’re traveling around Lake Atitlan I highly recommend stopping by San Juan to participate in this beautiful experience offered by Tintemaya. I feel so lucky to have been able to learn from these women.
6. Artesania Tzunun Ya
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 1 reviews
The project of 'Tienda de Artesanias TzununYa' inicitated to support single mothers raising their children alone in the area of the Lake Atitlan. Through our Project, we selected single mothers and let them produce the products to increase their income. We sell products manufactured through the Guatemalan traditional weaving process. You may see this on Friday and Saturday.
7. Manos Crucenas Artisan Store
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 18 reviews
Manos Cruceñas Artisan Store stocks woven, beaded, crocheted, and ironwork products made by indigenous artisans from the Santa Cruz community. Browse products made by artisans earning fair wages while enjoying breathtaking views of Lake Atitlan. You can shop in the retail store, buy wholesale and design your own products made by local artisans, or take one of the beading or weaving courses. The store is located below Café Sabor Cruceño and makes an ideal day trip from anywhere on Lake Atitlan. All proceeds support the community of Santa Cruz La Laguna through the local nonprofit Amigos de Santa Cruz which runs education and economic empowerment programs.
Reviewed By Lorne29 - Claremont, United States
The small store is one part of the Amigos de Santa Cruz non-profit organization. Local townspeople use Amigos looms and other tools to create their crafts. The staffers are very friendly and helpful. Prices are reasonable. I purchased a couple of simple bags that included the town's very pretty individual tribal (?) pattern.
8. Atitlan Women Weavers
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 11 reviews
Are you looking to experience Guatemala in an authentic and personal way? Step inside the culture of the Mayan women and experince the art of weaving visit with local women who love to share their art. Learn how hand spun-cotton, local dyes and the back-strap-loom weaving which keep the textiles 100% local. Experince the culture first hand and let us share our culture with you! Come and enjoy this unique experience, and together we can support indigenous women artisans around Lake Atitlan, Guatemala
Reviewed By hisume - Washington DC, United States
As a single guy traveling alone, I haven’t the faintest idea how to weave anything. But these ladies changed my mind. They offer weaving classes for scarves and table runners and I chose to make a scarf. They let me pick out the colors and patters and we set to work. The entire family was there taking turns keeping an eagle eye if I made any mistakes and gently correcting. Even though their English wasn’t too good, they were excellent teachers. The entire process was about 6 hours (you can spilt into multiple days if you’d like). In the end, I have a scarf that I will truest treasure. For less than 40USD, this was totally worth it! Also, the trip advisor map is wrong. Use google maps to find it- it’s on the main gringo street to the west of the docks about 3-4 minutes.
9. Casa de Los Nawales
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 2 reviews
10. Galeria de Arte Chiya
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 6 reviews
Reviewed By Lynn_TerraExperience
I return year after year to visit Galeria de Arte Chiya to see and buy the work of Angelina Quic and her husband Antonio Coche Mendoza and their extended family. I first met Angelina and Antonio in 2007 or perhaps a few years earlier when their daughter was a young girl. Angelina was one of the first woman painters in San Juan La Laguna, if not the first. Her husband Antonio Coche Mendoza is a oil painter of Mayan Naïve art and she learned from him but created her own style. I was especially attracted to the overhead "bird's eye" view of coffee picking, markets and other traditional San Juan La Laguna scenes, that were fairly unique when I first met her. The style has been widely copied, but I still like her work the best. There are other styles of oil paintings in the gallery painted by Antonio, and his brothers,Julian, Domingo, Gregorio and other friends and neighbors who are painters. I saw Angelina's daughter again today, she has grown up and now is studying industrial design at the university. I can't wait to see what kind of things she will design, coming from such an artistic family. I hope you will enjoy visiting their gallery as much as I have over the years.
