20 de noviembre, Calakmul
One of the most industrious little Maya villages in Campeche, this one is a hive of woodworking, stone, textile, crafts, and honey too, and all followed up by food and story.
20 de Noviembre is a little town some 20 minutes to the southeast of Xpujil in the Campeche countryside. The town is arguably most famous for the concentration of some 13 different artisan workshops to which visitors are invited for ongoing workshops.
There are three wood working workshops. These rely on harvested deadwood or damaged trees, because cutting living trees is heavily regulated in the area.
Five workshops focus on embroidery and textile work. These are made using cross-stitches or on the dozens of local sewing machines. There is also an open meliponary, where the famous melipona bees are kept. The Chaak Tunich workshop lets guests work in stone, with local limestone. This is transformed into all kinds of works of art using hammers, chisel, and abrasives. The Neek Iche Che shop uses recycled seeds, big and small, to make whimsical figures, dolls, and similar toys and especially younger visitors can't get enough.
No fewer than three hammock shops will help you to make your own sling. As it's really a variety of macramé or crochet weaving, there's no limit to all kinds of other things workshop participants can make. And a visit will get you started. Tea tastings are offered nearly every afternoon with the flavors of locally grown medicinal plants.
The workshops are so prolific that one need only stroll the streets to witness the industriousness of the embroiderers and the wood workers and even those working in stone. And tours of the town are the perfect way to see all of them. Tours start at the visitors center and Palapa de Exhibición de Artesanías. It's practically in the middle of town. Tours usually end with regional food, complete meals or discrete tastings.
All craft workshops last approximately two and a half hours. A tour of the workshops takes you to four of them with a demonstration in each.
There is no telephone signal, Internet or WiFi in the town, however internet cards are sold in a few small shops in town.
A tour operator in town will even get you to the Rio Bec archaeological site some 15 kms from the southern edge of the village. It's the nearest big site and somewhat iconic for the people of the town.
Contact:
Anabel / CampecheTravel
Tel/Whats: 981 171 7783
https://campeche.travel/
