Textile Workshop in Cusco: Make a Bracelet with Natural Dyes

Dye, knit and eat what Andean weavers have made for centuries

A half-day textile workshop in Cusco where you clean raw wool, dye it with natural pigments from plants and insects, then knit your own bracelet using ancient techniques. The experience includes a traditional Andean lunch with quinoa soup and seasonal dishes, plus time with alpacas and llamas in the Andes foothills. Children from age 3 are welcome, and the workshop is wheelchair accessible.

The Experience

The workshop starts with the fibers themselves. You'll handle raw wool, clean it by hand, and watch how natural dyes work—plant-based colors, insect pigments, minerals pulled from the earth around Cusco. The craftspeople teaching you have spent lifetimes on these techniques, and they'll walk you through the knitting step by step so you can create a bracelet or bookmark that you actually made, with your hands, in four hours.

After the loom work comes lunch. The kitchen prepares abundant quinoa soup (or corn or wheat varieties, depending on the day), followed by a main dish built from whatever the season has brought in—all seasoned the way the region has seasoned food for generations. You'll drink purple chicha, the traditional drink, while the Andes sit in the distance. Then you walk out to meet the alpacas and llamas, feed them fresh grass, and take photographs with the mountains behind them. ANDEAN COLORS has a large boutique on-site if you want to buy finished textiles or leather goods after you've made your own.

What’s included

• Textile workshop with wool, dyes and fabric tools to create your own bracelet or bookmark.
• instruction in ancient knitting techniques from skilled craftspeople.
• traditional Andean lunch with quinoa or corn or wheat soup, seasonal main dish and purple chicha.
• fresh grass to feed the alpacas and llamas during your encounter with them.

Good to know

Easy physical levelWheelchair accessibleStroller friendlyInfant seats availablePublic transport nearby

Operated by Andean Colors

Is this one for you?The guide leads in English or Spanish, so you can follow the instruction comfortably in whichever language works for you. This half-day format fits travelers who want to learn a craft and eat well without committing a full day, and it works for families with children from age 3 up.

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Top questions

What exactly do I make in the textile workshop?

You create a bracelet or bookmark by hand using an ancient knitting technique. After learning to clean and dye the wool with natural pigments—plants, insects and minerals—you'll work with the craftspeople to complete your piece, which you take home.

Is the lunch included, and what kind of food is it?

Yes, lunch is included. You'll eat abundant quinoa soup (or corn or wheat soup, depending on the day), a seasonal main dish made with local ingredients and traditional seasonings, and drink purple chicha, a typical regional beverage.

Can I spend time with the alpacas and llamas?

Yes. After lunch you'll have a dedicated encounter with the alpacas and llamas, where you can feed them fresh grass. The Andes Mountains form the backdrop, and it's designed for photographs.

How long does the whole experience take?

The workshop runs for four hours, covering the textile work, lunch, and time with the animals. It's structured as a half-day experience that fits easily into a Cusco itinerary.

Is this suitable for children?

Yes. Children are welcome from age 3 onward. Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller, and specialized infant seats are available if needed.

Is the workshop wheelchair accessible?

Yes. All areas and surfaces at ANDEAN COLORS are wheelchair accessible, and the experience is suitable for all physical fitness levels.