We Are a Group Travel Company for Women Focused on Learning Vacations. Vacations with Fun and Captivating Workshops. MexicaChica Getaways is dedicated to providing inspiring, high-quality tours that incorporate fun and interesting workshops to help women reawaken their passions.

Day 1- Welcome!

MexicaChica Getaways takes you to Merida, Yucatan, also known as The White City. From ancient Maya temples to charming haciendas full of history, we celebrate the diversity that this region has to offer. This is a state rich in natural wonders and exciting adventures.

Join MexicaChica Getaways for a 7 day, 6 night trip that embraces the exuberant tapestry of Mexico. You will be met at the airport by a private transfer and will be taken directly to a five star boutique hotel known for its impeccable service, beautiful courtyard and famous gift shop and bakery. This will serve as our home base for the week as we delve into our creative activities and explorations of the area.

Once at the hotel, we will be greeted with welcome cocktails and appetizers followed by a brief orientation with Claudette. You will have time to explore before and after our delicious dinner in a beautiful Merida restaurant. Our timely arrival could not be better orchestrated since that night we will play witness to one big authentic Mexican fiesta with live music, food and local crafts. Take the time to explore the city by night on one of the charming horse drawn carriages found only steps away from our hotel.

Meals- Welcome appetizers and Dinner

Day 2 Haciendas, Cenotes and Mayans...Oh my!

Today we will explore the sites of one of the only working haciendas left today. During the booming henequen or sisal era of the late 1800's many haciendas were built to process what came to be known as green gold. After synthetic fibers were introduced in the early 1900's, the entire industry collapsed and many haciendas were eventually abandoned. Today many of these serve as museums, tourist stops or luxury hotels.

We will learn about this fascinating time in history as we walk through the awe inspiring grounds of the main plantation home, machine house and gardens. Our visit includes a look into an authentic Maya home where you will meet Don Antonio, the resident of the Mayan house and the senior member of the local Mayan community.

No visit to an hacienda is complete without a dip in the crystal clear waters of a cenote. These are sinkhole formations unique to this part of the world. Our trip here is concluded with a tasty lunch of typical Yucatecan dishes under a palm thatched roof called palapa.

Back in the city we will have an evening introduction of our art classes with Melva Medina as well as a light dinner in the studio. There will be an informative presentation about alebrijes´ history and origins. A presentation of materials that will be used and exploration of ideas using sketches and actual work on the assemblages that will become finished pieces.

Meals- Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner Included

Day 3-Lets Create!

Today we focus on our alebrijes class with our instructors Melva and Abel. Our full day in the studio will be centered around building the base or framework for the main body and shaping any extra pieces to our masterpiece.

You will have the balance of the day free to enjoy the area. We will provide plenty of thoughtful suggestions for the evening including great restaurants for dinner, dancing with the locals at charming parks or just a pleasant walk to see the beautiful architecture of the city.

Meals- Breakfast and Lunch

Day 4-Painting, Art and Hacienda

Our morning class will utilized for finishing our last stages of the paper mache work. At this point the real fun begins. We start painting!

The class is ended with a wonderful lunch in the studio before we head off in search of inspiration. Merida is known for its many museums, art galleries and cultural events. Today we will be visiting the museum of popular art known for its impressive collections of modern art featuring work from artists all over the world.

No Merida visit is complete without a meal in an hacienda. We will be travelling through time as we explore the beautiful grounds of Xcanatun. This hacienda has been wonderfully restored to its original splendor and now serves as a 5 star hotel and restaurant.

Meals- Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner

Day 5- Create, Create and Create some more

Our painting continues on our masterpieces throughout the morning before a welcomed break is taken for lunch and explorations of the city on your own. Helpful suggestions will be made for ideal eating dives and easy must-see spots.

Upon our return to the studio we will be making our last minute touches on our alebrijes. We will dine together on a delicious dinner served in the studio this evening.

Meals-Breakfast and Dinner

Day 6-Morning class, City Bus Tour and Farewell Dinner Party

This day´s morning class will be our time to commence packing preparations for our pieces. Take the afternoon off for a long lunch in any one of the city´s famous cafes and explore some more or opt for a relaxing and refreshing dip in the hotel pool.

Our group reunites to embark on a city wide tour on a charming colorful open bus known as the gua gua. The gua gua will take us on a delightful tour of the city´s most important avenues where we will be able to appreciate the finest examples of French, Spanish and Moorish architecture this colonial city is famous for.

Our evening festivities will commence upon our return to the Nahualli studio where a memorable and delicious dinner party has been planned. This will be a time to share our learned experiences and toast to our most recent accomplishements. Live acoustic music of traditional Yucatecan trova will add a magical touch on this evening of celebration.

Meals- Breakfast, Lunch and a very special Dinner

Day 7-Adios!

The time has come to say goodbye. You will be provided private transporation to the Merida airport. Adios!

Meals- Breakfast

In the early part of the twentieth century, there was an artisan named Pedro Linares who dedicated his time to the production of popular papier mache figures. He lived in Mexico City and earned his living selling these figures in El Mercado de Sonora. People would buy his Judases, devils and skeletons to celebrate the Day of the Dead and for the festivities leading up to Easter. The figures that served as decorations on one occasion might be burned during the revelry of Carnaval later in the spring. In an effort to help out, his family too learned the craft and joined in the production.

One day, Don Pedro became seriously ill and fell into a state of unconsciousness. He languished for months and, with doctors unable to cure him, was given up for dead. Still, his family cared for him as he struggled between life and death until one day he suddenly awoke, surprising everyone with his recovery. He described his visions during his long dreamy sleep, of seeing the things around him come to life as he walked through the country where the plants, rocks and trees changed shape, little by little, to become fantastic multicolored creatures. At first these animals were terrifying but, over time, they became his friends and would shout, “Alebrijes… alebrijes…,” in the hope of getting his attention. They were a voice he never forgot. Upon wakening, he told how they had promised to help him make a speedy recovery from his terrible illness.

So that everyone could see what they looked like, Don Pedro Linares began to make papier maché creatures just like the ones that had kept him company and helped him awaken from his long sleep. Today, hundreds of ‘alebrijes de Linares’ are found in very important collections whose pieces are considered to be part of the Cultural Patrimony of Mexico.

Our workshop will make it possible to create your own alebrije, using materials that are easy to work with and giving your creativity free rein.

Meet your Instructors

MELVA MEDINA

Sculptor, Painter and Workshop Leader

Her work as an artist and educator at El Instituto Tecnológico y de Estudios Superiores de Monterrey is noteworthy. Her work has been exhibited in more than forty expositions in different museums and galleries in Mexico. Today, her pieces are part of collections from around the world, especially those in the United States and Canada.

Her work speaks to us through the women she portrays who communicate their feelings, how they live and what they contribute to the events of their lives.  Interwoven with elements of mysticism and contemporary poetry, the imagery found in her art derives from her latina culture and prehispanic roots.  Distinctive for themes that move beyond the commonplace, her iconography reflects the themes of seduction, eroticism, and the metaphysical, and attempts to include visual representations of literary metaphor.  She has an unusual ability to convey in great detail the elements that comprise her work while demonstrating at the same time a superb mastery of technique and an extraordinary power to captivate the viewer.

ABEL VASQUEZ

Scuptor, Painter and Workshop Leader

Abel is a gifted and accomplished sculptor and painter from Oaxaca state in Mexico. His mastery in technique and joy for sharing knowledge prove invaluable during our guided explorations in art with Abel. He studied art at La Escuela Nacional de Pintura, Escultura y Grabado, La Esmeralda, an affiliate of El Instituto Nacional de Bellas Artes in Mexico City.

As a child, he learned cabinetmaking from his father, then went on to study sculpture and graduate from the most important school of art in Mexico.  He is a multifaceted professional and has made significant inroads into various areas of the visual arts, producing pieces that range in scale from small to monumental.  As a sculptor, he has worked in bronze, stone, and iron and continues to explore multiple technical variations of resins.  He is a masterful painter whose natural gift for color is especially evident in his work with acrylics and watercolors.  He has experimented with printmaking, drawing and photography with interesting results.

His artwork is part of national and international collections.  It has been exhibited in prestigious museums in Mexico City. Abel's work has been shown on numerous occasions in Chicago, New Orleans, Los Angeles, Phoenix, and Miami in the United States and can be found in galleries and private collections around the world.  Presently he lives in Mérida, Yucatan, where he is an integral participant in state-sponsored cultural events and exhibits his most recent work in his private gallery, Nahualli, la casa de los artistas.

TERESA CUEVAS

Guest Speaker and Mayan Culture Guide

Teresa is our resident Mayan Culture expert. She will be leading us on our excursions to various archeological sites, as well as educating us through her informative talks on this fascinating subject. Her boisterous personality, contagious smile and deep knowledge of Mayan iconography perfectly combine to make for an intriguing and captivating exursion everytime.

Her background includes a popourri of interests that serve us well on our journey in the arts.She offers courses on Mayan culture, sketching and designs workshops where music, rhythm and scribbling promote creativity. She continues to study art, and has found in NAHUALLI, casa de los artistas, the ideal place for exploring and learning about sculpture.

For her, Mayan culture is an inexhaustible source of learning; using their cosmology and geometry of the Mayan house, she has produced many watercolors that reflect their ways of being, thinking and drawing. Teresa has 28 years experience as an Architect and has a Masters Degree in Educational Innovation.

Our Inspiring Location

Mérida is the Grande Dame and cultural center of the Yucatan state in Mexico. Renowned as the most peaceful and safest city in Mexico, Mérida is a sophisticated and cosmopolitan beauty with theaters, concerts, museums, parks and numerous cultural events occurring throughout each week. The historical center is preserved for it’s architectural legacy of Spanish and French colonial styles. Mérida is only 30 minutes to the Gulf coast beaches of Progreso and sits at the top of the peninsula making for a short international flight from the US.

It is a city of about one million people and is a wonderful mixture of colonial city and a cosmopolitan destination. With Mérida as our home base, we will visit cathedrals, Mayan archaeological sites and historical haciendas. This region has traditionally been isolated from the rest of the country by geography, creating and preserving its unique traditions. Yucatan is a cultural delight with year round warm sub tropical weather and is a truly inspirational destination for our fun week long workshops.

Be sure to view the brief video below to sample the essence of the Yucatan. Video courtesy of the Tourism Board of Mexico.

About the Art Studio

In the heart of the historical center of the city of Merida, Yucatan in Mexico, is Nahualli, La Casa de los Artistas. It is a place where the solemn elegance of the colonial architecture is a beautiful contrast to the contemporary artworks displayed within. The artwork that is displayed in this space is luminous, unique and of the highest quality.

The artists, creators and curators are Abel Vázquez and Melva Medina, whose years of experience in the art world at a national and international level in Mexico has led them to propose a new form of seeing, enjoying and acquiring works of art. With their studio, they attempt to give the visitor the opportunity to enjoy the creative process and together be witness to the birth of their new works.

La Casa de Los Artistas has been the scene of many cultural events, musical performances, poetry readings. Writers and others from various disciplines have enriched the space with their presence. Our workshops are held in its gorgeous outdoor studio. It is here that new artists are introduced to the joy and adventure of creation.

About Accommodations

Hotel Casa San Angel is a place designed to rest and to indulge in the best of what Yucatan has to offer. Unique in its design, you will find a seductive environment, hand crafts, books, excellent food, home bakery, the best coffee in town and as always, a smile. Allow yourself to be pampered with its plush amenities, modern comforts and excellent service.

Casa San Angel sits at the base of the city´s most stunning and important avenue said to be a recreation of Paris´ Champs Elysee.
The hotel is a beautifully and carefully restored historical building that once was the home to a notable mathematician. Today Hotel Casa San Angel is home to 15 beautiful rooms that offer soothing comfort to our guests. You will also find two exclusive gift shops with the finest Mexican handcrafts from all parts of Mexico in one, and uniquely decorated elegant silk accessories in the other. Wake up and get ready for your day of adventures with the delicious breakfasts served in the Tala Bistro.

The hotel offers a cozy and quiet respite from the bustling city just outside its doors. There are several common areas to relax and unwind. Among the Hotel's facilities and amenities, guests can find a serene pool, wi-fi internet, high quality mattresses, mini split air conditioners, a safety deposit box and a hammock in each room. Each guest room has water filtered through three different methods.

2011 Travel Dates and Rates

Jan. 29th- Feb. 4th  $2,100

July  2nd-8th  $2,100

Oct.  15th-21st  $2,100

¨My Own Room Supplement¨ +$350

Traveling Solo? You go girl!

Embarking on a trip by yourself does not mean you have to be alone. Plenty of our travelers join our trips solo. With MexicaChica Getaways you have two options:

No Single Supplement- You can be paired with another fabulous gal to share a room with. This means you save money.

'My Own Room' Option- Sometimes, its just more comfortable to have your own room. Look for the 'My Own Room' option in the chart above and in the in the reservation form. You can choose to pay to guarantee yourself a single room.