Ancestral Bag Workshop Bogotá Cultural Hands-On Tour

Overview

Available languages

English

Spanish

Mobile ticket

Welcome to the workshop for the traditional Colombian bag, the mochila!

This will be a journey through the indigenous ancestral culture of the northern lands of Colombia. We will learn the importance of native peoples and their art. We will walk through the colonial historical center. Next we will head to the workshop of an indigenous artisan descending from Kankuama blood from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta and Wayú blood from the desert area in the northernmost part of the South American continent La Guajira. From her, we will learn the sheep wool process and how to make our own miniature traditional bag step-by-step with a technique that unites 4 of the main native tribes. Afterwards each of us will also receive a Small mochila made by a group of women from the tribe and in this way we will go home with a purely Colombian product that also helps more indigenous families to get ahead.

Additional Info

Wheelchair accessible

Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller

Service animals allowed

Public transportation options are available nearby

Transportation options are wheelchair accessible

All areas and surfaces are wheelchair accessible

Suitable for all physical fitness levels

Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

What‘s Included

Professional tour guide

Indigenous drink

Mochila tradicional wayú

What To Expect

We will meet up with our guide at the hostel and then take a walk through the historic center of Bogotá, passing through the sacred lands of the indigenous Muisca peoples.

Admission Not Applicable

Next we will visit the workshop of a traditional artisan from the Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta region. She will teach us the traditional patterns and techniques for weaving a mochila and each of us will design our own miniature mochila. In addition we will each receive a large mochila made by to women of the tribe to take home.

2 hours • Admission Not Applicable

Options

Ancestral Bag Workshop Bogotá Cultural Hands-On Tour

Reviews

5.00

8 reviews

Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor

Fun and Interesting
Tammy D,
Nov 12, 2025
- Review from Viator
5.00
I loved this activity. Juan was our informative and professional guide. On our walk to the shop, he gave us interesting information about what we were seeing. He also took pictures of us making the mochila. It was fun and I didn't realize the detail that went into the products. The lady at the shop certainly had lots of patience.
MAKE A MOCHILA
karenhE1652ZZ,
Oct 26, 2025
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Great fun was had and so much was learned! Worth every dollar! The guide was an excellent translator and the conversation was filled with education and fun!!
Mini Mochila
stewwithaview,
Apr 19, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
My mom and I wanted to learn something traditional, and Lorena was our guide for Candelaria and Montserrat earlier in the week. I reached out to her and she recommended this experience. Rosa was amazing and patient, teaching us how to stitch and make our Mochilas and we learned about her tribe and others in Colombia. We had so much fun and got to experience something new and different. Lorena is an incredible guide and I would recommend booking her.
Excellent!!
NikoleRR632,
Feb 26, 2024
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
It was a great experience and I learned a lot with Doña Rosa. I made a beautiful backpack with the guidance and help of Doña Rosa. I would recommend it with your friends, family or alone!!
Great handcrafts and warm welcome
MattAliberti,
Nov 21, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We had such a wonderful time in this experience. Andrea was a warm host, she greeted us at the meeting point and shared some local history as we walked through La Candelaria to the site. Rosa was a delightful artisan to spend time with. She joked as she taught us how to weave backpacks and Andrea translated and gave us context. We watched people stroll by, sipped indigenous tea, and made adorable backpacks. We came away feeling much more knowledgeable of Bogota and artisans. Highly recommend.
Highlight of Bogota
kathyo626,
Jun 10, 2023
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Julie and Rosa were amazing teachers of the history of the indigenous people as well as the techniques required to make their beautiful bags! This was the highlight of our time ijn Bogota and we would highly recommend booking this your. Not only will you appreciate the work of the crafts people but I believe you will walk away with new friends!
Highly recommend!
39barbz,
Dec 7, 2022
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
Highly recommend this tour for anyone interested in textiles, indigenous wisdom and Bogota history. Andreas was a knowledgeable and very considerate tour guide with many stories to tell. He went above and beyond in many ways. Rosa is a gifted teacher and maker. I really enjoyed learning to make the mochila with her and members of her family who were in her shop at the time. An experience of a lifetime for me!
Great salsa class
rachzhao,
Sep 15, 2019
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00
We had a fantastic private salsa class with Luigi. In 2 hours we went from total beginners to learning a good repetoire of moves and being dancing competently together to good music. + Reasonably priced. Most importantly it was very fun and would definitely recommend Luigi as a thorough but funny teacher. He offered to show us to some dance clubs afterwards but unfortunately we had an early flight the next morning so couldn't go. Thanks again!