The best thing I did in Peru! - This was absolutely the best thing I did on my 9 day trip to Peru. I booked transportation through the vendor and didn't have to think about anything but showing up on time. I was welcomed with a family lunch, then we toured the farm, and I took a llama/alpaca for a walk to get leaves to use for dye. I learned to clean the wool, to spin it into yarn using only my hands and a top type object, then learned all of the different ways they use natural items to create a variety of colors of yarn. When I learned that pinks came from a cactus my brain exploded. I was taught to weave...difficult! And was given my 3 yarns that I dyed as well as the weaving I did. It was such an incredible and authentic experience. I cannot recommend this enough! Plus, this is an organization that is giving back to single artisan mothers.

Must Visit - This was a truly amazing experience! I was the only one there so it even felt more personable. Everyone was so welcoming and nice! It was incredible and interesting to be part of a start to finish experience of weaving. I got to feed the alpacas, learn about plants for dying the yarns, walked to pick plants and then boiled and dyed the yarn. Also, made yarn and attempted to weave… they set it up for me and after learning it and how technical the weaving part is alone - made me appreciate the process and experience even more. I also understand why the real and fake woven pieces are priced the way they are and have a new appreciation for the real thing:) I was able to take home the dyed yarn too; 3 big year bundles! Lastly, I was provided a lunch which included alpaca- so tasty! Thank you so much to this organization for what they do and opening this up to a tour/experience.

Great organization, Great workshop - We really enjoyed this hands-on workshop. It is off the main road and down a series of dirt roads. It was accurate on Google Maps. It started with a delicious lunch and a visit to the guinea pig kennel. Then they explained that this group is working to help single mothers become self-reliant through the textile industry. We walked a llama and an alpaca down the road a bit and picked a bunch of leaves. When we returned we used those leaves to create a dye. We created 2 other dyes as well and used them to dye some wool. We learned to clean and spin sheep's wool and then ultimately we opted to start weaving a belt. In the end, we toured the items they had for sale and took home 3 sets of dyed wool and a started belt for each of us. The staff were accommodating and did everything they could to make this a great experience. It will be one of the highlights of our trip and I recommend it to others.

Great experience and a good cause - This was such a great experience! They let you feed and pet the alpacas/llamas and even hold a baby one. Then see the guinea pigs. The dying experience was very cool, and the shop had authentic goods for all price ranges. We had the cuy meal and it was very tasty. Even better than at the fancy restaurants. The staff are very kind and sweet, and even the bathroom was clean and well stocked. The best part is this place has a mission to help single mothers earn an income to support themselves and their children. Overall a great experience and I highly recommend.

Support safe place for women and lean the authentic craft. - I feel so lucky that they had guided us along the way even prior to us arriving on Instagram. The experience was so special and I’m so grateful for you guys sharing such an indigenous experience with us. I highly recommend this charming and heartwarming place. This place is also created to support safe place for women. Please support this place I feel that the world needs to see and experience traditional craft to feel grounded😊

Simply unforgettable, heartwarming and delightful ! - The wool dying and weaving workshop with Andean Colors was truly an amazing experience which I will never forget. I loved every second of it, especially bottle feeding the baby llamas, walking with the grownup llamas to collect leaves for the wool dying process. Learning to spin the raw wool and dying it with three different natural dyes was fascinating. The lunch was delicious and I couldn’t resist buying a few beautiful handmade items in the artisan shop to support the Single Mother Project. Don’t skip this heartwarming and wonderful experience with Andean colors.

Fantastic, authentic textile experience - If you want an authentic hands-on experience dealing with textiles, this is THE tour to book. My husband and friends wanted to do the zip lines so I did this on my own. They helped to arrange transportation from Cusco and I felt very comfortable and safe. It was an hour drive. We picked leaves and used them to dye the yarn a green color, we used dried moss to dye the yarn a yellow color and we used dried dead bugs from a cactus to dye the yarn a purple color. It was a lengthy process, but I got to participate in ALL of it. And they gave me the yarn I dyed to take home. So unexpected and greatly appreciated. They also taught me how to spin the wool from the alpaca by hand. No spinning wheel or other mechanism, just your hands spinning a "tool" that looks like a top with a stick on it. I was also taught how to make a bracelet. They served a yummy lunch of chicken, potatoes, carrots and rice. They were all friendly and welcoming and the instructor was kind and patient and took his time with each step in the process. You see all the amazingly beautiful textiles in Cusco and to be a part of that was invaluable. This was THE best thing I booked while in Cusco.

The best natural dye experience - Such an amazing course. I went with my fiancé who is a fashion designer on our honeymoon. It was so interesting to learn about all the ways that you can natural dye in Peru. From harvesting, to production we learn it all, I know my partner was really blown away by all the techniques that are used. It was a really hands on experience and the instructor Marco made it really fun. Recommend getting a drive to take you there and back if you are coming from Cusco.

Went to learn and left with a full heart and new knowledge - Hilda, Marco and their son Sami are amazing people!!! I felt so at home with them and really enjoyed every minute. We took the bus from Urumbamba, it was very easy, it dropped us right at the end of the road of where Andean Colors is located. Marco’s English is fantastic and his patience with me as I worked on my Spanish, also wonderful. I enjoyed learning about the farm, the Cuy, the llamas, and the alpacas. Walking with the alpacas to pick plants to use in the dyeing process was a lot of fun. Especially with their adorable son bouncing around providing laughs. I really enjoyed learning the process of dyeing, spinning the fleece to make the yarn, and working on a bracelet. Having lunch with Marco and Hilda was also wonderful they are such luvly people and I very much enjoyed their company. The food was delicious as well!!! The shop offers plenty of options and I left with a better understanding of what goes into making these products and how different types of wool feels as compared to acrylic. The mission behind the business is also one I feel fortunate to support, single mothers and those whom have had some trauma potentially in their past. Marco and Hilda have just started this venture 6 months ago and I hope that people will come experience the dyeing process with them. I feel very lucky to of come across this learning experience and left with my heart full!!! Thank you Hilda, Marco, and Sami.

Perfect introduction to Peru - My 10-year-old daughter and I really enjoyed our time here at Andean Colors on our first day in Peru. The whole staff was welcoming and made us feel right at home from the moment we arrived. We loved learning and participating in the entire alpaca yarn making process: from hand-feeding the sweet animals themselves to taking a short trek across gorgeous countryside to gather leaves for making dye to cleaning, spinning and dyeing the yarn. Marco and the women who assisted him were very kind and patient and my daughter and I had a lot of fun. Three hours was just the right amount of time and we enjoyed a truly delicious lunch of chicken, vegetables, rice and quinoa soup afterwards. This was a wonderful, immersive introduction to an important part of Peruvian culture. Thank you, Andean Colors!