JuanCaicedo, has a B.A. in Natural History and Cultural Studies from Prescott College in Arizona. For his senior thesis he worked with rural and urban communities in Sonora, Mexico to protect a riparian area important for birds and archaeological conservation...more
-in partnership with the Tubac Center for the Arts
A Cultural Tour of the Mata Ortiz/Casas Grandes Region
Experience the special phenomenon of Mata Ortiz – a rural Northern Mexico town that is a successful village of talented potters. See how the pottery is made and enjoy the home-spun hospitality of this town.
A special feature of the trip is a visit to the Amerind Foundation in Dragoon, a private anthropological and archaeological museum and research center dedicated to the preservation and 
interpretation of Native American cultures and their histories. Located in spectacular Texas Canyon in the Little Dragoon Mountains 60 miles east of Tucson, the Amerind Foundation houses one of the finest private collections of Native American art and artifacts in the country. Dr. Charles Di Peso, one of the founders of this museum, was primarily responsible for the excavation of the Paquime ruins in Casas Grandes that we visit on this tour.
Day 1 – We pick up passengers in Tubac, Green Valley, and Tucson by 9AM in our 15-passenger van and drive to the Amerind Foundation in the Dragoon Mountains to view this gem of a museum and get an overview of the ancient Casas Grandes civilization and the art that they left behind in their ruins. After lunch at the Triangle T Restaurant, we continue on to Bisbee where we will have the afternoon to explore this scenic old mining town with its museums and unique shops. This evening we will enjoy a good meal and spend the night in one of Bisbee’s comfortable hotels.
Day 2- After breakfast we cross the Mexican border at Douglas. On the way, we’ll stop to observe a small black-tailed prairie dog town adjacent to the highway. We drive to the ruins and museum at Paquime in the small town of Casas Grandes, site of the large adobe complex built by Amerindians from the 10th to the 14th centuries. The Casas Grandes culture produced styles of polychrome pottery that inspired Juan Quezada and other Mata Ortiz potters. Our visit to Paquime will give us the background we need to understand the roots from which the potters of Mata Ortiz take their inspiration. After lunch we drive to the famous pottery village of Mata Ortiz. We’ll spend two nights in a cozy, rustic inn owned by one of the master potters of Mata Ortiz, Jorge Quintana. The rooms are simple but large and clean, each with a heater, fan, and a private bathroom with a shower. We take all our meals at this inn. They are all homemade and delicious. After dinner we can take a stroll around town or just relax at the inn. All during the day and after dinner local potters will visit our lodge and display their latest made pots for sale. (B, L, D)
Day 3 – We spend the entire day strolling around this quiet rural 
town, visiting potters in their homes and galleries, with the option of buying pottery to take home. In this town of approximately 500 families, over half of the adults (and many of the children) are involved in making pottery! If he is available, Jorge Quintana will give us an hour-long demonstration of building a pot from scratch. We may also sit in for a demonstration of the firing and painting of a pot at a gallery near the famous potter Juan Quezada’s home. In the evening Spencer McCallum, Juan Quezada’s discoverer and first benefactor, may give us a talk and slide show with stories about the history of the Mata Ortiz pottery phenomenon. (B, L, D)
Day 4 – After breakfast, we retrace our steps back to Tucson. We expect to return to the Tucson area by 6PM. (B, L)
Itinerary is subject to change, based on weather or other factors.
The price of this trip is $999 based on double occupancy. The single supplement is $100.This includes van transportation from the Tucson area, guides, meals, entrance fees, tips, and accommodations. Also included is trip insurance covering emergency medical services and emergency medical evacuation.
The following are not included: alcoholic beverages, tips for the guides, and costs resulting from illness, injury, or emergency evacuation, program changes, and delays beyond our control.
To register for this tour, contact Nature Treks and Passages at (781)-789-8127 or info@naturetreks.net. A deposit of $150 per person is required to reserve a spot on the trip. Full payment of the tour fee is due ninety days prior to the tour departure. If you have any questions, please contact Nature Treks and Passages at(781) 789-8127 or info@naturetreks.net.
March 12-15, 2010
Price - $999
A US passport valid six months beyond your anticipated date of return to the US is required. Those with foreign passports should contact the Embassy of Mexico for details.