Sample Itinerary
Native Basketry and Pottery Workshop
With Daria Mariscal and Virginia Melendrez
Spring 2022*
Tuesday
9:00 am Meet up for carpool to U.S./Tecate border
10:00 am Cross border, meet our host, market stop
11:00 am Arrive at the Ranch
12:00 pm Lunch
1:00 pm meet Daria, view examples, begin Native Clay Workshop
5:00 pm social hour
6:00 pm Dinner
10:00 pm Quiet time
Wednesday – at the Ranch
7:00 am Coffee and muffins
8:00 Ranch style breakfast
9:00 – 12:00 Demonstration, handbuilding and clay construction
12:30 pm Lunch
1:30 – 3:30 pm Handbuilding and clay construction
4:00 pm Canyon walk, view morteros
6:00 pm Social/share art
7:00 pm Dinner
10:00 pm Quiet time
Thursday – at the Ranch
7:00 am Coffee and muffins
8:00 am Ranch style breakfast
9:00 am – 12:00 pm Study examples, continue handbuilding
12:30 pm Lunch
1:30 pm Creative time on your own, relaxation, or trail ride
6:00 pm Social/share art
7:00 pm Dinner
10:00 pm Quiet time
Friday – on and off the Ranch
7:00 am Coffee and muffins
8:00 am Ranch style breakfast
Burnish pots (need to dry)
11:30 am Depart for wine country, Lunch at a winery
4:30 pm Return to ranch, burnish pots
7:00 pm Dinner
10:00 pm Quiet time
Saturday – on and off the Ranch
7:00 am Coffee and muffins
8:00 am Ranch style breakfast
9:00 am Depart for Ensenada (pots drying)
12:30 pm Lunch in Ensenada, shopping
3:00 pm Return from Ensenada
Check for drying, burnishing
6:00 pm Prep, load, and light pit fire
7:00 pm Dinner
10:00 pm Quiet time
Sunday – at the Ranch
7:00 am Coffee and muffins
Dig out pit firing – view, discuss
8:00 am Breakfast
9:30 am Meet Virginia Melendrez, Master Basketmaker, begin basketry workshop
12:00 pm Lunch
1:00 pm Basketmaking
3:30 pm End of Day 1, basketry
3:30 pm Trail ride
6:00 pm Social/share
7:00 pm Dinner
10:00 pm Quiet time
Monday – at the Ranch
7:00 am Coffee and muffins
8:00 am Ranch style breakfast
9:00 am – 12:00 pm Study examples, continue basketry
12:30 pm Lunch
1:30 pm Creative time on your own, relaxation, or group horseback ride
6:00 pm Social/share art
7:00 pm Dinner
10:00 pm Quiet time
Tuesday – at the Ranch
7:00 am Coffee and muffins
8:00 am Ranch style breakfast
9:00 am – 12:00 pm Finish baskets
12:30 pm Lunch
1:30 pm Critique, photographs, pack for departure
2:00 pm Depart ranch for border
3:30 pm Anticipated arrival at border, walk through U.S. Customs, return to San Diego
Please use this as general information only.
Guests are welcome to use their time as they wish while visiting the Ranch.
Outdoor activities may be re-scheduled during inclement weather.
What’s Included?
Professional workshop instruction
Small group (maximum 10 participants)
Professional group leader throughout
Our ranch owner is our guide in each destination
All accommodation, twin share only (7 nights)
Breakfast every day, 6 lunches, 7 dinners (winery lunch and Ensenada lunch paid on your own)
Transportation to and from San Diego to Mexico (private van)
All transportation in Mexico
All workshop activities and materials, horseback riding, 2 off-ranch excursions
What’s Not Included?
Flights to/from San Diego
Passport/visa fees
Meals and wine tastings off the ranch
Travel insurance (mandatory)
Gratuities
Shuttle cost to meet travel from hotel to designated meeting point – TBD (Approx. $100 – $200)
Accommodation Style
You can expect a comfortable cabin accommodation with private bathrooms on this trip. We’ll be staying at a privately owned working horse ranch which is off the grid. Lighting is by kerosene lamps and candles in public spaces and solar powered lamps in the cabins. Cell phone/camera chargers are available. For this particular trip, there are no single rooms available. Rooms will be double occupancy, with separate beds.