Paint Your Alebrije With The Jimenez Family.

Must do experience! Hearing the history of alebrijes and getting to hear it from the grandson of one of the arts originators was something special! Great for kids and adults. I’ll treasure my alebrije forever!

Great to learn about the techniques and history of the alebrijes. enjoyed a relaxing time painting and meeting the family.

Wonderful experience. Our guide was excellent and an excellent translator. Learning the history of alebrijes and how to make them was interesting, and painting them was so much fun.

So much fun ❣️You can learn more about culture of craftsmanship and history of the family , and then enjoy a cup of mexican style chocolate with festive bread and snacks. Also thanks to Cesar who is such a friendly guide in good vibe, telling lots of interesting things and introducing some great foods in Oaxaca.

Very awesome experience, It was really cool to see the birthplace of the Alebrijes. It was a little trek to the outskirts of central Oaxaca by car so be prepared for a long car ride. The Jimenez family provided us with chips and amazing mole while we painted.

This was an excellent tour. The guide, Cesar, and everyone at the workshop, was extremely welcoming. The presentation on the history and making of alebrijes was perfect and painting them was a relaxing way to spend the afternoon. The workshop also has alebrijes made in the more traditional style started by Manuel Jiménez Ramírez in the 1920s, which you really can't find in the Centro Historico. The prices are extremely reasonable. Highly recommended for anyone who loves alebrijes, art, or learning about and supporting local artists.

We had a great time painting our alebrijes. I went with my husband and 9-year old son. Cesar picked us up from town and drove us out to their workshop. His English was good and he was interesting to chat with on the ride to and fro. He translated for Armando as he explained the history and design of the alebrijes that he carves, and then we got to pick an alebrije to paint. We all really enjoyed it and our pieces turned out great!

We had a great time speaking to Armando Jimenez and asking him questions about the alebrijes craft. Our guide Cezar was also friendly and accommodating, giving us English translation, water, and guiding us through the painting. I would have liked some more interaction with Armando on the alebrijes painting but appreciate that would have been difficult with the language barrier and his work. Overall, we loved the experience and enjoyed bringing our creations home and also some of the family's ones!

We had such a wonderful morning with the Jimenez family. If you spend any time in Oaxaca or know the history of alebrijes, you quickly realize you’re learning from the descendants of the original artists who helped shape this incredible art form. What impressed us most is that they don’t gatekeep the tradition, they generously share its history, teach the techniques, and encourage everyone to create something uniquely their own. Our kids were completely engaged from start to finish, and watching them paint while learning about the cultural significance behind the art made the experience even more meaningful. Cesar was an excellent host and translator, making everyone feel welcome and ensuring nothing was lost in translation. He brought us water, drinks and a light snack. Coordination was very easy. Just 30 minutes from Oaxaca City, this is a relaxing and memorable way to spend a few hours. We left with beautiful pieces we painted ourselves, a much deeper appreciation for alebrijes, and memories we’ll keep for years. Highly recommended.

Our family recently took part in the alebrije painting experience, and it was hands-down one of the highlights of our time together. We cannot recommend it highly enough! From start to finish, the entire experience was absolutely amazing. What makes this activity so special is how beautifully it balances vibrant creativity with a deeply calming, meditative atmosphere

Educational and fun. Well organized. Wonderful to meet art icons in person and learn from them. Learning about the history of this unique family and their contribution to the establishment of Oaxaca folk art not only in the Mexico but also globally was a privilege. The family art studio experience is great - and being able to ask questions and view their art made this very special. We were also given permission to take photographs after receiving explanations of the family's style of patterns. I loved that I could go home with my own painted piece of art that was carefully wrapped. Highly recommend.

Day starts with meeting at a convenience spot in the center of town. You were then driven about 30 minutes outside of the city to a small municipality where you learn about the history of alebrije’s from a third generation artisan. You then given your own figuring to paint. You can do whatever you want and they feed you snack snacks of memelas and a drink. You also have the option of purchasing alebrijes of various sizes from the artisans themselves. We returned to the city by 2:30 in the afternoon. Overall, it was a great experience meeting new people and learning new things. Highly recommend!

This is an absolute must when visiting Oaxaca! We learned about the history of Alebrije from the Jimenez family while receiving a live tutorial from the grandson of the creator of this beautiful art style. Then, we spent most of our time using the techniques we were taught to paint our hand sculpted Alebrije, leaving you with a custom one of a kind art piece! There are existing art pieces for sale made by the Jimenez family of various sizes and prices, making it affordable to take home such a lovely Oaxacan treasure. Our guide, Cesar, made the experience 10/10. He translated everything into English for us, shared the rich history of Oaxaca and offered plenty of excellent recommendations for the rest of our time here. You won’t regret this experience, but you will regret missing out!

We had an amazing time making alebrijes - everyone in our family enjoyed the tour and getting a chance to make our own. We bought some beautiful pieces from their gallery and enjoyed sitting on the patio painting alongside the artists. I was worried my 4 and 6 year old would be too young to paint and enjoy it but they made some beautiful art and when they were done, the tour guide gave them homemade popsicles which they loved! Great family friendly activity and the best part if you get to take a piece of Oaxaca home with you. Cannot recommend enough!

This was a fantastic experience with Cesar and the Jiménez family. My kids’ favorite experience in Oaxaca! We loved learning the history of the alebrijes, the painting and carving techniques and got to leave with such a unique souvenir. Thank you!

My mom and I had such an amazing time getting to learn about the legacy of the Jimenez family and alebrije making at their workshop! If you’re visiting Oaxaca, don’t skip this alebrije making workshop! We were debating between this one in Arrazola or going to San Martin but so glad we went with this instead. It was a ton of fun too. We definitely want to come back the next time we visit Oaxaca.

We really enjoyed this alebrije painting experience. It was a small group experience and we got picked up from a convenient place in Oaxaca city by Cesar who was so friendly and informative. At the start, Armando gave us an introduction to the craft and it was a true honour to hear the story of his grandfather and how this craft has been passed down generations. We then worked alongside his family painting our own alebrijes. If you’re creative this is definitely a trip for you! Thank you Cesar and all the Jiminez family.

We had an amazing time on our tour and can't say enough great things about our tour guide, Cesar! He was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about sharing the rich history and traditions of Mexican culture with us. We learned so much about the significance of alebrijes and had a blast painting our own wooden figurines. The experience was truly unforgettable and allowed us to take a piece of Oaxacana's vibrant culture back home with us. Cesar's expertise and enthusiasm made the experience even more enjoyable, and we appreciated the opportunity to immerse ourselves in the local art and traditions. Thank you, Cesar, for an incredible experience!

César was a blast. Good sense of humor. Lots of cultural history to share. Puntual. Very comfortable to be with the Jimenez family

Great explanation of the carving process and tradition. Painting the animals was very fun and allowed our own artistic expression. Light snack provided.

The entire experience was more than I had imagined. I loved ceramics as a kid and painting the wooden alebrije was a kind reminder of my old hobby. I was lucky to have Antonia and the studio to myself. I got to meet her daughter and daughter in-law. Cesar was prompt and communicated well from booking to the end. He was knowledgeable, respectful and generous with his time and knowledge. We chatted but I also got to have my solitude while painting. A memorable time for sure.

We had a lot of fun painting! It was a small shop. Very relaxing. We usually enjoy larger groups so we can get to know people from Other parts of the world. This time it was just us and a young couple from Australia. Would’ve liked to have some extra time to walk around the town a bit. But the painting activity was fun all on its own.

We really enjoyed our trip to Armando‘s workshop with Cesar and painting our own Alebrijes. It was cool to learn that Armando was the grandson of the artist who founded the art form. We also really enjoyed the exhibition about his grandfather at the museum near the Santa Domingo Church in Oaxaca. Armando‘s art is beautiful and the opportunity to paint your own was really a lot of fun.

Wonderful experience! From learning the history of alebrijes and the Jimenez family in Arrazola, to getting to paint our own alebrije, and then getting to see the family's wonderous gallery, this was a wonderful trip that I recommend to just about anyone. Cesar, our guide and translator, is unmatched! We loved him and had so much fun with him! We got his business card (he does lots of tours throughout Oaxaca - a real man to know!), and plan on hitting him up for tours when we come back. It's always great to have guides who work with local artisans throughout multiple industries because then they can show you all the wonders a local culture has to offer. Cesar was definitely a guide like that. You get plenty of time for painting, and the Jimenez family provides you with a Look Book of a bunch of other alebrijes they've painted to give you inspiration. If you have a kid who's into art and loves to really focus on painting, this is a wonderful activity to get their creativity out. I'd say this is good for just about all ages (small kids are probably no, and the accessibility here is limited, so mobility should be taken into consideration). We were given snacks and beers, and had an absolute blast! Definitely recommend!

Had an amazing day painting alebrijes. Cesar our guide was great. He took us to & from the workshop & translated for us. Meeting the family was amazing & they explained their craft & history. The are incredibly talented & the alebrijes in the shop are so amazing. Definitely bring cash with you if you want to buy any of their pieces. You get enough time to paint your alebrije. Seeing the family working while painting your own is amazing. They even provide some snacks & drinks for you.

Beautiful excursion and lots of fun. Our guide, Cesar, was an exceptional translator. We learned the history and crafting of alebrejes from THE BEST artist in the region, Armando. This was our favorite tour in Oaxaca, and is highly recommended. Will definitely book again when in Oaxaca ❤️

We had a wonderful time with our driver Cesar and Antonia Jimenez the painter of the sculptures. It’s a fun imaginative creative activity which lets one feel like an artist for the day .

An amazing historical day of knowledge and creativity. Thoroughly enjoyed the day of painting a new sculpture created by the Maestro himself. His grandfather created the history of the Alebrije. Purchased a few pieces in their gallery as well. They also had an awesome translator for the day. We were promptly picked up at the meeting place and brought us back to the drop off point as well. Would seriously do this all again. Loved it!

Such a fun activity. It was nice to get out of the city to see where the locals live and work and learn some of the history of the Alebrijes. I’m glad they give you a lot of time to paint your figurine because it is a lot more work than I expected. Drinks and snacks were provided and they had a galley with excellent prices

Amazing experience.The family was very knowledgeable and endearing. This was one of the best excursions.

Such a fun experience! Everyone should do this when they visit. Incredible people, great activity for all. We loved painting the alebrijes and learning about their history! Can’t get over how great of an experience it was from start to finish!

Armando’s work is amazing! His wife is also incredibly talented. The history of the Abrija from his grandfather and the current process are so beautiful. The class was incredibly fun and so creative. You don’t have to be an artist to thoroughly create this amazing memory! Cesar was wonderful and the translation was easy to understand. If you’re thinking of purchasing an Abrija after class, do it there! After walking f though the Zocolo for a week; their creativity and pricing is incredibly affordable. Support this local artist. I did and purchased two of his amazing pieces. You will not regret taking this class!

My friends and I loved everything about this experience! Because there were five of us, Cesar brought a friend and we traveled to Arrazola in two vehicles. Cesar shared his knowledge of Oaxaca and the various sites we passed by during the drive. Part of the trip was on dirt roads, and he is a good and safe driver. After we arrived, we listened to Armando Jimenez explain the process of making alebrijes and his family's history with the craft. He spoke Spanish and Cesar interpreted in English. Then we picked a wooden figure and began painting our own alebrije. Let me tell you ... It's harder than it looks! Pro tips: Use a lighter color as your base color. Be sure to let every layer dry before starting a new one. The skinny end of the sticks used to paint dots can be used to paint small details. We loved painting our alebrijes, even if Armando's were so much better! (Of course!) One of my friends said it made her feel child-like, in a good way, and I agree. There is no pressure at all to shop, but we all did, and we all purchased one or more alebrijes. There is a wide range of items available at a variety of price points, including small alebrijes that make great little gifts for 100 pesos ($5 American currently). Arrazola is very small, and we saw no restaurants there. Eat a good breakfast before you go! Cesar will provide you with beverages (water, soda, even Mezcal) and some chips and crackers for a snack. Although it was a warm day, the covered patio where we painted felt fine. Aprons were provided while painting. After our experience, Cesar was kind enough to drop us off in Jalatlaco, where we had a walking tour of the murals scheduled. Four hours was the right amount of time. The drive is about 30 minutes each way, leaving 3 hours for Armando's talk and demonstration + painting + shopping. The time flew by, and we didn't feel rushed. I highly recommend this educational and entertaining activity. Even if you don't know anything about alebrijes and you're not an artist, if you want to enjoy a few hours of playful creativity, you'll love it. Cesar is a great host!

it was lovely to hear the family history with alebrijes and our guide was excellent. I enjoyed the painting very much but would have liked more tips and guidance from the artist.

Our guide/driver spoke excellent English and was happy to answer any questions we had about Oaxaca . We loved the history lesson on the origin of this beautiful craft . The Jimenez family was welcoming and the animals we painted were delightful ! Don’t miss this experience .

Small group of four participants, we had a quite nice few hours, learned about the craft and tried it ourselves. Go find your „weird animal“ and bring it to life

What an incredible experience. I had so much fun and learned so much. The opportunity to see artists at work creating beautiful animales fantasticos, and also to hear about the history of alebrijes from celebrated artist Armando Jimenez... I am so glad I did this while in Oaxaca!

I booked this reservation via TripAdvisor at 5:30am the morning of the tour. The app showed the schedule, and I thought “what great luck. They have a spot today!” The app (viator) showed this was confirmed, I was given a ticket, and charged $70usd. I showed up at the meeting spot 10 minutes early and texted the tour operator to make sure I was in the right spot. He took about 10 minutes to reply, inform me he didn’t have my reservation, and that he was booked. He also claimed I was not confirmed. I asked for a refund and to his credit he notified Viator/Trip Advisor of the mix up on his end. However why this review turned from an annoyed incident to one worth mentioning in the reviews was Cesar proceeded to chastise me on multiple messages, told me this was my fault that I booked the day of, tried to gaslight me by saying it was never confirmed, and then told me “Try to plan in advance, people are not just waiting to serve you whenever you need, this entitlement is not acceptable anywhere in the world”. As a solo female traveler this sort of attitude and behavior is unacceptable and concerning. If I were a traveler to ever consider this service, be prepared for rude and condescending comments even after paying top dollar for a tour that was ticketed and confirmed. If you do choose to proceed, make your reservation well in advance and confirm directly to ensure you’re not let stranded.

We loved learning about the history and then painting our own Alebrijes. Probably our favorite part of the whole trip!

What an incredible experience this was! From the drive out to Armando's home/gallery, our guide Cesar, Armando and his family inviting us into their space and hearing the history of Armando's grandfather, Armando, and now his wife and kids, continuing this intricate art form. They are truly such a talented family! The afternoon was great, choosing our own alebrije to paint, painting in a cool space, and hearing stories from Cesar about the family and the community of artisans. Do not buy any alebrijes in town before you shop in the family gallery. Armando's prices are much less, and the craftsmanship is superb. I can't say enough about this experience!! IT IS A MUST DO/SEE!!!!

The whole experience was great. From the pick up point to the nice conversation on the way there with Cesar. Meeting Don Armando Jimenez and his lovely wife was awesome. He talked through the process of making the Alebrije and ultimately finishing off with painting our own Alebrije! I would totally recommend this experience!

We loved this experience: the explanations given by Armando (and instant translation by Cesar, the very nice host of this tour) were very interesting and the painting process and creativity really what we were looking to experience. Very fun even for just adults !! Highly recommended as an alternative to more classic excursions.

What an incredible experience to hear the story behind the alebrijes and how the Jiménez family played such a big a part in their inception. Painting the alebrijes was so fun and I also really enjoyed the snacks and beverages provided. Would absolutely recommend as a fun cultural creative activity for anyone, any age, visiting Oaxaca.

Overall, this was our favorite excursion of our trip! Meeting this family was so lovely, our host Caesar was amazing, and our time spent there was so peaceful and a perfect break from our busy trip. The carvings we were given were stunning and we had plenty of time to finish the painting process. Overall, solid 10/10!

It was such a fun activity with kids, or even without any kids. Armando is a master and nice to see him in action, and explain to us about his process. Highly recommended!

Amazing experience! We went with our two kids (9 & 5), and their grandmother. Cesar was a wonderful guide and translator, and Armando and his family are amazing artists. Armando showed us how he approaches the carving, explained his family history, and the meaning behind this beautiful art. We loved learning about Alebrijes and then painting our own pieces. We will treasure these forever!

This was such a magical experience! Everything felt so genuine. Was really cool to go to the actual workshop and to create our alebrijes with the family. Also Caesar was awesome and so knowledgable. Thanks for everything!

Guide didn’t show up and never canceled. I confirmed our tour 4 days before and guide said we were all set. The morning of our tour we met at the location on Viator and were 15 minutes early. By 10 I tried contacting our guide and got no response. By 10:15 I got the guide’s number and called. He sounded like he didn’t even know he had a tour that day and then made up and excuse that his van broke down the day before. He never tried to cancel or let us know and we waited 40 minutes and missed out on an activity we were looking forward too.

My daughter (13) and I throughly enjoyed this. Armando is the real deal! I was so impressed by his story and craft. I highly recommend this experience.