Let me take you back a few years to a sweltering afternoon in Cozumel. My cruise ship had just docked, and instead of shuffling off with the crowds to the beach bars (though the idea of sipping a margarita the size of my head was tempting), I ducked into a quiet artisan courtyard tucked behind a taco stand. There, under the welcoming shade of papaya trees, I found myself elbow-deep in cobalt-blue tiles, designing a Talavera-style mosaic turtle I still proudly display in my office. That turtle has traveled further than some of my luggage.
Ever since that serendipitous afternoon, I’ve been obsessed with craft workshops in Mexico — those deliciously authentic little experiences where you not only get your hands dirty but also walk away with a handmade piece of Mexico (and a slightly sunburned nose).
So if your cruise itinerary includes a stop in Mexico — and let’s be honest, most Western Caribbean or Mexican Riviera sailings do — consider skipping the zipline or tequila tour for a few sweet hours of creativity. Here are 11 Mexican craft workshops that allow you to dive deep into local culture and return home with the most enviable souvenir imaginable: one you make yourself.
1. Talavera Pottery Painting – Puebla
You haven’t truly experienced Mexican art until you’ve tried your hand at Talavera — the iconic blue-and-white ceramic style rooted in Puebla. While you’re unlikely to visit Puebla on a typical cruise, ports like Veracruz offer excursions inland.
Insider Tip: Some workshops will let you design your piece and ship it home once fired — handy if your suitcase is already packed with duty-free vanilla and last-night’s beachwear.
2. Huichol Beadwork Class – Puerto Vallarta
Colorful like confetti on a fiesta floor, Huichol art is born from intricate beadwork, traditionally made by the indigenous Huichol people. Several local artists around Puerto Vallarta offer small-group classes where cruise passengers can design jewelry, animals, or even coasters (yes, coasters can be art, Mom).
Watch Out For: Bead-size delusion. Beads look massive online but don’t be shocked when each one is the size of a fruit fly. Bring your glasses.
3. Alebrijes Painting – Oaxaca (Cruise Port: Huatulco)
Alebrijes — those wild, fantastical creatures with the heart of a dragon and the snout of a rooster — are originally from Oaxaca. Huatulco (a more boutique cruise port) offers access to small artists’ studios where you can paint your own alebrije.
Bonus Tip: Ask the artist hosting your session about your creature’s “spirit meaning.” My multicolored armadillo was apparently a symbol of transformation. Or tacos. I can’t quite remember; I was hungry.
4. Glassblowing Experience – Cabo San Lucas
Aside from being the land of margaritas and marlin, Cabo offers cruising crafters a chance to hand-blow their own glass piece. Yes, you wear safety goggles. And yes, it’s hotter than the sun, but yes — it’s wildly fun.
Cruise Hack: Book this for the morning so you’re not “wine-tasting relaxed” while wielding molten silica. Just trust me on this one.
5. Embroidery & Textile Workshop – Chiapas (Cruise Port: Puerto Chiapas)
Chiapas textiles are storytelling in thread. Cruise lines sometimes offer shore excursions that include visits to women-run cooperatives where you can try your hand at traditional embroidery techniques. You might not be fast, but you’ll be deeply inspired.
Cool Fact: Many Chiapas stitches carry symbolic meaning. Ask about the story behind the pattern — it’s often tied to Mayan cosmology.
6. Coconut Carving – Cozumel
Carve a coconut, you say? Oh yes. It’s a thing, and it’s surprisingly therapeutic. Local carvers will walk you through shaping your own mask, animal, or (ambitiously) a Mayan calendar.
Did You Know? A single coconut contains enough natural oil to make your hands Instagram-glossy for the whole day.
7. Mayan Chocolate Making – Progreso
This isn’t crafting per se — it’s culinary artistry. But making chocolate from fermented beans is a hands-on workshop filled with crushing, roasting, and mixing. AND you get chocolate.
Insider Tip: Don’t wear white. Cocoa and cruise whites are like teenagers and quiet: rarely seen together.
8. Piñata Making – Mazatlán
Ready to craft something festive? Join a piñata workshop and fashion your own papier-mâché masterpiece. Most runs are fast enough to fit a timed excursion window — and yes, you can fill it with candy before you go.
Bonus Tip: Some workshops offer mini piñatas — perfect for that grandkid gift or the office desk that desperately needs cheering up.
9. Silver Jewelry Design – Taxco (Via Acapulco)
If your cruise includes Acapulco, consider signing up for a silver-making class in nearby Taxco – long famed for its artisan silver. From shaping to simple stone-setting, these classes deliver bling without the big bucks.
Heads-Up: Some excursions require a longer travel time inland — bring a book or make friends with your bus neighbor (unless they won’t stop quoting Titanic. Then, noise-canceling earbuds).
10. Woven Palm Art – Costa Maya
Ever seen a palm grasshopper? You will. On the piers of Costa Maya, crafty masters twist palms into art faster than you can say “lechĂłn.” Many will offer quick classes where you learn to fold your own fish, rose, or — if you’re brave — hummingbird.
Fun Fact: Palm weaving is often passed down from generation to generation like a family recipe. You’ll be working alongside serious artistry.
11. Papel Picado – Manzanillo
This beloved Mexican folk art involves creating intricate designs on tissue paper. Seems easy — until your tissue rips like a movie theater candy wrapper. Still, the results are jaw-droppingly gorgeous.
Pro Tip: Great craft for families. Plus, folded up, it fits in your cruise cabin safe. That’s a win for small-space souvenir-packing.
Final Thoughts: Let Your Hands Tell Your Travel Story
Cruising is about more than buffets and bingo (though I will fight anyone for the last coconut shrimp). It’s about connecting — to the world, to people, and even to long-lost parts of yourself. Taking the time to slow down and create something with your hands, guided by artisans who’ve kept their cultural traditions alive against the tides of change, is one of the most rewarding ways to experience Mexico.
So next time you’re planning your port adventures, think beyond the checklist sights. Look for color, for texture, for places where paint, clay, beads, or even melted glass become your passport into the heart of the place you’re visiting.
Because souvenirs are lovely… but souvenirs you’ve made yourself? Those are memory-charged masterpieces.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’ve got to dust my ceramic turtle. He’s starting to look a little smug next to all the store-bought trinkets.
Bonus Travel Nugget You Didn’t Know You Needed: Bring a small roll of bubble wrap on your cruise. It weighs nothing, fits in your shoes, and is a lifesaver for protecting fragile crafts on the way home. You’re welcome.
Happy crafting, shipmates!