MyColores: Wild Colors of the Mayan Highlands
This year, we are changing it up. We've been so lucky to have Alissa Allen, veteran mushroom dyer and founder of Mycopigments--as well as the incredible Mushroom & Lichen Dyers United FB group with over 50k members--join us from Seattle, Washington for four years in Oaxaca with The Fungivore! This year, we are bringing her to Chiapas, high up (7200ft) in the Mayan Highlands to explore the copious mushrooms in the many forests of the area. Alissa has become a fixture of this part of our mushroom journey: dyeing and learning the colors, as well as interfacing in wonder wioth the local dyers and weavers. Her mycological knowledge far exceeds that needed to dye, and she with lead our forays and our mushroom dyeing workshops in the gorgeous mountain town of San Cristobal de las Casas!
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Of course, we aren't just here for the mushrooms... after four years exploring Oaxaca’s Sierras and sharing mushroom dye traditions with local communities, we’re shifting our focus to the pine-filled, mushroom-rich Highlands of Chiapas. Our home base will be San Cristóbal de las Casas—a 500-year-old Spanish colonial-style town surrounded by Indigenous villages known for flowers, craft, textiles and pottery. San Cristobal is a fascinating city with an incredible history of it's own! We will explore the history by foot, eat Chiapanecan cuisine, learn from indigenous artisans of the region, pay visits to both Chamula and Zinacántan--the two dominant cultures in this highland valley for 1000 years.
The town itself is surrounded by forests, including more than five public parks at varying altitudes, giving us planty of places to find the dye mushrooms we seek, as well as identification of edible mushrooms, and mushroom in general! With our partners at Fungaria, we’ll gather dye mushrooms to dye our wool and silk. Back in town, we’ll have our own dye studio studio at a local cultural center where we'll turn our harvest into a gorgeous rainbow of color. Every participant leaves with several ounces of dyed fiber. Finally, we’ll wrap up our journey with a Sunday visit to Zinacantán and Chamula, communities celebrated for their traditions, textiles, and cultural resilience.
The town itself is surrounded by forests, including more than five public parks at varying altitudes, giving us planty of places to find the dye mushrooms we seek, as well as identification of edible mushrooms, and mushroom in general! With our partners at Fungaria, we’ll gather dye mushrooms to dye our wool and silk. Back in town, we’ll have our own dye studio studio at a local cultural center where we'll turn our harvest into a gorgeous rainbow of color. Every participant leaves with several ounces of dyed fiber. Finally, we’ll wrap up our journey with a Sunday visit to Zinacantán and Chamula, communities celebrated for their traditions, textiles, and cultural resilience.
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Unlike most of our previous trips, this one sets you down right into the lap of luxury right away. Attendees will fly into Tuxtla Gutierrez airport (TGZ), and immediately make their way to Sombra del Agua, a gorgeous hotel with an award winning restaurant right in the middle of downtown San Cristobal.
See our day-by-day itinerary below, under the Key Trip Details section. |
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Never a dull moment! Being able to learn through experience is absolutely the best way to travel. Foraging was off the charts, every meal had me dancing in my seat, and all of the people (guests to hosts) were the best people to hang with!” |
PINK Chanterelles from the Nangaño forest near Tuxtla Gutierrez.
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Key Trip DetailsLength: 8 nights
Average Foray Distance: <2 miles/day Altitude: 1000-7200 feet Exertion Level: Easy to Moderate Accommodations: - 8 nights in a San Cristobal de las Casas Hotel (Sombra del Agua) Meals included: 2 Dinners, 7 Breakfasts, 7 Lunches. Cost: $3100.00 |
Each year we invite the local communities to learn mushroom dyeing. This year, we'll work with the weaving communitiies of Zinacantan and Chamula in Chiapas!
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Day-to-Day Itinerary Overview
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Sunday, October 11: Day 1: Check in, meet fellow foragers, and enjoy our opening dinner at one of the fantastic restaurants in town.
Monday, October 12, Day 2: A guided walking tour of downtown San Cristobal, introduction to Roberto Murphy. FREE NIGHT to explore town. Tuesday, October 13, Day 3: Forage for dye mushrooms in Huitepec--where we have found many dyers Cortinarius, coral mushrooms, omphalatus mexicanus, as well as many edible mushrooms--with our mycologists team from Fungaria. FREE NIGHT to explore town. Wednesday, October 14, Day 4: Foray to Montetik, where we'll enjoy an easy walk with Fungaria for more dyers and meet up in the evening for a Movie night at the local independent theater. |
The rainbow of dyed wool with mushrooms of San Cristobal de las Casas.
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Thursday, October 15, Day 5: Foray to Parque Encuentro, a site for toothed mushrooms: phelladon, hydnellum, hawks wing, and hypomyces! FREE NIGHT to explore town
Friday, October 16, Day 6: Our first dye day at a local Cultural Center; embroidery and couching workshop. FREE NIGHT to explore! Saturday, October 17, Day 7: 2nd Dye Day at a local Cultural Center; Dye your own items as well as completing the rainbow of skeins. FREE NIGHT to explore San Cristobal. Sunday, October 18, Day 8: Village visits to Zinacantan and Chamula for their weekly market, visit artisans in their homes; Closing Dinner in town at a fantastic location. Monday, October 19, Day 9: Check out of Sombra del Agua with a rainbow of mushroom colors and lasting memories.** |
This itinerary is subject to change, as weather and permissions can shift days around, but provides the activities we will do overall.
WHAT PAST MYCOLORES ADVENTURES SAID:
"The mushroom dyeing was top notch with master dyer Alissa.
- Liann; Washington State "This adventure was very interesting and displayed a colorful mix of culture in relation to mushrooms, plants, weaving, dying, and food."
- Holly; San Francisco, CA |
"This was an excellent experience for anyone wanting to learn which mushrooms to collect for dyeing and for learning the actual process of dyeing natural fibers."
- Donna, Northern California 
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"This tour was an amazing experience. Through Kim & Zach’s respectful relationship with the Mixtec and Zapotec people I gained an authentic heartfelt connection."
- Meredith; Canada "Everything I hoped for and more. A taste of authenticity and humanity."
- Lara, Albuquerque, New Mexico |
Our Team
Zachary & Kim Hunter
Your Tour Leaders
Zachary and Kimberly shared their first hosted Mexico tour together less than two months after meeting. That love-(and-tourism)-at-first-sight in Fall of 2018 has blossomed into a project far beyond their original dreams.
In 2025, they celebrated their 7th year of hosting mushroom adventures in Mexico, a journey that saw them move to Oaxaca in early 2022, and to dedicate their attention to the cradle of civilization hiding in plain sight; to tap into the both ancient and future wisdom of the people of the clouds. Zachary and Kim will be your hosts for each and every tour in 2026! |
Alissa Allen
Mushroom Dye MasterAlissa is the founder of Mycopigments and the 50k person strong Mushroom & Lichen Dyers United discussion group. She specializes in teaching about regional mushroom and lichen dye palettes to fiber artists and mushroom enthusiasts all over the world. Alissa got her start in the Pacific Northwest and has been sharing her passion for mushrooms for over 15 years.
Alissa uses brilliant colors found in fungal dyes to entice people to take a closer look at mushrooms and lichens and the role they play in our lives. This special trip will mark her 5th season and 8th Mushroom Dye Adventure in Mexico! Alissa will be with us for MyColores: Chiapanecan Highlands in 2026 |
Ezequial Cruz
Chiapanecan MycologistEzequiel Cruz Campuzano is the director and co-founder of Fungaria, a project in partnership with four other friends, chefs, digital wizards and mycophiles committed to re-acquainting the Chiapanecan people to their fungal heritage.
Ezequiel is a licensed biologist from UNICACH, and is passionate about the diversity and distribution of macro-basidia from Chiapas. He is on his last year of his Masters Degree at Universidad Naciónal Autonomía (UNA) researching the ectomycorrhizal fungi associated with Gymnopodium floribundum in tropical Tuxtla Gutierrez and its surrounds wild areas. In 2023 he was named by the Chiapas Municipal Youth Awards for his selfless work in mycology and received an award for his work in Environmental Protection. |
How to join, the cost and what's covered:
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What is Covered on Trip
The cost of this trip is $3100.00 (before applicable discounts). Double occupancy is assumed for our available accommodations. If you are traveling with someone, be sure to let us know if you need ONE bed or TWO beds. (Please have them fill out an application to join you also.) INCLUDED: Most meals, lodging, tours, activities, and workshops are included with this adventure, in addition to take home mushroom dyed silk & wool, and Mycopigments learning materials. NOT INCLUDED: Alcohol or fancy drinks (during meals or otherwise), souvenirs, and some optional activities. Ground transportation to & from Tuxtla Gutuerres Airport (TGZ) to San Cristobal de las Casas. |
Payment Policy, Non-Refundable Deposit and Refund Schedule
Payments for the trip shall be made in full, and includes the NON-REFUNDABLE DEPOSIT of 20% ($620) which enables us to secure accommodations, reserve transportation, book restaurants, and secure the tour. Refunds for cancellations will be returned on the following schedule, minus Stripe processing fees (~3%):
The deposit is non-refundable IN MOST CASES. We use it immediately to secure transportation, lodging and reservations. If this trip is canceled completely for any reason, you will get your payment back, minus unrecoverable credit card processing fees. |
How to Join
We review each application to make sure our mycoadventure is a good fit for all participants and give us insight to create the best experience for each group. Upon review, we're reach out ASAP to offer an info call, deposit information and next steps. We will fill the trip in the order of applications received and deposits secured. Our group size is capped at 12 participants and we have high interest again this year. Sign up to secure your spot in line! First come, first served. With this payment commitment, your deposit will be returned to you only on one of two conditions: the trip is completely canceled (all monies will be returned), or you help arrange for someone else to take your place at least 30 days before the tour (they will pay you). Payment plans are available on a case-by-case basis. Please send info@thefungivore.com an email to explore this option. |
THE FLIGHT TO/FROM TUXTLA GUTIERREZ AIRPORT (TGZ) and travel to San Cristobal are not included. Make sure to budget in ~$30-$60 for transport, depending on your preference: private taxi or colectivo. Please make travel arrangements to meet the group at Hotel Sombra del Agua and join us for opening dinner by 6:00pm of October 11th, 2026.
