The celebration of San Francisco de Asis
Cuetzalan, Puebla
Booking now!

 
SEPTEMBER 30 TO OCTOBER 7, 2007
  
       
Cantona - Cuetzalan - Yohualichan
  
  September 30:Our start point in this workshop will be Mexico City. The Secret Mexico Photographic Workshops wellcome you and we will pick up you at Mexico City Airport and lodging at "Hotel Maria Cristina" at only a few steps away from Av. Reforma (Mexico City’s landmark avenue) and one of the most important tourist areas, very near from the USA Embassy or a similar hotel. October 1: Breakfast, and away to the city of Puebla and Cantona, where we will enjoy lunch and start our photographic activities.
Cantona is an important prehispanic site which is distinguished by its highly developed urban structures within a natural semi-desert surrounding of cactus and the beautiful Puebla mountain range. An ideal site for landscape and exquisite though uncommon architectural photography. In the evening we depart to Cuetzalán, lodging and dinner in this hidden 18th century town.
October 2 to 5: Our headquarters for the rest of the workshop will be Cuetzalan, this is a Nahua town grounded in the northern Puebla range at an altitude of 1,200 Mts., with exuberant vegetation, perfect land for coffee plantations. Notable for its well-preserved architecture with highlights at the parochial plaza, the Temple of the Juanes and the Chahuahuitzic museum, among other photographic attractions. This is a marvelous opportunity for "people at the marketplace" where indigenous people from around the town come in to market dressed in typical and traditional attire.During these days the festivities of San Francisco take place.
You will see an incredible explosion of color, more than seven different dances, masks of many kinds,costumes, Voladores de Papantla (flying mans), among other rites for this celebration. Many of the dances and costumes we will see are, now, practically lost in all the country, they are very old and very rare.
We can not think in any situation better to take pictures of a different culture, so be prepared with a lot of film.
Cuetzalán and some of its surrounding attractions including the fabulous Caves and Cascades made by the Cuixiatl river, only 5 km. away. A great opportunity for exotic vegetation shapes and landscape shots.
Las Pozas, also close by offers the opportunity for a refreshing swim and figure photography.
Yohualichán, a Totonaca culture prehispanic anthropological site, in the same architectural style as Tajín in Veracruz, with Plaza, Juego de Pelota, and other beautiful structures.
October 6: Breakfast in Cuetzalán, and departure to the small town of "Libres", where we will visit the town's Parish which contains magnificent and refined Sacred Art and stucco sculpture of the rarest kind. A good opportunity for interior photography practice. Back to Mexico City and Hotel Maria Cristina for one night.October 7: Transportation to the Mexico City airport. End of Workshop.		  
   
   
 
 

Inset & Surroundings
  
 
 
 


Cantona

Cantona is a pre-Columbian city 9,000 feet high in Mexico’s Sierra Madre Oriental, which has recently been opened to the public. Archaeologists have determined it to have the largest amount of ball courts of any pre-Columbian city — 24 so far, with more likely to be found.
Cantona is among the most important but least known archeological sites in the central high plateau.

  


Cuetzalan

The 4th of October is celebrated in Cuetzalan, with the fiesta honoring San Francisco of Asís -the Patron Saint, as well as the Coffee and Huipil (local typical costume) Fair that lasts several days. Colorful Cuetzalan, Nahua town of the Puebla North Mountain range is located at an altitude of 1200 Mts., a region of great beauty. The population is mainly Nahua and Totonaca among other cultures, with exuberant subtropical vegetation, and mainly coffee production.
During this tour we will have the opportunity to see the Quetzals, one of the most spectacular dances of Mexico, which is reminiscent of the old Totonacas agricultural rites, with a deep cosmogony sense. Also the famous Voladores of Papantla will be seen.

  


Yohualichan

Yohualichan Archeological Site. Ceremonial center of the Totonac culture located northeast of Cuetzalan. Probably founded in the beginning of the Classical period (900 B.C.) Due to the invasion of warlike groups, it started being abandoned around the middle of the Postclassic period (900 to 1519 A.C.). Yohualichan means "Place of night".

  
 
 
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The amount in US Dollars will reflect the cost of this workshop, plus the admission fee. If you want to pay another optional services like Single Room Occupancy or a Lab Fee or another workshop, please go to the application form to add to your cart all the applicable items. We accept VISA, MasterCard, Discover, American Express, e-Checks and Personal Checks.
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Costs & Fees
 

Tuition: $2,680.00 US Dollars
Single occupancy: $250.00 US additional
Admission fee $60.00

ALL INCLUDED
Except for the transportation costs everything else is included.

A of 6 (six) persons must be booked in order to start the workshop.

Limited to twenty persons
All rates are in United States Dollars

If you are mexican student please send us a mail for the actual price.
Si eres estudiante mexicano con credencial vigente, manda un e mail para obtener el precio final.

Lab facilities are unavailable in this workshop

  
  It is important to note that not in all of our workshops can we give you the facility to develop your film because of the remoteness of certain destinations. On the other hand, the workshops are focused on capture.