THE PRICE AND WHAT’S INCLUDED:

The complete experience costs €275, which includes:

• A two-day basket weaving workshop (Saturday and Sunday) and all materials.
• Accommodation on the night of February 28th at Hotel Humaina, in a shared double room with breakfast included.
• Meals on Saturday and Sunday (vegetarian and gluten-free cuisine).
• Forest bathing on Saturday afternoon.
• Dinner on Saturday.

Practical Information:

• 10 spots available.
• Workshop level: Beginner. No prior knowledge or experience required, but you will be able to create a bag/basket from start to finish.
• We are located 15 km from Malaga. A car is necessary to reach us (we will put you in contact to organize carpooling if preferred).

The Master:

Franscisco Rubio is a basket weaver from Genalguacil whose skill transforms olive branches, esparto, or wicker into exquisite baskets and hampers.

In a world where ancient arts fade, Rubio stands unassumingly as a guardian of this cultural heritage, blending ancestral wisdom with modern tools.

The creation process is a ritual, beginning with the meticulous gathering of olive branches in the fields of Genalguacil during the months of August and September. Every step, from selecting the branches to the final weaving of the basket, is a dance of skill and patience.

His art is not confined to the repetition of a single design; Rubio explores a wide range of shapes and sizes, from fruit baskets to bread baskets. The variety extends even to colors, using branches from different trees to create unique visual contrasts.

In the workshop, we will learn how to make a lamp with wicker.

Forest Bathing

A forest bath is a sensory and therapeutic experience that seeks to reconnect people with nature and harness the physical and mental benefits that this connection can provide.

Also known as «shinrin-yoku» in Japanese, it is a practice that involves consciously immersing oneself in nature, especially in forests, to improve health and mental well-being. Although the idea may seem simple, it involves much more than just walking along a forest trail.

During a forest bath, people are encouraged to mindfully pay attention to their natural surroundings using all their senses. This includes observing the colors and shapes of trees and plants, listening to the sounds of birds and the wind rustling through the leaves, feeling the texture of tree bark and the ground beneath their feet, and also smelling the natural scents of the forest.

Scientific studies have shown that forest bathing can have a range of health benefits, including stress reduction, mood improvement, lowering blood pressure, strengthening the immune system, and increasing energy and creativity.

These effects are partly attributed to the volatile organic compounds emitted by trees, known as phytoncides, which are inhaled during forest bathing and have positive effects on the human body

The Location:

The creative workshop will take place at El Leoncillo, a rustic house located in the Montes de Málaga with views of the Mediterranean Sea.

It’s a small estate with olive and almond trees where we organize and host creative and self-care experiences with nature as the backdrop.

Accommodation will be at Hotel Humaina, right in the heart of the Montes de Málaga Natural Park.

The forest bathing will take place within the park.

I’m Lola, your host,  a lover of small villages and a creator of cultural experiences in the rural surroundings of Málaga.

I love welcoming people into places with character, good energy, and a deep care for detail, and accompanying them as they discover the real life of Andalusian villages.

From our home in the Montes de Málaga, I seek to highlight the value of our forest and work with local artisans to share traditional crafts through hands-on, participatory workshops.

I believe in the therapeutic value of craftwork and understand creativity and contact with nature as fundamental human longings.

Please write to hola@losmontesdemalaga.com to check if there are available spots.

Once your spot is confirmed, you can reserve it by paying a €50 deposit via Bizum to the phone number +34 666430040. If you prefer to make a bank transfer, please write to me and I’ll send you the details. This deposit is non-refundable except in the event of workshop cancellation by the organizer.

Once the group reaches its capacity, a waiting list will be opened for new requests in case of any cancellations.

In February, I will contact all registered individuals to request payment for the full workshop fee (minus the deposit).

This is the third time I’ve organized this workshop with Francisco, and it’s one of those experiences that truly leaves a lasting impression. That’s why I wanted to bring Francisco back to El Leoncillo once again. We look forward to seeing you.

Lola