Nestled along the skirts of the Volcan de Agua, the quiet village of San Juan del Obispo is home to generations of carpenters. Still, you won’t find their handmade wares at everyday bazaars or busy markets. Bringing home these expertly crafted masterpieces means searching out one of these famed woodworking studios – and when we found this particular workshop, we knew we had found something truly special.

Masters of natural, sustainable woodworking, this group crafts their designs from younger, struggling saplings that are removed to make way for larger, healthier trees. Sealing every piece with organic linseed oil to bring out the rich colors of teak wood, they create pieces that grow more beautiful with every passing year.

A collective of local carpenters and apprentices, this workshop is fully employee-owned, sharing the profits and providing an education fund that drives upward mobility for generations of artisans within the community. Seamlessly blending traditional craftsmanship with a modern business model, this workshop is like no other.