Visiting Paradise & the of Art Hanging Out

In fact the hammock originated in Pre-Columbian America, although it is not known exactly where it was invented. Probably it came out of the Caribbean islands. many maintain that it was a device created out of tradition and need. The English word hammock, and various European equivalents borrowed from the Spanish hamaca entered the language around 1700, most likely coming from Arawaka, from the Taíno culture of Haiti, meaning "fish net".

In much of the New World, hammocks where originally made from plant fibers, such as the agave cactus.

The state of Yucatan is justly famed for its hammocks. The best Oaxacan hammocks are made in Juchitan and Mitla, but you don't need to leave Puerto Escondido to buy a good quality hammock at a good price. In fact you don't even have to leave the beach. Sooner or later you will be approached by one of the colorfully garbed ladies from Juchitan de Zarragoza calling out: "¿Hamacas, amigo?"

Juchitan is a vibrant center of the Zapotec culture of the Isthmus of Tehuantepec, where hammocks are a way of life and their manufacture on small, traditional looms are an important cottage industry. The women street vendors from Juchitan -- Ángela, Dona and Cristina are the best known ---- are easily recognized by their richly embroidered blouses and long, colorful skirts, the traditional costume of the matrilineal Zapotecas The bundles of hammocks that they balance on their heads can weigh as much as 20 kilos.

A hammock should last for many years, if you know what to look for in terms of material, size and quality. The most popular materials used nowadays are silk, cotton and nylon. The brightest colored ones are generally nylon, while cotton and silk hammocks are either undyed or else tend to be in more natural tones. Some prefer nylon because of their color fastness, but others swear that the cotton products are more comfortable for lounging. There are four sizes to choose from, the size calculated according to the number of pairs of string at each end. The smallest and therefore the cheapest is the sencillo (single), which is woven across approximately 50 pairs of string. Next is the doble (double) with 100, matrimonial (marriage-size) with 150 and matrimonial especial or family size, which should have at least 175 pairs of string at each end. A good family sized hammock can weigh up to 4 kilos, with as many as 300 pairs of string at each end!

While it might only take a day to make the simplest sencillo hammock, it can take 15 days, or even a month, for artisans to weave larger hammocks. The strongest hammocks are obviously those with the most strings to support them. And of course, you.

However, feeling comfortable is what is most important when choosing your hammock. It should be comfortable enough for you to fall asleep in. Family size hammocks cost around 700 pesos. Your regular (double) hammocks are $500. But, don't be afraid to haggle.