Solola, holds market days on Friday

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To be honest each and every day across the towns and villages provide market days in Guatemala. Sadly, for the traveler, the markets promoted to tourists are not always the best or most authentic ones. Here we’ve provided a sampling of our favorites.

Chichicastenango, located about 140 km and 2-3 hours drive northwest of Guatemala City, is home to what is surely the most colorful native market in North and Central America, perhaps in all the Americas. Market days are Sundays and Thursdays, and draw not only the K’iche’ Maya of the surrounding region, but vendors from all over Guatemala, representing many of Guatemala’s linguistic groups such as Mam, Ixil, Kaqchikel and others, each hawking his or her products in a riotous cacophony of color, dialects and costumes, smoke, and smells. Though it’s hugely promoted as a tourist destination, it’s still worth taking in the market days in Guatemala via “Chichi.”

Vendors begin setting up portable booths in the main plaza and adjacent streets of Chichi the night before and set-up continues in the early daylight hours. Cohetes (homemade rockets) carrying aloft loud bombas (firecrackers) commence early in the morning and continue sporadically through the day, adding the smell of fireworks to the incense burned in copious quantities on the steps and in the nave of the 400-year old church of Santo Tomás.

Solola, holds market days on Friday. It’s market draws a crowd since Solola is the capital of the department of Solola, an area that includes 19 municipalities around Lake Atitlan, Guatemala.  The majority (approximately 90%) of the city’s inhabitants are Cakchiquel Indians who proudly retain their heritage.  It is one of the few municipalities where both men and women routinely wear their traditional Mayan dress.

Women often carry their wares in the traditional Mayan market basket, balancing a few vegetables from their garden, tortillas, textiles or even a couple of chickens that they hope to sell at market. The common blue plastic pans are scales used to compare the weight of different products.

Panajachel (Pana) is a town in the southwestern Guatemalan Highlands, in the department of Sololá. It serves as the administrative centre for the surrounding municipality of the same name. The altitude is 1,597 metres (5,240 ft). The population is 11,142.

The town of Panajachel is located on the shore of Lake Atitlán, and has become a centre for the tourist trade in the area as it provides a base for visitors crossing the lake to visit other towns and villages. In Pana, every day is market day in Guatemala as the main road into Pana and lake is lined with hundreds of vendors selling mostly clothing. This is more of a tourist market which requires bartering for goods. Pana also has a fresh produce and meat market that offers the best in produce grown locally in the region.

Antigua Guatemala has a large concentration of historical Churches

Churches in the Villages surrounding Antigua

ANTIGUA, GUATEMALA – AREA CHURCH TOURS

Antigua Guatemala has a large concentration of historical Churches for travelers to enjoy tours of. The surrounding areas of Antigua Guatemala also have some of the most spectacular Churches in the Villages surrounding Antigua. Sadly many travelers and tourists visiting Guatemala miss the opportunity to explore this wonders of History.

Our tour is made up of 5 villages in the Antigua Guatemala area. This is a full day trip with everything included. A trip that you will not forget soon.

When you pull into town, from no matter from which direction, you will want to get walking and exploring this charming cobblestone Spanish colonial town. Your instincts will guide your feet as you will likely start in the very heart of Antigua, Parque Central. Get a feel for the place by strolling in any direction from the park.

You will be struck by the authentically restored and well preserved Spanish architecture, dating back to the 18th century with a few 16th century models too. Moorish touches are everywhere as they are integral to the Spanish tradition brought here. Personally, when I first set foot here, I just walked and walked, discovering on my own the earthquake-ravaged El Carmen Church, built in the latter 16th century.

The arch on fifth avenue is magnificent in daylight or night illumination as is La Merced, a butter-coloured convent, built in the 18th century and now lovingly restored to at least most of its former glory. These are only a few highlights.

 

The Pacaya Volcano tour includes climbing to the top of the volcano

Volcan de Pacaya. Duration 1 day

PACAYA – Awesome Live Volcano

The Pacaya Volcano is one of the active volcanoes of Guatemala, the tour includes climbing the volcano, a visit to the lagoon of boilers, Palin’s visit to the town and its market under the national tree, ceiba, and then by way of the Pacific to taste the best ice cream in Guatemala, and then return to Antigua and photograph the volcanoes of Fuego and Acatenango.PACAYA – Awesome Live Volcano

There are two ways to appreciate the volatility and beauty of the Pacaya Volcano. You can sit on a terrace in some bars and restaurants in Antigua Guatemala and watch the red lava ribbon make its way down the volcano slope. It’s most dramatic at night. Or you can go to Pacaya on a guided or unguided tour. Both are great experiences.

Pacaya is only a 90 minute drive from the centre of Antigua and there are a variety of excursion packages from which to choose. You can choose an all-day trip, which includes a hike up the volcano to watch the lava and steam flow first-hand, then a stop over at a lunch place and, for the ultra package, a rest at a spa to enjoy sitting in the hot springs.

Price depends on how elaborate you want to make your trip. Just about everyone we know opted for the simple half-day package and they were pretty pleased with the experience. Whether a full day or half, be prepared for a 6:30 a.m. start. You’ll get back to Antigua about 1 p.m. if you choose a half day. Or you if you’re out all day you’ll get back around 6 p.m.day.

Be warned though. The climb up the volcano slope is a bit of a hike. While you don’t need to be an Olympic athlete, you do need to be in reasonably good shape for the climb.

Our Half day packages start at $30; full day packages are around $60. Be prepared to pay extra for an English speaking guide and about 50 Q ($6.00 US) to get into Pacaya National Park. These excursions can be arranged through any number of local operators.

Antigua, Guatemala, Market Days, Tours, Chichicastenango, Solola

Many of the larger Mayan towns have market days one or two times a week.  If you are in Antigua Guatemala, don’t miss the huge market, La Bodegona, which is near the bus terminal just off the Alameda Santa Lucia.  Bursting with colour, Mayan chocolate and flowers and food of all descriptions, this is a bustling and authentic marketplace that attracts local Guatemalans and tourists alike.

The market at Solola, about a 15-minute drive from Panajachel is a wonder too.  It’s a crowded and authentic market, with very few souvenirs.  It’s packed with serious-minded shoppers, most of them Maya and hardly a gringo in sight.  It’s worth going just for the trip from Panajachel via El Pickup (yes it’s a pick up truck).  It takes you for a breathtaking ride with a view of Lake Atitlan as the truck ascends and you hang onto the steel poles inserted into the truck for just that purpose.  Cost of a one-way ride is 3Q (about 40 cents).

Of all the markets located in Antigua Guatemala’s environs, Chichicastenango is the most popular and for good reason. It’s about a 3 hour bus ride from Antigua Guatemala with market days on Thursdays and Sundays.

Affectionately known as Chichi, this Maya town is famous for its market.  It’s teeming with local produce and, be warned, a lot of Guatemalan souvenirs everywhere. Some items are authentic and handmade while others are mass produced by machine.  Haggling is encouraged and expected so don’t go for the first price offered.  Even if you don’t feel like shopping, the experience of entering this sprawling patchwork coloured market is a treat.  It’s not just for tourists, but rather a regional market where much real commerce and staple shopping is done by people who live there and nearby.

The main market plaza is right beside Santo Tomas church, a 400-year-old building, built on the platform of an ancient Maya temple.  Often you can see the devoted going on their hands and knees up the stairs of the church while bearing swaying cans of incense.

It’s easy to arrange a bus trip to Chichi when you get to Antigua Guatemala and prices are around the $30 range.

Mayan market days in Guatemala

Image via Wikipedia

Yolkobsens love a good market even when we don’t want or need another thing.  It’s the experience of going to the rich and varied market days in Guatemala that never disappoint us.  Mayan market days in Guatemala are rich in history and full of flavour, textures, colors and scents, many of which you will find nowhere else in the world.  If only I could get Mr. Y to stop buying pork rinds and every fresh fish he sees.

For my part, I must own at least 25 handcrafted scarves in traditional Mayan weave, my weakness.  They are like vases, no matter how many you have, you never quite have the right one.  I am convinced that the market days in Guatemala will finally produce the magic scarf that goes with everything.  But we must all deal with our obsessions.

To be honest each and every day across the towns and villages provide market days in Guatemala. Sadly, for the traveler, the markets promoted to tourists are not always the best or most authentic ones. Here we’ve provided a sampling of our favorites.

Chichicastenango, located about 140 km and 2-3 hours drive northwest of Guatemala City, is home to what is surely the most colorful native market in North and Central America, perhaps in all the Americas. Market days are Sundays and Thursdays, and draw not only the K’iche’ Maya of the surrounding region, but vendors from all over Guatemala, representing many of Guatemala’s linguistic groups such as Mam, Ixil, Kaqchikel and others, each hawking his or her products in a riotous cacophony of color, dialects and costumes, smoke, and smells. Though it’s hugely promoted as a tourist destination, it’s still worth taking in the market days in Guatemala via “Chichi.”

Vendors begin setting up portable booths in the main plaza and adjacent streets of Chichi the night before and set-up continues in the early daylight hours. Cohetes (homemade rockets) carrying aloft loud bombas (firecrackers) commence early in the morning and continue sporadically through the day, adding the smell of fireworks to the incense burned in copious quantities on the steps and in the nave of the 400-year old church of Santo Tomás.

Solola, holds market days on Friday. It’s market draws a crowd since Solola is the capital of the department of Solola, an area that includes 19 municipalities around Lake Atitlan, Guatemala.  The majority (approximately 90%) of the city’s inhabitants are Cakchiquel Indians who proudly retain their heritage.  It is one of the few municipalities where both men and women routinely wear their traditional Mayan dress.

Women often carry their wares in the traditional Mayan market basket, balancing a few vegetables from their garden, tortillas, textiles or even a couple of chickens that they hope to sell at market. The common blue plastic pans are scales used to compare the weight of different products.

Panajachel (Pana) is a town in the southwestern Guatemalan Highlands, in the department of Sololá. It serves as the administrative centre for the surrounding municipality of the same name. The altitude is 1,597 metres (5,240 ft). The population is 11,142.

The town of Panajachel is located on the shore of Lake Atitlán, and has become a centre for the tourist trade in the area as it provides a base for visitors crossing the lake to visit other towns and villages. In Pana, every day is market day in Guatemala as the main road into Pana and lake is lined with hundreds of vendors selling mostly clothing. This is more of a tourist market which requires bartering for goods. Pana also has a fresh produce and meat market that offers the best in produce grown locally in the region.

Antigua Guatemala is no exception to the joy that Central American markets provide the visitor. The fraternity of market days in Guatemala have a fine member in good standing in the Antigua Guatemala market.  Its filled with fresh produce and an assortment of delicious foods being prepared.  Right on the edge of the ‘tourist’ part of town, the market attracts Antiguenyos as wells as people that live in nearby towns and tourists alike. It’s an unmissable experience to get in there immersed in the thick of it in order to load up on fruits, vegetables, spices and whatever else you require to make your favourite dish. Markets are also a great way to support the locals, instead of spending your dollars at the corporately-owned supermarket. You’ll often find eager shop owners down for a friendly chat to go along with your sack of exotic fruits.