CultureFull day
Culture · The highlands' great market, with an insider
Explore Guatemala's most famous market, where K'iche' Maya traders, copal smoke and centuries-old rituals meet on the steps of Santo Tomás church.
The experience
On Thursdays and Sundays the K'iche' Maya town of Chichicastenango fills from edge to edge with one of the largest and most colourful markets in the Americas. Families arrive from across the highlands to trade vegetables, flowers, ceramics, wooden masks and hand-woven textiles, and alongside them come plenty of visitors hunting for souvenirs.
With your own guide, you see what most visitors miss. On the steps of the 16th-century church of Santo Tomás, prayer leaders burn copal and offer flowers in rituals that blend Maya and Catholic belief. Nearby, the hilltop shrine of Pascual Abaj is still used for ceremonies today. Your guide also shows you the food market, the cemetery's painted tombs and the best textile sellers.
We pair Chichi with Lake Atitlán or Antigua. Your driver waits as long as you want, so you can bargain, browse and eat at your own pace.
Best for: ShoppersBest for: Culture loversBest for: Photographers
What's included
- Private guide fluent in the local culture and customs
- Private return transfer from Lake Atitlán or Antigua
- Visit to Santo Tomás church and the Pascual Abaj shrine
- Guided walk through the textile, mask and food markets
- Traditional lunch in town
- Tips on fair bargaining and spotting authentic weaving
Good to know
- Market days are Thursday and Sunday. Sunday is usually busier and more atmospheric.
- Ask before photographing people, and do not take photos inside Santo Tomás church.
- Bargaining is expected, but it should stay friendly and fair.
- The drive is about 1.5 hours from Atitlán or 2.5 hours from Antigua.
Where: Chichicastenango, Lake Atitlán, Antigua
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