Guatemala Travel Guide: market'days

Guatemala : Mayan markets

Market's days

Monday
Chimaltenango, San Juan Atitlán, Zunil

Tuesday
Chajul, Olintepeque, Patzún, Salcajá, San Marcos, San Lucas Tolimán, Santa Clara la Laguna, Sololá

Wednesday
Almolonga, Chimaltenango, Cotzal, Huehuetenango, Momostenango, Palin, Patzicia, Sacapulas

Thursday
Aguacatan, Chichicastenango, Chimaltenango, Nebaj, Panajachel, Patzún, Sacapulas, San Mateo Ixtatán, San Miguel Ixtahuacán, Santa Cruz de Quiché, San Juan Atitlán, San Lucas Toliman, San Mateo Ixtatán, Solomá, Tecpán, Totonicapan, Uxpantán

Friday
Chajul, Chimaltenango, Palín, San Francisco el Alto, San Lucas Tolimán, Santiago Atitlán, Sololá

Saturday
Almolonga, Antigua, Cotzal, Patzicia, Santa Clara La Laguna, Santa Cruz de Quiché, Todos Santos, Totonicapán

Sunday
Aguacatán, Cantel, Chichicastenango, Chimaltenango, Chupol, Esquipulas, Huehuetenango, Joyabaj, Momostenango, Naualá, Nebaj, Panajachel, Patzún, Rabinal, Sacapulas, San Cristobal Totonicapán, San Lucas Tolimán, San Mateo Ixtatán, Santa Eulalia, San Juan Ostuncalco, Santa Cruz de Quiché, Tecpán

The knownest ones

Chichicastenango
(on Thursdays and Sundays)

This village is known for the colors of its market, and also for the religious syncretism which one can observe there. In addition to the market, the workshop/exposition of masks and the vibrantly colored village cemetery are worth a visit.

San Francisco El Alto
(on Fridays)

This is, the largest Indian market of Central America. The area of San Francisco El Alto, surrounded by volcanoes, is one of the most important centers of production of Mayan textiles of the country. The traditional workshops of dyeing and weaving where the intricate procedure of jaspe (or ikat) is used so are places to visit. Near the market of San Francisco El Alto, one also has the opportunity to attend Mayan ceremonies in their spectacular natural setting.

Market of Sololá
(on Tuesdays and Fridays)

Because of the geographical position of this village, located between the highlands and the coastal plain, one witnesses, on market days, a remarkable convergence of different populations—the market becomes a physical intersection of disparate cultures.