Momostenango

Introducing Momostenango

Beyond San Francisco El Alto, 15km from ­Cuatro Caminos and 26km from Quetzaltenango, this town, set in a pretty mountain valley along a road through pine woods, is famous for the making of chamarras, or thick, heavy woolen blankets. The villagers also make ponchos and other woolen garments. The best days to look for these are Wednesday and Sunday, the main market day. A basic good blanket costs around US$13; it’s perhaps twice as much for an extra-heavy ‘matrimonial.’

Momostenango is noted for its adherence to the ancient Mayan calendar and for its observance of traditional rites. Hills in the town are the scene of ceremonies enacted on the important dates of the calendar. Visits on important celestial days – such as the summer solstice, the spring equinox, the start of the Mayan solar year (February 24), or Wajshakib Batz, the start of the 260-day cholq’ij or tzolkin year – can be particularly powerful and rewarding. But few Mayan ceremonies are open to outsiders, so don’t assume showing up means you’ll be able to participate. Should you be so fortunate as to observe a ceremony, be sure to treat altars and participants with the utmost respect.

Banrural (1a Calle, Zona 2; 9am-4pm Mon-Fri, 9am-1pm Sun), a block south of the plaza, changes US dollars and traveler’s checks and has a Visa ATM.

The Centro Cultural (8am-6pm Mon-Fri, 8am-1pm, 2-5pm Sat), in the municipalidad building, is good for tourist information. It also has interesting local art exhibitions from time to time, so it’s worth dropping in and checking it out.

Last updated: Apr 1, 2009