Chichi market

Well just the town is interesting even on not market days. See photos on wolf calls .com. You can ask around Antigua is the market is functioning as usual. If you find not just head to Pana as it has great shopping every day. Plus wonderful view of the lake too..

Ask about the market while traveling around, it's easier to access out of Lake Atitlan.
The actual market in ChiChi is pretty average, the set up the night prior is cool.
Sololá is a nice option for working markets, about 20 minutes from Pana.

Trust me, that fire barely made a dent in the thing.

As mentioned, try to go the evening before... much better experience IMO.

Thanks for the encouragement. I will go on the day before. It makes sense to really see the town before the shuttles arrive. Everyone I asked agreed the fire was not a problem (except for the people who were there then I assume). I do appreciate you all posting information and I read many other threads to glean insight into current conditions and events as I am only able to visit every couple years. Ciao

I second the suggestion of Sololá. It's a "real" market, not a tourist market. Friday is the big day. Also, Sunday in San Lucas Toliman is another "real" market. If you are in Pana, a nice way to spend a Sunday is take a pickup to San Antonio Palopó, then take a boat to San Lucas (Q5 for the pickup, Q10 for the boat). Great boat trip.
Head toward the central park (everyone else will be) and you can either grab some street food or try a local comedor. Then walk the market which is pretty much an area that is 6 x 6 blocks will stalls blocking the streets.
There are lots of boats that leave in the morning but catching one around 8AM is a good choice. There are return trips to San Antonio throughout the day -- 1030 and 1200 being good choices. The 1200 boat continues to do a trip around part of the lake as well, finally returning to San Antonio.

Please Phil, I've had to correct you once before about your saying Chichi is not a real market. You need to go see it to understand why it is such a big tourist attraction in addition to being a major Indian market. It has been a major trading center since before the conquistadors arrived. Yes, it also has a tourist market, but that is a plus, get to see both markets right together in one town. Best photo ops of any market I'm aware of, too. I can go on telling you why it is such a major attraction, but best if you just go there some Saturday afternoon and witness the whole thing for yourself. Enjoy the Sunday morning goings on at the church of Saint Tomas and the procession of cofridias.

Buen viaje!

Chichi is a real market as stated. You have a section of stuff for tourists and another were all the locals shop for their needs. Photos on wolf calls.com. Panana has some of the same tourist items at cheaper prices. However in Chichi you can buy wonderful hupiles at bargain prices. plus diver items. The locals come in by the pickup truck load. see photos at wolf calls.com. Never say it isn't a real market it is and has existed for forever.

Feel free to keep correcting. My point is not that ChiChi is just a tourist market but that there are markets which are both large and not at all tourist markets. If you want to "go where the Gringos go" it's great.
Another example of an amazing market where you don't find Gringos is in San Francisco El Alto (near Xela). Amazing amount of clothing but also you can buy a horse or a cow.
If you want to be "a regular tourist" I highly recommend ChiChi. On the other hand, if you want to see what Gringos usually don't see, there are lots of much more interesting choices.

phil, going to have to correct you once again for saying that Chichicastenango is not a real market. It is. In fact, it is the area's major trading center. Google it and read up on what it really is. Then go visit some Saturday afternoon through Sunday morning and see it for yourself. Don't know who told you it is just a tourist market, but they didn't do you any favors.