Chichicastenango on a non-market day?

Yes fantastic place to observe indigenous culture. You dont need market day to do that. See the church Santo Tomas built on a Mayan ruin. Wander around with out the crowds and see the rites preformed on the church steps . Have a couple of photos on my website wolfcalls.com. There are stores that are open daily too. Watch the colorful chicken buses that roll into town market day or not and take a ride in a tuktuk. Gift shop in Hotel Santo Tomas always open and sometimes it has better prices than in the market. Hotel is full of paintings and antiques and male waiters in traditional dress.

The various villages around Atitlán offer some interesting perspectives, too.

There are plenty of shops selling handicrafts in Chichi on non market days. What to look for...wood carvings. If you are a wholesale buyer there are some items worth looking for. No.. not giving away my trade secrets since I'll be in Chichi doing just that week after next. Majority of items are cheaper in Pana. The market is such a frenzy that bargaining or even having time to properly inspect items is difficult. One thing not to buy in Chichi..in fact to boycott everywhere... the blatantly fake antique huipiles. These are mainly poorly woven/embroidered. Often the seconds of the trade. Trick is they dye them in a thin, transparent brownish dye. Certain other dyes are very bright...but run easily. Look at this photo as an example of bad work. The bedspreads on the left are main over dyed with the antique dye, as is the bag on right. The brightly colored pieces..that dye runs when wet. Maybe if you store it in a ziploc bag until you can wash in cold, heavily salted water you might stabalize the dye. Supposedly cheer has a product that fixes it. Oh.. the hangings next to them. Been selling them for decades. Seems to be the specialty of the wandering sellers. Machine made in most cases...these are not related to any tradition. Fine if you want one...just realize they ask way too much. When to buy in Chichi? Sellers are supposed to collect sales tax. Market day tax inspectors are everywhere. The Wed. and Sat. evening as they set up stalls...no tax inspectors and prices drop. Also, market day after 1 or 2pm... especially the stall in the passage ways leading up to the livestock market. I'll go to market day...just because all my vendors will be there. But I'll also go back ..maybe day after to buy the four or five hundred pieces I want. Plus it would be a bitch to load that much on a chicken bus market day.

Oh yeh... Monday is their Sunday. That's when most places that do take a day off close. Especially banks..so bring money.

Interesting post and photo, Bob - thanks.

If you are at the lake on Tuesday or Friday the Solola Market is very good. Given the short time I wouldn't bother with Chichi unless you can get there on a market day. There are lots of village markets so you can find one happening every day. Solola is a good substitute for Chichi.

Although if you do go to Chichi walk up the nearby cerro to Pasqual Abaj.

Been to Solola Market and the only thing I think I saw for sale that was Guatemalan was a duck. Market is full of stuff made in China.

Right now I believe the true indiginous culture would only be found in a Mara gang in Guate City. Not sure if they sell anything. Culture changes with the time.

On thing in Solola for sale are the huipiles worn by the locals. They are nice...but expensive. You might find some textiles over by the bandstand. Solola photos.

Hey All,

Thanks for all your feedback! Lots of good ideas and things to help us plan. Photos... shopping tips... other markets - some one should put all this info into a travel guide ;)

Does it get particularly cold up there in November?