Huipiles
Embroidered blouses.
Toby Argüelles — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Bruno Rijsman — CC BY-SA 2.0 · Bruno Rijsman — CC BY-SA 2.0
One of Latin America's biggest and most colourful traditional markets, in a mountain town of K'iche' Maya people. It runs on Thursdays and Sundays, when vendors come in from nearby villages before dawn and fill the main square and surrounding streets with stalls. Rows of brightly hand-embroidered textiles stretch out: traditional huipil blouses, belts, blankets and shawls, alongside painted wooden masks used in folk dances, pottery, baskets and jade. Elsewhere the locals' market sells vegetables, fruit, flowers and poultry. On the edge of the square stands the old white church of Santo Tomás with its long stairway, where residents practise rites blending Maya and Catholic traditions; respect them, do not photograph people without permission, and do not climb the front steps. The market is very crowded, so watch your belongings and bargain politely. Go early, before the tour buses arrive.
Embroidered blouses.
Folk dances.
Produce and flowers.
Chichicastenango town in El Quiché, about an hour and a half from Panajachel
Thursdays and Sundays from early morning to mid-afternoon; Sunday is bigger and busier.