I've known about the market at Chichicastenango since before I ever came to Guatemala. It's one of the "must see" things in Guate. But I've been here 3.5 years and haven't gone. So I was super thrilled when my sister said she would go with me. And then my friends Scott and Cheryl said they'd come too! Yay!
We booked a shuttle thru Magic Travel on Santander. Price of Q90 per person return. We left at 8am and arrived at Chichi at 9:40. The shuttle driver was very nice and explained how to get to the market area from the bus parking lot. We had to make our way back to the parking lot by 2pm to leave and come back to Pana, which actually did successfully!
Note that the Chichi market only operates on Thursdays and Sundays. Not really sure what it would be like on the other days. Anyone here done that?
The drive from Pana to Chichi (and back, of course) was super beautiful! Amazing vistas and neat roadside stalls. I would love to do it again in a private car so we could stop more.
Chichi market is intense! A giant grid of vendor stalls. So much to see!
Boiling hot oil in a crowd of moving people. What could go wrong?
Approaching the famous church in Chichi with our guide and new friend, Jeremy.
The famous and oft-photographed steps of the Santo Tomas church in Chichicastenango.
View from the top of the church steps.
The doors into the church. That one lady crawled on her knees up the aisle.
This fellow in white with the headscarf was determined to make as much incense smoke as possible. He swung that metal container in front of the doors until it choked us all!
One of the altars in the church. This reminded me of the church in San Juan Chumla, Mexico. A combination of Catholic and Mayan rituals.
The church was very long. It was super beautiful but I didn't take any more pictures inside cuz it's kinda disrespectful, I think.
Another photo from the top of the steps. You can see how packed with people the "aisles" of the market are. And apparently it's even busier on a Sunday!
My sister with Jeremy, our guide. The church in the background.
On the opposite side of the square (which is filled with vendor stalls) is the Mayan church. It is much smaller and more modest.
A dog and a drunk sleeping outside the Mayan church.
On the stone altar, I watched a man make a symbol with sugar and then cover it with incense balls and burn it.
There was another man "anointing" the church doors with liquor.
Near to the Mayan church is the central park. It is pretty small. There are public bathrooms there if you're desperate. Pretty stanky.
Across the plaza square, Scott knew a restaurant on the second floor of a building. We entered thru a shop and went up some stairs. It was lovely and quiet and we had good food! We also go to stand on the balcony in the sun and gawk at the happenings below, including a snake oil salesman. Like, literally, a dude with snakes in bags selling medicinal stuff. Incredible!
One page of the menu at our restaurant, which was called Don Pascual. Nice clean place, but food was nothing special. (see pictures below)
Cheryl, my sister, and Scott! My awesome adventurous travel companions!
Thank you so much for coming with me! It was super fun. 😄
My sandwich mixto. Kinda just a hot bologna and processed cheese sandwich with lettuce and ketchup. Ha ha!
Yummy nacho chips with fresh Guatemalan style guacamole.
Scott and Cheryl ordered the "Club" sandwich, which had steak, eggs, and other inventive items in it. They said it was good, and Cheryl couldn't eat all hers cuz it was so big!
View from the restaurant balcony towards the Mayan church. Not so glamorous from up top! Looks like a tent city.
The Arch. Hmm. We didn't go closer cuz we were on a shopping mission!
Chichicastenango was certainly an adventure in shopping and crowds. There was a lot of really neat things to buy...but there were also many really irritating, pushy, relentless street vendors. They would not take NO for an answer.
But even with that, I would recommend a trip here for anyone in Guate. It's super interesting and you could spend sooooo much money here. There were lots of textiles, traditional clothing, jade, wooden crafts, beaded trinkets, and even some real silver jewelry.
Be prepared to bargain HARD. The price they give you is usually at least double of what it should be. If you're not good at bargaining, the easiest way to lower the price is to just walk away. They will chase you down and keep cutting the price.
For example, I looked at a small stone cat, about five inches high. The first price was Q400. By the time I walked away, they were down to Q250. Then the lady chased me and said Q150. I still didn't buy it...mostly cuz I wasn't prepared to spend that much on a gift for myself! I ended up buying this cute little chicken bus for Q15. It says Chichi on one side and Pana on the other!
Tiniest cutest chicken bus ever!
There was really so much to look at in Chichi and my pictures don't do it justice. You have to go yourself! On the way out of town, make sure to ask your driver to stop at the Mirador (lookout). It is spectacular!
My sister is Queen of the World!
More adventures with my sister coming up! Don't touch that dial. 😆
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