Private Tour: Chichicastenango Market and Lake Atitlan from Antigua

Gray Line Guatemala (Pass-by Only)

You will be picked up at your hotel in Antigua Guatemala and transfer to Chichicastenango

Plaza y Mercado Santo Tomas

Upon our arrival at the market we will start our walking tour inside the market. It is the center of the city and at the heart of commercial life of "maxeños" (name given to the indigenous people of Chichicastenango, derived from Max which means Tomás in the Quiché language). The merchants descend every Thursday and Sunday to the central square to sell their products in this impressive indigenous market that has changed very little over the centuries. We will observe the colorful handicrafts and handmade by local inhabitants of the región also you can see various merchandise, such as clay crafts, typical textiles, fruits, vegetables, meats and seafood, flowers and the regional costumes of the place.

Santo Tomas Church

We are also going to visit Santo Tomás Church, built in 1540 on the basis of a pre-Hispanic archaeological temple. This church is a splendid example of colonial architecture, as the Mayan and Latin influence mixes both inside and outside of the church over time.

We visit the Cemetery, the Graves are often painted in the favourite colour of the deceased, while shamans can be seen burning incense, candles and in special cases, chickens, in offerings to the gods. The colors themselves are steeped in symbolism—white represents purity, turquoise is for protection, yellow represents the sun’s life force, and others pay homage to the favorite color of the deceased.

Plaza y Mercado Santo Tomas

We will also appreciate a morería where the elaboration of Moorish costumes and masks that are used in traditional dances are hand-made by local people.

Gray Line Guatemala (Pass-by Only)

At the end of our tour we return to Antigua Guatemala.