InsideOut Travel—Chichicastenango’s Sunday Market

DESTINATION: GUATEMALA

by Kelly Westhoff

Chichicastenango invaded me. It infiltrated my ears, my eyes and my nose. It seeped through my pores and settled beneath my skin, starting with my mouth. Chichicastenango—what a mouthful!

Chichi, as many call the town, is well-known to backpackers traveling in Guatemala. The highland city is quaint—cobbled streets twist and turn from its central square and mountain vistas surround the town. Yet, most travelers don’t go to Chichi for the view. Instead they go there to shop.

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	DESTINATION: GUATEMALA
	Chichicastenango’s Sunday Market
	by Kelly Westhoff Chichicastenango invaded me. It infiltrated my ears, my eyes and my nose. It seeped through my pores and settled beneath my skin, starting with my mouth. Chichicastenango—what a mouthful! Chichi, as many call the town, is well-known to backpackers traveling in Guatemala. The highland city is quaint—cobbled streets twist and turn from its central square and mountain vistas surround the town. Yet, most travelers don’t go to Chichi for the view. Instead they go there to shop.				Chichicastenango boasts an outdoor Sunday market that is one of the largest in Guatemala. The market also runs on Thursdays, however, the Sunday scene is bigger. Many travelers come strictly for market day, arriving on a morning bus and leaving when they’ve had their fill. Yet, it is fun to pull into town on Saturday, find a room for the night, and tour the city square while vendors piece together their stalls. This also gives you a chance to see the town—once the market is in full-swing there are so many people, tarps, chickens, flowers, onions, tortillas and fabrics that Chichi’s streets and buildings are swallowed whole. "Occasionally, stooped men barreled through the market paths with monstrous loads strapped to their heads. On their backs they carried tables, piles of chairs, firewood and cages of chickens." My travel partner, Michelle, and I found ourselves in Chichi on a late Saturday afternoon. Already the town was hopping with preparations and anticipation, so much so that our bus driver had had a hard time turning corners. He continually honked, backed up and inched his way through the city streets. more >> << home << discuss article >>
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