Chichicastenango – The Most Famous Market in Guatemala

We rode 2 chicken buses and a mini bus from the Lake to Chichicastenango, Chichi, without any problems. Chichi is a chill town without much hustle and bustle except on their market days, Thursdays and Sundays. We arrived on a Tuesday so we could check out the village and nearby Mayan ruins before the crowds rolled into town.


Upon arrival at the Utatlan Mayan ruins in Quiche, which is a short 30 minute chicken bus ride from Chichi and a 40 minute walk outside town, we watched a Mayan shaman conduct a traditional ceremony with locals visiting the site. True to custom, the ceremony included dancing, many candles, a couple of fires, music, and offering of alcohol to the Gods. The shaman spoke a Mayan language and an interpreter translated into Spanish. We could tell the shaman was wishing good will for all those included in the ceremony. It was quite surreal to see the ceremony with the Mayan ruins as the backdrop.

Most of the ruins in Utatlan are still covered by dirt and plants, and have not been excavated like Tikal or Copan. You can see the ball court and mounds with limestone peaking out where temples and other structures reside hidden beneath the overgrowth.

One of the best features of Utatlan is the cool man-made underground tunnel with questionable theories as to its original purpose. This tunnel typically has locals praying and offering food, alcohol, and sometimes sacrificing chickens for the Gods. We did not see any live chicken sacrifices, but we did see one guy who included eggs as part of his offering. The tunnel is a religious place for locals and each little inlet represents a different level in the Mayan underworld.

This is a nice place to visit and served as a fun introduction into Mayan ruins.

The Chichi market is a radiant blend of textiles, colors, smells, and foods. We found several textile gifts at this market we are bringing back with us. This was definitely a market worth visiting.