Guatemala Travel Guide
Chichicastenango, Latin America

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After Antigua and Tikal, Chichicastenango is Guatemala's third most popular tourist destination. Beautifully situated amid a cluster of mountains Chichi is the premier traditional Maya town in the country, with cobbled streets, adobe houses and [some] vividly dressed locals.
Apart from colourfully embroidered clothes and evocative streets, the mixed Pagan/Christian beliefs of the Maya people are more apparent here than in other towns, with curious rituals openly celebrated, particularly in and around the church of Santo Tomas. The church steps are home to chanting shamans and burning incense, while inside offerings of food, drink, flowers are liberally scattered around.

Market day is the foreign traveller's favourite occasion, when highland traders pack the streets and tour guides attempt to herd their charges through the chaos without losing their wallets. Markets occur on Sundays and Thursdays, but Sunday's [picture above] is the busiest and also the day on which religious groups hold processions.

Guatemala Travel Picture © Denzil Watson