Chichicastenango

A woman walking home from the market.

By Christopher Minster

Chichicastenango, a medium-sized town in the Quiché region about two to three hours away from Guatemala City, is home to one of the most important and extensive artisan markets in the world, and certainly the largest in Central America. The visitor can bargain for a wide array of hand-carved wooden masks, finely woven tapestries, pottery, paintings and more. There is even a section of the market still used by the locals to buy and sell fruit, vegetables, meat, and other daily needs. Market days are Sundays and Thursdays, although a visitor is likely to find someone willing to sell on any day of the week.

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