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Guatemala’s Maya Markets - 12D/11N
All the beautiful markets you have always heard about are presented in this tour program for the passionate discoverer. Local Markets are not only the main economic focus of the towns in the highlands of Guatemala, but also an essential social and cultural event second only to the local fiesta day or holiday. Market days draw people from all around the vicinity allowing one to see distant neighbors and to take the time to go over the latest news and gossip.
Antigua Antigua is among the oldest and most beautiful cities in the Americas. Set amidst three magnificent volcanoes Agua, Fuego and Acatenango its superb yet sturdy colonial buildings have weathered 16 earthquakes and numerous floods and fires. The city was founded in the Valley of Panchoy and became the third capital in the New World following only those of Mexico and Peru. Antigua today is a beautiful colonial city where time has stopped. Some of the building elements, such as the low, wide columns were necessary to withstand earthquakes. With some of the nation’s most prestigious museums and the site of the finest examples of Spanish Colonial art and architecture in the Americas, La Antigua has been declared a “Monument of the Americas” by the Pan American Institute of History and Geography in 1942. The magnificent ruins of La Antigua’s cathedrals, convents, plazas and stately homes remain as outstanding reminders of 16th and 17th century Guatemala with the government buildings surrounding the Plaza de Armas at the center of the city. They include the palace of the Captain General built in 1764 to house the Royal Mint, Treasury, courts, and official reception areas. Across the park is the old City Hall (Palacio del Ayuntamiento)which housed the city jail and town council during colonial times, and is now a museum. Nearby are the ruins of the Cathedral and archbishop’s palace completed in 1680. La Merced Church with its white stone work, has survived a number of earthquakes and remains unchanged since 1773. The ruins of San Francisco Church built by the Franciscans late in the 16th century houses elaborate frescoes, paintings and statues. The Convent of the Capuchinas, one of La Antigua’s best preserved structures, was once a center of study and meditation for the nuns who lived there, while the University of San Carlos, which opened in 1681, has been a museum of colonial art since 1936, its cloistered arcade is the most elaborate in La Antigua.
Lake Atitlan Volcanic in origin, is the main tourist attraction in the Department of Solola. The lake is 90 miles from Guatemala City, and has been described by experts as the most beautiful lake in the world. It is located 5,125 feet above sea level, covers an area of 50 square miles and has a depth of 1,600 feet. Its clear waters are home to several species of fish including the very edible black bass. Three spectacular volcanoes Toliman, Atitlan and San Pedro form a natural backdrop for the lake waters which change colors with the varying light. Lake Atitlan is a mecca for water sports: fishing, swimming, diving, water skiing and boating. The surrounding mountains are a natural springboard for hang gliding and competitions are often held there. A visit will bring you to the “poc”, another nearly extinct bird that spends its entire lifespan on the water. Efforts are also being made here to ensure the survival of this rare bird. The Monterrico Reserve is located in Santa Rosa, on the Pacific coast. Here, among the rich jungle vegetation, mangroves and beaches, there exist fruit trees and an amazing variety of marine life, including marine turtles.
Quetzaltenango Guatemala’s second largest city, is 128 miles northwest of Guatemala City. Situated in a large valley surrounded by mountains and volcanoes, this highland city maintains the traditions of its Mayan Quiche cultural heritage together with its colonial past and dynamic modern life. Beautiful buildings and a colonial style layout distinguish this city, which prospered during the 19th century as a coffee brokering and storage center, until an earthquake and volcanic eruption ended the boom. The town’s major sights are the central square and the buildings which surround it, a couple of basic though useful markets and the ubiquitous Parque Minerva. Two principal Indian towns in the region are Salcaja and Zunil. Salcaja is the main producer of “lkat” (knottie dye), and is the site of the San Jacinto Church the first church built in Guatemala. Zunil is famous for its textiles, and Almolonga, across the Samala River, for its large orchard. There are hot sulfur springs throughout the Quetzaltenango region, including Los Vahos and Almolonga, just outside the city. The Friday livestock market is the country’s best
Included: Hotel accommodation as per program choice (or similar) with local hotel taxes; Meals as listed in the program;
Visits with entrance fees as per program; Transfers and tours as indicated.
Not Included: Any airfares; Passport and visa expenses; Any personal expenses and any items not specifically mentioned as included in the program.
Daily Itinerary
- Day 1 Arrival - Antigua (Unguided) - Guests are met & transferred to Antigua. (1hr) Antigua 3N.
- Day 2 Make Your Own Coffee (B) (Guide HD) - In the morning guests will enjoy an active and participating tour of small local coffee farms to learn about the coffee history and process. Free afternoon. As Green as it Gets (GAIG) is a charity working to support small independent coffee producers and promoting environmentally responsible agriculture in Guatemala. This tour takes guests to visit some of the families supported by this organization where they can work side-by-side with small coffee farmers in their daily coffee processing, pick, pulp, ferment, wash, dry, trilla, sort, and grade the coffee (depending on the season), roast coffee over an open fire and grind by hand on a grindstone before sampling their handiwork. Coffee Season is Nov to Mar. This tour includes a donation to GAIG and the Viaventure Foundation also supports this organization on an annual basis.
- Day 3 Antigua Walking Tour (B) (Guide HD) - Guests will take a half day walking tour of Antigua. (3-4hr). The tour takes in the market of Antigua where guests get an introduction in the local produce, the main square, Palace, Cathedral, La Merced Church & San Francisco Church. All entrances are included. Free Afternoon.
- Day 4 Chichi Market & Transfer to Lake Atitlan (B,L) (Guide FD) - Today guests transfer approx. 3hr to the famous market at Chichi. Time for shopping in this fabulous craft market and an opportunity to see Maya rituals being performed in the Catholic Church. After the tour guests will enjoy their lunch before transferring on to their hotel at Lake Atitlan (1hr).
- Day 5 Lake Tour (San Juan, Santiago) (B,L) (Guide FD) - This morning guests will take a scenic boat ride across Lake Atitlan (30min) to the village of San Juan La Laguna where they can visit the women’s textile cooperative to see hand weaving and natural dye process. Also here visit the studios / homes of the celebrated naïf painters. From here guests continue to the village of Santiago where they have lunch in a local hotel and tour the village visiting the Maya God Maximon and learn about the textiles, spiritualism and beliefs of the T’zutujil Maya.
- Day 6 Solola and Concepcion (B,L) (Guide HD) - Guests are picked up from their hotel by their driver & guide and transfer approx 30mins up to the traditional town of Solola. (For guests staying in Santiago this also requires a 30min boat ride across the lake) On market day this town is bursting with life and local Maya people from all around the area flock to the market to buy and sell their wares for the week ahead. Everyone is dressed in the brightly colored local textiles and even the men here wear the traditional costume of the area. This is a fabulous and authentic market to visit. When clients are ready they will be transferred to the local rural village of Concepcion. Although this village is close to the more tourist area of Lake Atitlan it is in many respects a world away and offers a real glimpse of rural, agricultural life of the local Maya people. Guests will visit the church which has recently been reconstructed, a Shamans house and the Maya god Maximon and will also walk through the fields where they will see how people grow their crops. The combination of the market in Solola and the tour in Concepcion gives the traveler a wonderful insight into Maya life in the Solola district of Guatemala.
- Day 7 Free Morning & Transfer to Xela (B) (Unguided) - Guests will enjoy a free morning to relax or explore more of the Lake Atitlan area. After lunch guests will be transferred to Quetzaltenango (Xela) (3hr). Quetzaltenango 2N.
- Day 8 Almolonga vegetable market & San Andres Xecul (B,L) (Guided) - Guests will transfer to Almolonga where they will visit the vegetable market. They will then visit the market at San Andres Xecul with its famous Yellow church, visit the textile cooperative in Zunil & the blown glass cooperative. If time permits guests can also enjoy the hot springs.
- Day 9 San Francisco Market & Unicornio Azul (B) (Guided) - This morning guests will visit the famous market at San Francisco El Alto which is one of the largest open air markets in Central America and is famous for its interesting animal market. Once guests are ready they will then transfer to Unicornio Azul for the coming 2 nights. Unicornio Azul 2N.
- Day 10 Todos Santos Market (B) (Guided) - Today guests transfer still deeper into the high Cuchumatanes mountains to the remote and highly traditional village of Todos Santos. (1hr) Here guests enjoy the market and the interesting local costume before transferring back to Unicornio Azul(1hr).
- Day 11 Transfer to Antigua (B) (Guided) - Today guests will transfer all the way back through the Maya Highlands to Antigua (6hrs).
- Day 12 Departure (B) (Unguided) - This morning our driver will transfer guests to the airport (approx 10mins) in plenty of time to catch their flight.
Possible Upgrades: -Helicopter transfer to Lake Atitlan.
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