Chichicastenango Market Day Tour from Panajachel
Description
This full day tour takes you to Guatemala’s most famous market. This market is a traditional indigenous Quiche market, and includes a walk to the cemetery and Paschal Abaj, the Shaman Hill. You are likely to witness a sacred Fire Cleansing Ceremony conducted by a Mayan shaman. Learn about the Mayan story of creation, the Mayan ceremony, the base-20 counting system, and the 5,000 year-old Mayan calendar. Even visit the Mayor's office.
Tour Options
Itinerary
A small hill on the outskirts of Chichi. There are ceremonial areas at the top, and a mask museum at the entrance.
The market is in the center of town.
Highlights
What's included
Traveller Ratings
Important Information
- Wheelchair accessible
- Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
- Service animals allowed
- Transportation options are wheelchair accessible
- Suitable for all physical fitness levels
- Children must be accompanied by an adult
- A minimum of 2 people per booking is required
Reviews(9)
Manuel was absolutely the best guide. He was fluent in several languages. He really knew the history and we thoroughly enjoyed the experience.
Manuel gave us a great tour of the market, churches and cemetery - as well as many lovely insights into Mayan life. The van ride from our hotel was almost 2 hours going there - and 1.5 hours coming back - which was misrepresented as 1 hour.
Thank you so much for your kind review! We’re really happy to hear you enjoyed the tour with Manuel. He will be delighted to know you appreciated his insights into the market, churches, cemetery, and Mayan life.
We were picked up on time at the hotel. The bus journey took about 75 minutes. In Chichicastenango we were expected by our guide. He showed us around friendly and waited when we took photos. We were lucky enough to be there on the day of the Fiesta San Tomas and then for the procession. Manuel led us into the middle of it. Even if the crowd was large - it couldn't be more authentic. It was a wonderful experience.
Thank you so much for your kind review! We’re happy to hear everything went smoothly and that you had such an authentic experience in Chichicastenango—especially during Fiesta Santo Tomás, what a special moment! Manuel will be very glad to hear your feedback. We hope to welcome you again for another unforgettable experience
We’re back 12 years later to visit Lake Atitlan and show friends how beautiful and this area is. Lee and Elaine Beal are effortlessly gracious and accommodating as always. Lee advised and helped arrange tours to San Juan, Chichicastenango, and Solola. All our guide/hosts, Alex, Mike, and Ervin were very personable and knowledgeable. We enjoyed them as much as the tour itself. We stayed at the Los Elementos bungalows- they have gotten better over the years, but still retained that special hideaway ambiance. Time passes, and the communities around the lake seem to be doing better. We are happy that our favorite people Lee and Elaine are staying put with a warm welcome and friendly visit at the end of the day.
Thank you so much for your heartfelt review! It truly means a lot to have you return after so many years and share Lake Atitlán with your friends. We’re so happy to hear you had a wonderful experience again and that you enjoyed your time with Lee and Elaine—they’ll really appreciate your kind words. We’re also glad you had great experiences with Alex, Mike, and Ervin, and that you enjoyed the tours as much as the connections along the way. It’s always special to welcome returning guests, and we hope to see you again in the future!
We loved our tour. We were picked up by our guide in Panajachel and taken to Chichi. We had plenty of time for the market, cemetery, churches, and lunch. We would have been very overwhelmed and lost without a guide in the market because it is so big and there are so many sections. Our guide was patient with our shopping and indecisions. He also was really knowledgeable and we learned so much about things on the tour and also the Guatemalan culture. We loved our time with Manuel and highly recommend the tour.
Thank you so much! We're thrilled to hear that you enjoyed your tour and Manuel made a experience in Chichicastenango so memorable. It's wonderful to know you felt immersed in the culture and learned so much long the way. Thank you again for choosing us.
Manuel was a fantastic guide. We enjoyed our time at the market and getting to know him and his culture. He was very thoughtful and we all had a great time. The only downside was this was listed as a "private tour" and we did end up having others with us both in the shuttle and the tour but it wasn't an issue as the group was easy going.
Thank you for sharing your experience with us. We're glad to hear you enjoyed the Chichicastenango market tour it truly is a fascinating place to explore. We also appreciate your feedback regarding the group size. We understand the importance of setting clear expectations and apologize for any confusion about the tour being private. Your comments help us improve, and we hope to have the opportunity to provide you with a more personalized experience in the future.
We had a great time. Emanuel did an amazing job and we definitely recommend this tour to anyone. He was very honest and authentic and asked for our personal preferences and adapted the tour to our interests and needs.
Chichicastenango Market Days which are Thursday and Sundays becoming an overcrowded Tourist event which has driven the local Artisans away from the market. On these days you can hardly walk through the market the crowds are so bad. I recommend going on non Tourist Market days. You will find the local Artisans have returned on these days and you will find authentic works of art, weaving and wood works.
