Chichicastenango
The biggest market of the country takes place here, in Chichicastenango. Every Thursday and Sunday the town is packed with Guatemalans trying to turn their dimes into Dollars (or Quetzales). Everything you thought you ever wanted to bring home from Guatemala can be found on the big square in the heart of “Chichi”, so bring all the money you can miss plus some extra to bargain your way to a filled bag with all the good stuff.
All the tourists think alike so you will not be the only foreigner here of course. But if you want to see some of the less visited spots in and around Chichi, try the food market in the Centro Comercial and climb your way to the upper floor while keeping your nose away of the horrible smell from the rotten meat lying around. From here, you have a great view over the colorful food market. When looking outside you will oversee the market and see the small pathways winding through it. Also note the church of Santo Tomás, which looks amazing from here.
Another not so typical but interesting place to visit, is the hillside behind Pascual Abaj. On the top of the hill, rituals are held regularly to satisfy the goods. Although it could be argued if these are real rituals or a bit staged to attract tourists, it is quite spectacular to see a rooster being beheaded...
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