"Market day" Top 5 Page for this destination Guatemala Local Custom Tip by toonsarah

As it is almost everywhere, market day is when each town or village really comes alive, and it’s a perfect opportunity to observe local customs, check out local food stuffs and take some great photos.

Some towns are rightly famous for their colourful markets, most notably Chichicastenango, which has become a major tourist draw for that reason. We didn’t make it there as our timings in the area didn’t coincide with the best days for the market, but we were very pleased instead to experience several markets more local in character – in Antigua (surprisingly local given the city’s large number of tourists), in Santiago Atitlàn and especially in Petzun, a lively local hub in the Guatemalan Highlands. We stopped here briefly on our drive from Panajachel to Guatemala City and enjoyed squeezing our way through the crowds (watch your bags and pockets!), dodging the chicken buses and grabbing photos where we could.