cities

Chichicastenango

Open on map More cities Spin a random place Ask WorldAI

Facts

Rank

—

Coordinates

—

Source

WBP almanac

External sources

Wikivoyage

Media

From Wikipedia647 words

WBP editorial3

Market rhythm beyond the weekend rush

While the Saturday market attracts most attention, the weekday stalls reveal a quieter, more intimate side of Chichicastenango. Vendors set up modest wooden tables along the central plaza, offering fresh produce and household items that locals source for daily use. The pace allows visitors to converse with traders in the K'iche' language, picking up on subtle differences in prices that reflect seasonal harvests rather than tourist mark‑ups. A brief stop at the back of the market, where elders weave traditional huipils, often yields an impromptu lesson in colour symbolism and the stories woven into each pattern. Timing a visit for a weekday therefore turns a bustling spectacle into a more nuanced cultural exchange.

Navigating the town’s altitude

At nearly 2,000 metres above sea level, Chichicastenango’s thin air can catch unacclimatised travellers off guard. The best practice is to ascend gradually, perhaps spending a night in nearby Alta Verapaz before tackling the climb. Hydration is essential; a reusable bottle filled with lightly salted water helps maintain electrolyte balance. Local cafés serve a warm, spiced atole that not only comforts but also provides a gentle energy boost. By respecting the altitude, visitors find the town’s stone streets and frescoed churches more enjoyable, and the surrounding vistas of cloud‑kissed hills become a rewarding visual reward rather than a breathless challenge.

Comparative craft vibes: Chichicastenango versus Antigua

Both towns are celebrated for their artisanal output, yet their creative economies differ in texture. In Chichicastenango, the majority of handicrafts are produced by K'iche' families whose techniques have been passed down through generations, resulting in a raw, community‑centric aesthetic. Antigua’s workshops, by contrast, often cater to an international market, blending traditional motifs with contemporary design to appeal to tourists. This distinction is evident in the colour palettes: Chichicastenango’s textiles favour earth tones punctuated by vivid reds, while Antigua’s pieces lean towards pastel shades. Recognising this contrast helps travellers appreciate the authenticity embedded in each market’s narrative.

Introduction

Town in Guatemala This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.Find sources: "Chichicastenango" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (October 2017) (Learn how and when to remove this message) Municipality in El Quiché, GuatemalaChichicastenangoMunicipalityIglesia de Santo TomásNickname: ChichiChichicastenangoLocation in GuatemalaShow map of GuatemalaChichicastenangoChichicastenango (Quiché Department)Show map of Quiché DepartmentCoordinates: 14°56′N 91°07′W / 14.933°N 91.117°W / 14.933; -91.117Country GuatemalaDepartment El QuichéMunicipalityChichicastenangoGovernment • TypeMunicipalArea • Municipality270 km2 (100 sq mi)Elevation1,965 m (6,447 ft)Population (Census 2018) • Municipality141,567 • Urban71,394 • EthnicitiesK'iche' people (98.5%)Ladino (1.5%) • ReligionsRoman Catholicism Evangelicalism MayaClimateCwbWebsiteChichicastenango online Chichicastenango, also known as Santo Tomás Chichicastenango, is a town, with a population of 71,394 (2018 census), and the municipal seat for the surrounding municipality of the same name in the El Quiché department of Guatemala. It is located in a mountainous region about 140 km (87 mi) northwest of Guatemala City, at an altitude of 1,965 m (6,447 ft). The Spanish conquistadors gave the town its name from the Nahuatl name used by their allied soldiers from Tlaxcala: Tzitzicaztenanco, or City of Nettles. Its original name was Chaviar. Chichicastenango is a K'iche' Maya cultural centre. According to the 2012 census, 98.5% of the municipality's population is indigenous Mayan K'iche. Of the population, 21% speak only K'iche, 71% speak both K'iche and Spanish, and the remaining 8% speak only Spanish.

Market

[edit] Chichicastenango Market Chichicastenango hosts market days on Thursdays and Sundays where vendors sell handicrafts, food, flowers, pottery, wooden boxes, condiments, medicinal plants, candles, pom and copal (traditional incense), cal (lime stones for preparing tortillas), grindstones, pigs and chickens, machetes, and other tools. Among the items sold are textiles, particularly women's blouses. Masks used by dancers in traditional dances, such as the Dance of the Conquest, are also manufactured in Chichicastenango. Church of Santo Tomás[edit] Main article: Iglesia de Santo Tomás Next to the market is the 400-year-old church of Santo Tomás. It is built atop a Pre-Columbian temple platform, and the steps originally leading to a temple of the pre-Hispanic Maya civilization remain venerated. K'iche' Maya priests still use the church for their rituals, burning incense and candles. In special cases, they burn a chicken for the gods. Each of the 20 stairs that lead up to the church stands for one month of the Maya calendar year. Another key element of Chichicastenango is the Cofradia of Pascual Abaj, which is an ancient carved stone venerated nearby and the Maya priests perform several rituals there. Writing on the stone records the doings of a king named Tohil (Fate). The Chichicastenango Regional Museum lies in its grounds.

In music

[edit] At least three songs have been written about the town. “Chichicastenango” Xavier Cugat 1937 "In Chi-Chi Castenango" Edmundo Ros Mambo Jambo: Original Recordings 1941-1950 "In the Land of The Maya" Lennie Gallant In the Land of The Maya In addition, the character Rosie from Bye Bye Birdie sings sarcastically of being the toast of Chichicastenango.

Geography

[edit] Chichicastenango is composed of the municipal seat and 81 rural communities. Nearby village communities include Paquixic (1.0 nm), Chucam (1.0 nm), Chujupen (1.4 nm), Camanibal (2.2 nm), Chontala (2.2 nm) and Chucojom (1.0 nm). Places adjacent to Chichicastenango Santa Cruz del Quiché, Chiché, Chinique and Patzité, El Quiché Department Totonicapán, Totonicapán Department municipality Chichicastenango Tecpán, Chimaltenango Department municipalityJoyabaj, El Quiché municipality Tecpán, Chimaltenango department municipalityConcepción and Sololá, Sololá Department municipalities

In films

[edit] The New Adventures of Tarzan (1935)[edit] Main article: The New Adventures of Tarzan See also: Tarzan and Edgar Rice Burroughs Puerto BarriosLivingstonQuiriguáChichicastenangoRío DulceAntigua GuatemalaPuerto San JoséSelva PeteneraCiudad de Guatemala Film locations for The New Adventures of Tarzan. In 1935, the film The New Adventures of Tarzan, was filmed on location in Guatemala, taking advantage of the help from the United Fruit Company and president Jorge Ubico. Chichicastenango was among the locations used during filming. Sacred City of the Mayans (1936)[edit] This 8-minute color travelogue devoted to Chichicastenango is one of James A. Fitzpatrick's TravelTalks. It is occasionally shown on Turner Classic Movies as a filler between feature films.