A Day Trip to Solola, Atitlan

You don't have to go all the way to Chichicastenango to experience an authentic Maya street market. Solola, just up the hill from Panajachel, puts on one of the country's best every Friday.

It's a whirlwind of intense color and mesmerizing patterns as over 1,000 Maya and a few tourists wind their way among the booths and stalls selling a bizarre mix of vegetables, beans, dried fish, meat and other food.

"Steve Miller" Shirts

You'll run across a lot of hand-woven belts, bags and similar souvenirs here. The so-called "space cowboy" shirts are made here and sold in the building below the main market.
Street vendors cook up blue corn tortillas and tamales, which make great snacks. Or you can get a whole meal, from tipico fare to rotisserie chicken, and dine in the park along with the Maya.

The best thing about the Solola market is that its not as touristy as Chichi or others around Guatemala. You may, in fact, be one of the few non-Maya in the entire town.

Buses run from near Comerico El Dorado for Q2. You can also hop into a packed pick-up or a Q30 shuttle at the San Pedro dock.
If traveling by car, stop for a picnic area with a fine view on the way up the hill.