Solola Market Holidays

Set on a natural balcony overlooking Lake Atitlan, Solola's Tuesday and Friday market is one of Central America's finest, drawing crowds of traditionally dressed Mayans from all over the highlands. The distinctive colours and patterns of the Mayan clothing show where the different groups of people have come from, and this is an extremely authentic experience. You won't find any stalls selling the usual tourist masks and crafts though, rather goods needed by local inhabitants such as food, shoes, tools and traditional clothing. With fewer tourists than many of the more famous markets in the country, a visit to Solala should be a more raw and authentic insight into Mayan life. If you can't make it on a market day, it is still worth a visit to this town as the views across Lake Atitlan to the surrounding volcanoes are spectacular. If you can be there on a Sunday, try to catch the local church dignitaries parading ceremoniously through the streets to the Cathedral.