Idea #706 – Visiting the Mayan village of Santiago de Atitlan
Santiago Atitlán is the largest community living on the shores of Lake Atitlan. The village still has a strong Aboriginal identity. Many Atitecos still proudly maintain the traditions of Tz’utujil Mayas: women wear traditional skirts with purple stripes and huipiles embroidered with representations of colorful birds and flowers, while older men still wear embroidered trousers lavender color or with burgundy stripes. The cofradías – brotherhoods – of the city maintain the syncretic traditions and rituals of Mayan Catholicism. The major church dedicated to Santiago occupies the center of an ancient castillo, itself presumably built on a Mayan site. The decoration of the sixteenth-century church, executed by natives under the Hispanic mastery of work, presents originalities and allusions to ancient religions, such as the presence of hallucinogenic flowers in wooden sculptures, characteristic of ancient Mayan rites! The practice of traditional skippers is still visible near the port: rows of cayucos, roughly carved canoes, are aligned along the shore. The busiest days to visit are Friday and Sunday, the main market days.
Santiago is home to the Mayan Maximón (mah-shee-mohn) house. It changes homes every year, but it’s easy to find by learning: Potential guides will contact you at the dock.
Some Pictures
Where is it ?
Santiago Atitlan, Solola, Guatemala