Outdoor Market, Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala

Nestled between the towering volcanoes of San Pedro and Tolimán, Santiago, the largest of Lake Atitlán’s 12 villages, is known for its indigenous Tz’utujil Mayan way of life. Here, you’ll meet men and women in traditional dress (purple skirts and elaborate headdresses for women, wide, white-striped pants, wide-brimmed hats and sashes for men), and the folk saint Maximón and his devotees (you can offer Maximón cigarettes, liquor and cash during traditional Maya Catholic holidays). There’s a bustling street market where men hand-craft fishing boats for use on the lake, arts and crafts of excellent quality hang in every store window, and high-quality textile workshops have popped up in formerly rundown homes. The market bustles on the weekends, especially in the area near the iconic Parroquial Santiago Apostol Church and Parque Central. A visit to Santiago offers a glimpse at a fleeting way of life that is as captivating as it is unique.