Mercado el Carmen
Mercado el Carmen
4
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Monday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Tuesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Wednesday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Thursday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Friday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Saturday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Sunday
9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
Full view
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The area
Address
Best nearby
Restaurants
415 within 3 miles
Attractions
58 within 6 miles
See what other travelers are saying
- Jim BGrapeview, Washington1,372 contributionsFun Market to VisitWe enjoyed this market to shop for Guatemalan made items. It covers a large area indoors and has many sellers side by side. We purchased table runners and a purse from two different sellers. Both were fun to bargain with and we felt we got nice items for a fair price. Fun to walk around and just look at all of the brightly colored merchandise.Visited January 2020Traveled as a coupleWritten January 30, 2020
- SnobotSanJose_CACampbell, California59 contributionsIt is much bigger than it looks on the outside.We stumbled into this market by chance. From the outside, it looked like a very small place but like many Guatemala restaurants/home, once you walk past the door, it opens up into beautiful spacious courtyard. In this case, it was just store after store. Unfortunately, they all seem to sell the same thing and the price is not that cheap. It was still fun to walk around.Visited January 2023Written February 4, 2023
- LuizDutraNetoRio de Janeiro, RJ8,621 contributionsBeautiful and colorful souvenirs to take home!While visiting the historic center of the old town of "Santiago de los Caballeros de Guatemala" - the actual "Antigua", you will certainly pass in front of the ruins of the "Iglesia del Carmen" and its awesome baroque facade ("3ª Avenida Norte" - between "2ª y 3ª Calles Oriente"). Right in front of the ruins, on the sidewalks, the "Mercado El Carmen". A typical market where the local population sells the beautiful and colorful Guatemalan / Mayan traditional handicrafts, such as wooden masks and textiles - nice souvenirs to take home! A little bargaining is expected and even welcomed by local merchants. Enjoy!Visited November 2019Written August 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
Popular mentions
4.0
49 reviews
Excellent
14
Very good
23
Average
9
Poor
2
Terrible
1
Bunty8
United Kingdom600 contributions
Jan 2020
They have loads of stalls selling all kind of Guatemalan handcrafts, it is very crowded but they have some lovely goods on offer but be sure to bargain.
Written February 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
krobbins722
Wilmington, NC31 contributions
Oct 2015 • Couples
Lots of shops inside (over 100) with all of the typical (and not so typical) Mayan and Guatemalan goods. We got a nice woven hammock here for around $28US. The shop owners are helpful, not too pushy and some speak good English. It seemed like the quality was good on most things and there are several women making the items while you walk around, which is always nice to see.
Written November 5, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
sherrydk_2000
Huffman, TX125 contributions
Jan 2020
This is a MUST stop place! Tons of wares from all different vendors! Loved getting to visit with the people and shop!
Written February 4, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Heguang Z
1,365 contributions
Sep 2019 • Couples
Relatively small market right in front of the El Carmen ruins. Colorful items on display in front of the beautiful old church ruins.
Written September 4, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Deb C
Antigua, Guatemala145 contributions
Jul 2015 • Couples
This is a lesser known artisan market in Antigua, with many of the typical items and some unique finds as well. We've haggled some great prices here for excellent quality textiles. You won't find as many huipils in this market, but textiles for the home like blankets are better prices than the more famous Artisan Market by the Mercado. We were able to get a handwoven, beautifully patterned king-size cotton blanket for Q315 (down from the original Q650 asking price). It was a unique pattern we hadn't seen anywhere else in Antigua before.
A few tips:
1) There are additional vendors outside, weather permitting, on weekends. Some of these vendors will have very nice textile accessories, like native belts and headdresses. Bargain hard and you can get a Nebaj decorated headdress for under Q100.
2) The interior of this market is not uniformly laid out. It's more haphazard like the mercado, with everything close together, making it difficult to tell where you are and where to go next. You'll find yourself randomly moving from one vendor stall to the next, sometimes into dead ends, or pushing through narrow gaps in hanging merchandise, following the yellow arrows on the floor. It's not wheelchair-friendly at all! However, I use a cane to keep my balance on the cobblestones of Antigua and was able to get around fine. (It's also probably not for the claustrophobic shopper either.)
3) There are no food or beverage stalls, no bottled water for sale and no restrooms that we saw. However, the restaurant Epicure is immediately across the street. So after an hour or so of shopping here you can simply escape to Epicure for a refreshing beverage to get re-hydrated and use the facilities.
A few tips:
1) There are additional vendors outside, weather permitting, on weekends. Some of these vendors will have very nice textile accessories, like native belts and headdresses. Bargain hard and you can get a Nebaj decorated headdress for under Q100.
2) The interior of this market is not uniformly laid out. It's more haphazard like the mercado, with everything close together, making it difficult to tell where you are and where to go next. You'll find yourself randomly moving from one vendor stall to the next, sometimes into dead ends, or pushing through narrow gaps in hanging merchandise, following the yellow arrows on the floor. It's not wheelchair-friendly at all! However, I use a cane to keep my balance on the cobblestones of Antigua and was able to get around fine. (It's also probably not for the claustrophobic shopper either.)
3) There are no food or beverage stalls, no bottled water for sale and no restrooms that we saw. However, the restaurant Epicure is immediately across the street. So after an hour or so of shopping here you can simply escape to Epicure for a refreshing beverage to get re-hydrated and use the facilities.
Written July 26, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Sunshine826385
Connecticut3 contributions
May 2023 • Family
Very colorful market. Lots of souvenir options. Went with my sister and a tour guide. It rained heavily that day but not a drop on us
Written September 13, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
pinkmomma3
Winston Salem, NC135 contributions
Jul 2022
This smaller mercado is blocks closer than the main mercado in Antigua. It is a maze of tightly-spaced booths. Certain days of the week (Thursdays and Saturdays, I think), there are outside vendors.
Written September 12, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Abovetheclouds
2,158 contributions
Mar 2022 • Solo
Colourful, beautiful and quality. Vendors are friendly. So many nice things to buy. You can bargain too. Worth a browse.
Written March 29, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
hsbvim
Dublin, OH1,205 contributions
Feb 2020
I visited Mercado el Carmen last week (February 2020), and I have visited it several times over the past 15 years. Here are my thoughts from my past visits:
- If it is a really hot day, it's a great place to shop in the shade as it is all covered.
- If it is a busy tourist time of the year, stay away. The hallways are narrow and can get very congested. If you dare go when it is crowded, put your wallet in your front pants pocket, or else you may leave without your wallet.
- It feels like a maze of shops, and I am not always certain that we saw all of the shops.
- If you see something you like, but they don't have it in your size, ask. We had one vendor go elsewhere (to a fellow vendor, perhaps?) on more than one occasion to find the size we wanted.
- Haggle, and don't give up. One can routinely get the price for 25% less than what they initially offer. If they say 100 quetzales, offer 50 and then go up very slowly.
- If it is a really hot day, it's a great place to shop in the shade as it is all covered.
- If it is a busy tourist time of the year, stay away. The hallways are narrow and can get very congested. If you dare go when it is crowded, put your wallet in your front pants pocket, or else you may leave without your wallet.
- It feels like a maze of shops, and I am not always certain that we saw all of the shops.
- If you see something you like, but they don't have it in your size, ask. We had one vendor go elsewhere (to a fellow vendor, perhaps?) on more than one occasion to find the size we wanted.
- Haggle, and don't give up. One can routinely get the price for 25% less than what they initially offer. If they say 100 quetzales, offer 50 and then go up very slowly.
Written February 17, 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Barbara K
4 contributions
Mar 2019
I like going to this market because it is inside out of the sun, and a little less hectic. The merchandise is the same great quality and prices.
Written April 13, 2019
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Claim your listingMercado el Carmen - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go (with Photos)
Frequently Asked Questions about Mercado el Carmen
- Mercado el Carmen is open:
- Sun - Sat 9:00 AM - 6:00 PM
- Hotels near Mercado el Carmen:
- (0.00 mi) Casa Marie
- (0.03 mi) Las Cruces Boutique Hotel
- (0.03 mi) Apartment Sasil
- (0.11 mi) The Doozy Koala
- (0.09 mi) D'Leyenda Hotel
- Restaurants near Mercado el Carmen:
- (0.01 mi) Epicure Restaurant
- (0.03 mi) Ni-Fu Ni-Fa
- (0.09 mi) El Criollo
- (0.10 mi) La Bruja
- (0.10 mi) Sobremesa
Mercado el Carmen Information
Excellent Reviews | 14 |
|---|---|
Very Good Reviews | 23 |
Mercado el Carmen Photos | 51 |