mercado
Mercado de Sololá
A regional market that spreads around the park, the cathedral and the town hall, with vegetables, textiles and vendors from all over the basin.
Main days: Tuesdays and FridaysGetting there →Sobre la orilla norte · Sololá
Sololá
A Kaqchikel capital perched above the lake, with a large regional market on Tuesdays and Fridays and a men's traditional dress still worn every day.
Patron saint: Virgen de la AsunciónPatron saint's fair: August 15Market: Tuesdays and FridaysMayan language: kaqchikel
Discover Sololá
Preliminary summary · pending community reviewWhat makes Sololá unique
Kaqchikel capital with its own market and authorities
Sololá is the departmental capital and looks out over the lake from about 600 meters above it. It's the market hub for the whole region, where many men and women still wear their traditional dress. Alongside the official town council there is an Indigenous municipality whose authorities are elected by the cantons (neighborhoods).
Photo coming soon
Things to seeAttractions in SololáMercado de Sololá · Catedral de Sololá (iglesia de la Asunción)See more →Photo coming soon
Patron saint and fairVirgen de la AsunciónAugust 15See more →
Are you from Sololá and want to correct or expand this summary? Write to us
History
How Sololá came to be
The first to arrive found the lake, the volcanoes and the forest; others came after, and each arrival left its mark.
- Before 1524Tzoloj-já, land of the Xahil lineage. The Kaqchikel Xahil lineage had its seat at Tzoloj-já ('elderberry water'). Members of that lineage later wrote the Memorial de Sololá, also known as the Annals of the Kaqchikels.
- 1547Founding of the colonial town. Sources place the founding of Sololá on October 30, 1547; historian Jorge Luján Muñoz dates the gathering of the town to around 1548.
- 1584-1596The parish church and the Assumption. According to the Memorial de Sololá, the parish church was built in those years and sculptor Antonio de Rodas was commissioned to make an image of Our Lady of the Assumption, along with an altarpiece, an organ and the great bell (finished on October 4, 1595).
- 1838-1840In the State of Los Altos. From April 3, 1838 Sololá was part of the short-lived State of Los Altos. On January 25, 1840 Rafael Carrera defeated the forces of General Agustín Guzmán in Sololá.
- 1902-1924Earthquake, tower and city status. The San Perfecto earthquake (April 18, 1902) severely damaged the town; in 1914 the landmark clock tower was built, and on October 30, 1924 Sololá was granted city status.
- TodayCapital, market and Indigenous authority. It is the seat of the department and of the Diocese of Sololá. It keeps an Indigenous municipality whose councilors and Indigenous mayor are elected by canton, and in 2011 it opened the Kaibal Tzolojyá wholesale market.
Sources: es.wikipedia.org · es.wikipedia.org · revistas.ucm.es · prensalibre.com · prensalibre.com
Attractions in Sololá
Photo coming soon · Catedral de Sololá (iglesia de la Asunción)
iglesia
Catedral de Sololá (iglesia de la Asunción)
Seat of the Diocese of Sololá; its parish church was built between 1584 and 1596 and housed an image of the Assumption commissioned from Antonio de Rodas.
Getting there →Photo coming soon · Torre centenaria (Torre Centroamericana)
cultura
Torre centenaria (Torre Centroamericana)
Clock tower built in 1914, a symbol of the historic center next to the park.
Getting there →Photo coming soon · Parque Centroamérica y centro histórico
cultura
Parque Centroamérica y centro histórico
Main square surrounded by the cathedral, the town hall, the Indigenous mayor's office and the tower: the heart of town life.
Getting there →Photo coming soon · Despegue de parapente en Bella Vista
naturaleza
Despegue de parapente en Bella Vista
Launch site at about 2,000 m altitude and 450 m above the lake, used on weekdays for tandem flights.
Tandem flight Q650 per person with Parapente Guatemala (published price); about 35 minutes by carGetting there →Sources: passportandpixels.com · revistas.ucm.es · es.wikipedia.org · prensalibre.com · livinginguatemala.com
Living culture
Photo coming soon
Patron saint and fair
Virgen de la Asunción
Virgen de la Asunción: August 15 (in 2024 the patron saint's fair ran from August 7 to 16). The patron saint's fair culminates on August 15 with the Nim Akij Sololá, 'the Great Day of Sololá', preceded by prayers, novenas and convites (festive masked parades). The cofradías (religious brotherhoods) keep their offices in ceremonial dress: the cofrade carries a silver staff and the texel looks after the candles. In the villages people dance the convite and the Dance of the Torito (little bull) to marimba music.
Sources: agn.gt · agn.gt · es.wikipedia.org · mayaspirituality.lasaweb.org · prensalibre.com
Photo coming soon
Mayan traditional dress
The traditional dress of Sololá
Men's everyday dress is still in use: hat, a light jacket and a heavy jacket, a wool rodillera (wa'a', a woollen cloth wrapped around the hips) and trousers, mostly in red with woven designs. For ceremonies men add a black cloth worn like an apron, plus a scarf and a goat-wool jacket. Women's huipil (traditional woven blouse) is made from striped cloth alternating plain red threads with jaspe (ikat-dyed) threads, with brocade on the shoulders and sleeves.
Sources: musac.usac.edu.gt · prensalibre.com · horniman.ac.uk · en.wikipedia.org
Traditional food
What to eat in Sololá
Sources describe dishes of the Sololá region rather than recipes unique to the town: chicken or beef pulik (a spiced Maya stew) at celebrations and cofradía events, torrejas (syrup-soaked fritters) during Holy Week and, for the Day of the Dead, sweet chickpea dessert, jocotes (a small tropical plum) in syrup, corn on the cob, güisquiles (chayote squash) and stews.
Sources: es.wikipedia.org
Featured businesses in Sololá
SponsoredYour business could be hereMake your business stand out with a Conecta or Premium membership.See memberships →Your business could be hereMake your business stand out with a Conecta or Premium membership.See memberships →Your business could be hereMake your business stand out with a Conecta or Premium membership.See memberships →
Sololá directory
27 resultsSuggest a business
Public institution
Hospital Departamental de Sololá (MSPAS)
- Phone
- +502 7762 4121; +502 7762 4122
- Address
- Final Calzada Venancio Barrios, Zona 2, Sololá (AtitlanVida)
Public institution
IGSS Sololá (consultorio y anexo de hospitalización)
- Phone
- +502 7762 4690; +502 7762 3744; Centro de contacto 1522
- Address
- Emergencia y encamamiento: 13 Calle 7-50, Zona 2, Barrio San Bartolo; Consulta externa: 9a. Calle 5-41, Zona 1, Sololá (AtitlanVida)
ComercioIncomplete information
Mercado Municipal de Sololá
Mercado principal de la cabecera con productos agrícolas, bienes locales y comedores económicos; gran actividad en días de plaza.
- Location
- Centro
- Phone
- Not available
- Hours
- Diario 7:00-16:00 (AtitlanVida); días de plaza martes y viernes
ComercioIncomplete information
Mercado de Mayoreo de Sololá
Mercado mayorista a varias cuadras al norte del mercado municipal.
- Location
- Not available
- Phone
- Not available
- Hours
- Not available
Lugares de interésIncomplete information
Parque Centro América
Plaza central de la cabecera rodeada por la catedral, la torre del reloj y edificios municipales.
- Location
- Not available
- Phone
- Not available
- Hours
- Not available
Lugares de interésIncomplete information
Catedral de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción
Catedral de Sololá frente a la plaza; cerca se realiza la ceremonia dominical de la Alcaldía Indígena.
- Location
- Not available
- Phone
- Not available
- Hours
- Not available
Lugares de interésIncomplete information
Torre del Reloj (Torre de Sololá)
Torre del reloj en la plaza central, construida en 1914, con entrada de bajo costo y horario informal.
- Location
- Not available
- Phone
- Not available
- Hours
- Not available
Lugares de interésIncomplete information
Cementerio de Sololá
Cementerio colorido a pocas cuadras del centro.
- Location
- Not available
- Phone
- Not available
- Hours
- Not available
HospedajePending verification
Hotel Los Cofrades
Hotel céntrico funcional con restaurante de comida regional y vistas.
- Location
- 6 Avenida 5, Sololá 60111
- Phone
- +502 7762 3470
- Hours
- Restaurante: lunes a domingo 8:00-22:00 (AtitlanVida)
GastronomíaPending verification
Ixkanul Coffee Gt
Cafetería de especialidad con granos de fincas de la región en pequeños lotes; ofrece catas y experiencias en finca.
- Location
- 3a Calle, Sololá
- Phone
- +502 3392 3553
- Hours
- Lunes a domingo 9:00-21:00 (AtitlanVida)
GastronomíaPending verification
La Casa de Don Memo - Café Museo
Café-museo en el centro con decoración patrimonial, café, comida y pizza.
- Location
- QR99+X6J, Zona 1, Sololá
- Phone
- +502 7762 4889
- Hours
- Lunes a sábado 6:30-22:00; domingo 9:00-19:00 (AtitlanVida)
GastronomíaPending verification
Pollo Campero Sololá Z.1
Sucursal de la cadena de pollo frito, valorada por su limpieza y servicio ágil.
- Location
- QRC8+7R7, Zona 1, Sololá
- Phone
- +502 7762 1952
- Hours
- Lunes a domingo 7:00-22:00 (AtitlanVida)
GastronomíaPending verification
Little Caesars Pizza Sololá
Pizzería de cadena para llevar con servicio rápido y poco espacio para sentarse.
- Location
- 7a. Avenida y 9a. Calle esquina, Sololá
- Phone
- +502 2312 9300
- Hours
- Lunes a domingo 9:00-21:45 (AtitlanVida)
ComercioIncomplete information
Despensa Familiar Sololá
Sucursal en Sololá de la cadena de supermercados de descuento.
- Location
- Not available
- Phone
- Not available
- Hours
- Not available
Banca y finanzasIncomplete information
Banrural Sololá
Agencias y cajeros de Banrural en la cabecera de Sololá.
- Location
- Not available
- Phone
- Not available
- Hours
- Not available
Banca y finanzasIncomplete information
Banrural Agencia Los Encuentros
Agencia del banco Banrural que atiende en la aldea Los Encuentros, dentro del municipio de Sololá.
- Location
- Aldea Los Encuentros
- Phone
- Not available
- Hours
- Horario especial 1-abr-2026: 08:30-13:00 (Banrural); horario regular no publicado en la fuente
Banca y finanzasIncomplete information
Banrural Agencia Argueta
Agencia de Banrural identificada como 'Argueta Sololá' en los listados oficiales de horarios del banco.
- Location
- Aldea San Juan Argueta
- Phone
- Not available
- Hours
- Horario especial 1-abr-2026: 08:30-13:00 (Banrural)
Banca y finanzasIncomplete information
Banrural Microfinanzas para el Desarrollo Sololá
Agencia de la línea de microfinanzas de Banrural en Sololá, orientada a crédito para pequeños negocios.
- Location
- Not available
- Phone
- Not available
- Hours
- Especiales: 31-dic-2025 08:00-17:00; 1-abr-2026 08:00-14:00 (Banrural)
Banca y finanzasPending verification
Banco G&T Continental Sololá
Agencia del banco G&T Continental en la cabecera departamental.
- Location
- Zona 2
- Phone
- 1718 (línea general G&T)
- Hours
- L-V 08:00-19:00; S 08:30-14:00; D 09:00-14:00 (localizador oficial G&T)
ComercioPending verification
Elektra / Banco Azteca Sololá
Tienda Elektra con servicios de Banco Azteca: electrodomésticos, crédito y envío/cobro de remesas.
- Location
- Zona 2
- Phone
- +502 4103 1096 (línea general Banco Azteca)
- Hours
- Lunes a domingo 08:00-20:00 (horario general de agencias publicado por Banco Azteca)
Banca y finanzasIncomplete information
Bantrab Sololá
Agencia del Banco de los Trabajadores en la zona 2 de Sololá.
- Location
- Zona 2
- Phone
- Not available
- Hours
- L-V 09:00-18:00 (listado Paysend)
Banca y finanzasPending verification
Cooperativa COLUA MICOOPE
Cooperativa de ahorro y crédito nacida en Argueta en 1965, de la red MICOOPE, con varias agencias en el municipio.
- Location
- Aldea San Juan Argueta (oficinas centrales); agencias en zonas 1 y 2 y Los Encuentros
- Phone
- +502 7795 7795 (central); Plaza COLUA 7762 3608 / 7762 3180; El Calvario 4931 5495; El Carmen 7762 3984; Los Encuentros 5829 2086
- Hours
- Central: L-V 8:00-17:00, S-D 8:00-12:00 | Plaza COLUA y Los Encuentros: L-V 8:00-17:00, S 8:00-12:00 | El Calvario: L-V 9:00-18:00, D 9:00-13:00 | El Carmen: L-V 9:00-18:00, D 8:00-12:00 (sitio oficial)
EducaciónPending verification
Centro Universitario de Sololá (CUNSOL-USAC)
Sede regional de la Universidad de San Carlos en Sololá con carreras de licenciatura.
- Location
- Barrio El Calvario
- Phone
- Not available
- Hours
- Not available
Public institution
Instituto de la Defensa Pública Penal (IDPP) - Sede Departamental Sololá
- Phone
- +502 7762 4117
- Address
- 7a. Avenida 5-00, Zona 2, Barrio El Calvario, Sololá (IDPP)
Public institution
Gobernación Departamental de Sololá
- Phone
- +502 7963 9200
- Address
- 6ta. Avenida y 10a. Calle, Zona 2, Sololá (sitio oficial)