I visited Santo Tomás Chichicastenango for the first time on market day in the summer of 2021 and recently in winter of 2023 on a regular day. It is from there that many of the finest and oldest crafts and embroideries come from, many of which are later sold in the towns of Lake Atitlán and in Antigua Guatemala. This little town also stands out for being the largest indigenous market in America where the 86 cantons (districts) of the area meet to trade every Thursday and Saturday, many of these made up of families of different Mayan ethnic groups.

Chichicastenango or "Chichi" is a Mayan town planned as a colonial reduction, where its churches, convent, plaza, sacred sites, and cemetery uphold a blend of Christian and Maya religious practices. The colonial plaza, reminiscent of pre-Hispanic design, features elevated platforms where Santo Tomás and El Calvario churches face each other, symbolizing a dialogue between Catholicism and indigenous beliefs.

Traditional daily life in the town revolves around sacred sites, traditional arts, rituals, and the vibrant Maya market. Inside the churches, preserved colonial altarpieces and imagery serve as focal points for Maya cofradías and daily ceremonies. Santo Tomás Chuwilá, once under Franciscan administration, holds historical significance as the site where Fray Francisco Ximénez discovered the only known K'iche' copy of the Popol Vuh, later moved to Santiago de Guatemala.

The cemetery's vibrant colors reflect Maya beliefs about death and complement the natural landscape. Nearby, Pascual Abaj, atop a hill south of the town, remains a revered sacred site. The town also features an archaeological museum displaying artifacts from the region, alongside the seat of the indigenous municipality and a republican-era theater. The plaza and churches have maintained their relative preservation amidst the evolving architectural landscape of the town. However, there is an urgent need for construction regulations to protect the colonial heritage from modern development, which could threaten its integrity.

Focusing on these elements such as the churches, plaza, sacred sites, and their role in religious syncretism could enhance Chichicastenango's chance of becoming a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Such recognition would better integrate with other churches along the National Identity Route TWHS and the Franciscan and Dominican Evangelization Routes TWHS, offering deeper insights into the country's diverse cultural heritage, reframed as "Santuarios del Sincretismo Religioso".