Aguas Calientes


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	San Antonio Aguas Calientes
Images Map Wedding Huipil Huipil	San Antonio Aguas Calientes, a popular tourist destination, lies about four kilometers southeast of the city of Antigua. A twenty-minute bus ride brings the traveler to what is billed as "a real primitive Indian village." Tourists spend the day shopping in the market, taking advantage of the beautiful and prominently displayed textiles. While in town, many of the visitors to the village take weaving lessons, which are available by the hour, day, or week. The textiles of Aguas Calientes are perhaps the most famous in the country, and the village's weaving is considered to be the finest in all of Guatemala. The huipils of the village are best known for their tight two-faced weave that produces an identical image on the front and back. Traditionally, the textiles of Aguas Calientes were covered with many types of zigzag designs and motifs similar to the designs on the bottoms of the huipils displayed. Since the introduction of cross-stitch needlework patterns, the village huipil has incorporated colorful depictions of flowers, parrots, and other animals. Although this is an American and European craft, the weavers of Aguas Calientes have adapted the designs to their weavings, making these new designs uniquely Maya.