Guatemala

Mayan textiles. The Mayans are known for their brilliantly colored woven goods. Look for embroidered huipiles (tunics), cortes (skirts), fajas (belts), and purses, tablecloths, and blankets at the markets in Chichicastenango, and at the stalls in Calle Santandar in Panajachel, Mercado Central in Guatemala City, and Mercado Artesanias in Antigua.

Masks. Watch artists in their morerias (workshops) create expressive human and animal-face masks from white pine, cedar, or palo de pito wood. The masks are used in traditional dances around the country. Buy them at markets in Chichicastenango and around the country.

Jewelry. Introduced by Dominican friars for the crafting of religious objects, silver-working in Guatemala today takes many forms: charms, necklaces, earrings, medals, icons, and the like. Some of the best silver work is found in the north-central region of Alta Verapaz. Hand-beaded jewelry is a specialty of the women living in the handful of villages along the shores of Lake Atitlán, introduced 30 years ago as an alternative, autonomous revenue stream. The women apply their astute sense of color, developed over generations of weaving textiles, to beading necklaces, bracelets, and earrings.

Jícara. Jícara, the dried fruit from the tree of the same name, is harvested and carved into bowls, cups, and jugs. Once functional tools of daily life throughout much of Central America, jícara are now primarily souvenirs intricately carved with vibrant scenes from the natural world—toucans, anteaters, butterflies, flowers, and hummingbirds. Rabinal, a town in the central Baja Verapaz department, is best known for jícara.