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City and municipality in Chiapas, Mexico
Photo: User: (WT-shared) Brendio at wts wikivoyage, CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
San Cristóbal de las Casas is in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas. It is the cultural capital of the state, and was designated a 'Pueblo Mágico' by the Mexican government in 2003. It has retained much of its Spanish colonial character in its street plans and architecture. The Spanish pronunciation is "cris-TOH-bal", with emphasis on the middle syllable, though many English speakers emphasize the last syllable instead.
From the travel guide. Select a place for details, a map and what is nearby.
Built in the mid-16th century, this is the most notable of San Cristóbal's many churches. The Baroque façade is a mix of Oaxacan and Guatemalan styles, and the ornate interior is richly gilded. The interior is especially beautiful in the evening with candlelight.
Exconvento Santo Domingo de Guzmán
Housed in the former convent, this museum displays artifacts illustrating the history of Chiapas and the region. On the first floor is the Centro de Textiles del Mundo Maya, also known as the Francesco Pellizzi Collection, a remarkable collection of historic and contemporary Mayan textiles from Chiapas and Guatemala.
Maya Medicine Museum
Not to be missed, this museum is operated by a collective of indigenous healers and herbalists. Information is available in English and Spanish and there are also healers on site to treat whatever ailment you may suffer.
The former home of Swiss anthropologist/photographer Gertrudis Duby Blom, the wife of Danish archeologist Frans Blom, continues to be an inn and museum managed by her supporters and associates. The museum also includes an extensive library of research on the Maya.
Amber Museum
Housed in a former convent, this small museum displays more than 300 specimens of amber, and also offers some beautiful pieces for sale. This is a good place to visit if you intend to purchase amber in Chiapas, as staff can explain how to identify real vs. fake amber: real amber is always warm to the touch, and emits a faint resin smell when rubbed.
La Casa del Jade
This small museum displays ancient jade artifacts and jewelry, and sells high-quality contemporary pieces.
Cerro de Guadalupe
Situated up a long flight of stairs on a hill to the east of town, this church is not especially noteworthy but does offer good views of the town. This area is not safe after dark, and even during the day solo women may be harassed.
Cerro de San Cristóbal
Located on a hill to the just southwest of the town center, this church offers good views of the town below. This area is also not safe after dark.
Established in 1994, this garden grows orchids and other plants rescued from nearby areas undergoing deforestation, and is dedicated to preserving and displaying all varieties of orchids native to the state of Chiapas. Nearby, on property owned by the gardens, is the unexcavated Mayan site of Moxviquil. All that remains of the structures are the foundations, which can be reached via a short hiking trail beginning from the garden area The trail pass through the forest where squirrels, butterfly and native plants can be seen. The gardens are best visited in the spring beginning in April, when most of the orchids are in bloom.
Famous for its dimly lit ambiance creating a nice mellow mood, also a place where Gourmet Coffee is done right and always 2x1 for any drink on the menu all day long also offering breakfasts, lunch and dinner.
A local favorite near all the hustle and bustle of the market, offering inexpensive Mexican meals that taste great. Main courses of menu usually changes daily.
A tapas bar and wine place without pretensions. Good vibes.
Known for its delicious pozole, a traditional Mexican meal. Reasonably priced and filling.
Mexican, Asian, pasta, vegetarian, smoothies, juices, sandwiches, burritos, all very good. Free Wi-Fi. They frequently have free bands that play here in the evenings. Prices are very reasonable, but diners should take care to inspect the bill and change, as mistakes are frequent and nearly always in the restaurant's favor.
Has a noteworthy quesadilla recipe, also live music and vegetarian options.
Enjoy some hearty traditional Mexican soups. The menu also includes salads and few other snacks.
Some friendly and attentive wait staff, serving Mexican tacos and quesadillas. Lacking any chicken tacos but other than that everything is great. Very clean places and quick service.
Tacos al pastor, quesadillas and other Mexican food.
With restaurant and a bakery. Known for its quality baked goods as well as the organic products used in the restaurant and sold in the store. A nice selection for vegetarian and more health conscious visitors. In a building offering a cinema, bar, language school, yoga and few more activities.
Mexican and Italian kitchen, vegetarian options, smoothies, juices. Free Wi-Fi. The restaurant is very popular with tourists and NGO employees. Surrounding the covered patio there are shops. For example the Zapatista cooperative "Women for Dignity" with clothes and craft and the store of the Zapatistan shoe factory of Oventik.
For a Fair Trade, shade-grown cup of coffee that is beat by no other check out this local cafe that doubles as the first floor of the owner's home. Slightly off the beaten path to the city center, you'll find the cafe keeper to be more than willing to help answer any questions you may have about the coffee or neighborhood.
Great chocolate to drink, eat or take out. Free Wi-Fi.
A good place to relax with a cup of hot chocolate or coffee and watch the activity in the square. The café also serves good breakfasts and lunches.
This combined café and museum is run by a collective of 17,000 indigenous coffee growers from Chiapas. The displays illustrate the history of coffee cultivation in the state. Far better than the displays however is the organic coffee they serve – especially worth sampling is the café de chiapaneca, a local variant of the traditional spiced Mexican café de olla.
A wine bar with a good selection of wines and beer, including many from Mexico. Free tapas are served with each glass.
Japanese house. Central area with two couches and kitchen. Wi-fI internet. Recommended forJapanese.
A backpacker hostel run by a Spanish-speaking Tzeltal family. Also has an onsite bar/café.
A cozy hostel run by a young couple. The hostel has a very friendly environment and homey feel to it. It is comfortable, clean, and the owners can recommend great places to eat, drink, and visit during your stay. Casa Gaia is complete with comfy communal areas such a living room with fireplace, cable TV, play station, books and movies, other communal areas include a fully equipped kitchen, outdoor garden/patio area, great for cookouts, yoga, hanging with fellow travelers, etc. They offer both private rooms and shared dorms. Other services include hot water 24 hrs, internet and WiFi.
Has a nice sun terrace with good views over the hills surrounding San Cristobal, free breakfast and wi-fi, organises tours, very close to the main market, very clean. Staff is very stiff about rules which might destroy the comfortable feeling. Try to book in advance in high season as it gets very busy.
Hostal los Camellos
Has hot water 24 hours, free wi-fi, luggage storage, and kitchen access.
Has hot water, private baths, TV, and laundry facilities.
This bed and breakfast is close to the pedestrian boulevard of Real de Guadalupe. Rooms and facilities are very clean, hot water takes a few minutes for showers. The staff are very nice. The staff clean the floors frequently throughout the day so may not be good for those with chemical sensitivities. Private rooms up to 4, and private baths available. Free wi-fi, parking, breakfast included.
One of the pioneering hostels of San Cristóbal back in the early 1980s, located in a magnificent colonial house. Prices include a large breakfast.
Has free wi-fi, parking laundry, and free luggage storage.
Pleasant rooms, a beautiful garden. Has free wi-fi, free private parking, and a full-service restaurant.
This charming mid-sized inn has spacious, carpeted rooms with wi-fi, TV, private bathrooms decorated with colonial-style tile and hot water.
Former Holiday Inn property in colonial style building circa 1907 that reflects history of San Cristobal. Has restaurant.
Municipal Market
The daily market, which people from nearby villages visit to purchase and sell everything from herbs, live chickens, dried fish, housewares, and clothing. The market is also a great place for authentic regional food at street food prices.
Carries a decent selection of mostly used books in English, and a number of books in Spanish, German, and French.
One of the best places to buy souvenirs and textiles.
A textile cooperative with authentic goods from the surrounding villages. The prices are a good deal more expensive, but you'll be getting the real handmade goods.
To get your quality leather products (bags, purses, rucksacks, belts) custom made, Vicente Hernández will exercise his excellent handicraft skills for you.
Traders sell a good range of local handcrafts here, but are less willing to bargain.
A complex which sells handicrafts, t-shirts, posters, etc. in a cooperative which helps the autonomous communities of the Zapatista movement. The restaurant is very popular with tourists and NGO employees.
A place to look for local culinary gifts (mezcal, cajeta, etc).
This branch of the Mexican hypermarket chain carries everything you might need, and has an onsite bakery and pharmacy. A taxi sitio is conveniently located outside the main entrance.
By bus
The bus network for getting around Mexico is safe, clean, reliable and affordable. There are multiple companies with professional and helpful ticket clerks at most main stations.
By colectivo and ómnibus
There are many other public transportation modes from Tuxtla to San Cristóbal: taxi, colectivo, and collective suburbans. The taxi drivers all know where these are located.
By taxi
Taxis are all over the place (a little too many of them, honestly) and easy to flag down. Rates are negotiable, and are generally M$30-40; after 22:00 fares go up by M$5.
By colectivo
The main form of public transportation for locals come in the form of a van or minibus. Colectivos run fixed routes, with destinations painted on the windshield.
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Tuxtla Gutiérrez · Regional · TGZ
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