Set in a gorgeous valley surrounded by the central highlands in Chiapas you’ll find the bustling city of San Cristóbal de las Casas. Together with Oaxaca, it is one of the most beautiful colonial cities in the whole of Mexico! At least that’s how we felt after spending 4 months riding across and exploring Mexico.
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check out TOP 20 THINGS TO DO IN MEXICO or Watch our travels through Mexico on YouTube!
We fell in love with its red tiled roofs, wrought iron balconies and cobbled streets. The city features some of the most fascinating colonial architecture and beautiful facades painted in all sorts of different colours. You will find one of the largest indigenous populations here across all of Mexico and a thriving art scene.
If you want to soak up the vibrant atmosphere, simply walk down Real de Guadalupe. It’s the main pedestrian street lined with coffee shops and restaurants. The best way to experience this charming city is probably to sit outside one of its many coffee shops. You are likely to hear many musicians and various instruments as you walk around. We enjoyed getting lost in all its little streets and watch life go by in the main plaza!
MAIN SIGHTS of San Cristóbal de las Casas
– Cathedral of San Cristobal
-templo & Ex-convento de Santo Domingo de guzmán
– Plaza 31 de mayo
-mercado municipal
– na bolom
– arco del carmen
– Centro cultural el carmen
Best views of San Cristóbal de las Casas
Want to know where to soak up the best views of the city? I’ll tell you but you’ll need to work for it a little bit.
Cerro de Guadalupe will cost you 79 steps to reach the church ‘Iglesia de la Guadalupe’ set on top of a hill. But in return it will reward you with an unparalleled panoramic view of the city! Views aside the chapel is certainly worth a visit.
Best churches to see in San Cristóbal de las Casas
San Cristóbal de las Casas has some beautiful churches scattered across town. Some of them date back to the 16th century, featuring stunning, imposing facades and baroque altarpieces.
Top churches to visit are:
Iglesia San Cristobal, Templo de San Francisco, Iglesia de Santa Lucia, Templo de Mexicano, Iglesia de la Merced, Templo de la Caridad
Best museums to visit in San Cristóbal de las Casas
Chiapas is so rich in history that it comes as no surprise that it has some fascinating museums. From traditional indigenous medicine, to traditional handwoven clothing to archaeological relics. If museums aren’t your thing however, than perhaps you’ll make an exception for the chocolate museum which has a beautiful open space balcony 😉
Top museums to vist are:
Museo de la Medicina Maya, Museo del Cacao, Museo de los Altos de Chiapas, Museo del Ámbar de Chiapas, Museo de Sergio Arturo Castro Martínez, Centro de Textiles del Mundo Maya
Best markets to visit in San Cristóbal de las Casas
Mercado Viejo, also known as ‘José Castillo Tielemans‘ market sells local produce and has many food stands. You’ll find everything from textiles, live turkeys to delicious tortillas in one place.
Santo Domingo Artisan Market sells souvenirs and is mostly known for selling locally produced textiles and amber jewellery.
Mercado de Dulces y Artesanías Ambar is where you want to go if you have a sweet tooth. Although you’ll find some savoury foods too, it’s mostly known for selling traditional Mexican sweets.
Why you should visit at least one market
This is really where tourism has not impacted local life. Most vendors wear traditional clothing and visiting a local markets is a wonderful way to experience the local culture!
Best coffee shops in San Cristóbal de las Casas
Is there such a thing as the best coffee shop in a city that has no shortage of world-class coffee? Mexico is one of the biggest coffee producing countries in the world and Chiapas is the heart of its coffee culture.
Most coffee shops can be found along Real de Guadalupe. Many even offer coffee tastings! To my surprise, and as someone that only drinks coffee in the morning, these tend to start around 6pm. Sitting outside one of the coffee shops is such a wonderful way to soak up all the colours and energy of this vibrant city. So whenever you feel like you just want to stop for a moment and soak it all in, find a coffee shop and do just that. And that will be the best coffee shop for you in that moment. Because you simply cannot go wrong ordering a cup of coffee in San Cristóbal de las Casas!
Did you know that Chiapas has many wonderful coffee plantations in the south? If you want to read more about those than check out our Ultimate Guide to Top Places to visit in Chiapas as we reveal the best coffee farms to visit and stay at.
If you don’t have enough time to explore the ‘Ruta del Cafe’ in the south of Chiapas you can organise a day trip with a local coffee farmer directly from San Cristóbal de las Casas. The place to go is Cafe Yaxchilan where you can book a unique and personal experience!
Best Day Trips
El Aguacero Waterfall
Two and a half hours south of San Cristóbal de las Casas and 700 steps down into the canyon you’ll find a beautiful waterfall. You’ll be rewarded with stunning views and a small piece of paradise. There is a hidden cave system behind the waterfall if you feel like exploring further.
Sumidero Canyon
A similar distance in the same direction you will be able to explore Sumidero Canyon. A day trip isn’t enough time to visit both places though. The Sumidero Canyon is an expansive canyon along the river which can only be accessed by boat and requires you to book a tour! The canyon tours last about 2 hours and cost around 12 USD. As part of the incredible views expect to see waterfalls, caves and some wildlife. Spider monkeys and crocodiles can often be spotted here.
El Chiflón Waterfalls
Located about 2.5 hours southeast of San Cristóbal de las Casas you can take a beautiful hike along the river to hike up to this stunning waterfall! There are several beautiful overlooks providing breathtaking panoramic views. As it is one of the most popular of all waterfalls to visit in Chiapas, it can also get busier than most other places.
Best Time to Visit
Avoid Rainy Season from May until September when the waters turns from turquoise blue/green into brown!
Apart from being an awesome city …
San Cristóbal de las Casas is the perfect base to explore all that Chiapas has to offer! Make sure you check out Top 5 Places to see in Chiapas so you don’t miss out on one of the most rewarding regions to explore in Mexico! We truly loved our time in Chiapas. We are confident you will too!
Are you planning your trip to San Cristóbal de las Casas? Do you have any questions about anything we haven’t covered in this blog post? Or perhaps you want to add anything we may have missed? We are always happy to hear from you so please do leave us a comment below 🙂
