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    San Cristóbal de las Casas

    Mexico

    San Cristóbal de las Casas

    CityCulture

    San Cristóbal de las Casas is a colonial city founded in 1528, situated at around 2,200 meters in the Chiapas Highlands, about an hour's drive from the capital Tuxtla Gutiérrez.

    by Felix Gillen

    1. Home
    3. Destinations
    5. Mexico
    7. Chiapas
    9. San Cristóbal de las Casas
    San Cristóbal de las Casas is a colonial city founded in 1528, situated at around 2,200 meters in the Chiapas Highlands, about an hour's drive from the capital Tuxtla Gutiérrez. You come for its old town with low colonial houses, pedestrian streets, and churches like the Cathedral and Santo Domingo, and for the nearby Tzotzil villages of San Juan Chamula and Zinacantán.

    Sights in San Cristóbal de las Casas

    Discover the most important sights and attractions

    Museum

    1Centro de Textiles del Mundo Maya

    Textile Museum in the former Santo Domingo Dominican convent. More than 2,500 pieces from the collections of Fomento Cultural Banamex and Patronato Pellizzi showcase the weaving traditions of the Maya peoples in Chiapas and Guatemala.
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    Museum

    2Museo Jtatik Samuel

    Museum on the road to San Juan Chamula, dedicated to the life of Samuel Ruiz García, the former Bishop of San Cristóbal. Documents and photos tell of Chiapas' recent history and the Zapatista movement, complemented by regional textiles.
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    Templo de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe
    Church

    3Templo de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe

    Church from 1834 on Cerro de Guadalupe at the eastern end of Real de Guadalupe pedestrian street. Via a staircase, you reach the forecourt with views over the old town; on December 12th, it is the destination for celebrations honoring the Virgin of Guadalupe.
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    Church

    4Cathedral of San Cristóbal

    The Cathedral on the north side of the Zócalo is the city's landmark. Its yellow, red, and white painted main facade was completed in 1721; inside are gilded Baroque altars.
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    Temple of Santo Domingo de Guzmán
    Church

    5Temple of Santo Domingo de Guzmán

    16th-century Dominican Church with a richly decorated Baroque facade and a gilded interior. In the forecourt, vendors from the highland villages offer textiles and handicrafts, and the adjacent monastery houses the Textile Museum.
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    Museum

    6The Amber Museum

    Museum in the former La Merced convent, displaying Chiapas amber since 2000: raw pieces with trapped insects and plants, as well as carved figures and jewelry.
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    Essen & Trinken

    1

    Belil Flavors of Chiapas

    Small cafe-restaurant east of the Zócalo featuring Chiapanecan cuisine, breakfast, and local coffee.
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    2

    Sensaciones de Chiapas Cocina Regional

    Restaurant right on the Zócalo with regional Chiapas cuisine, also open for breakfast.
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    3

    Carnitas Azcapo

    Simple eatery south of the center specializing in Carnitas, pork cooked in its own fat, served in tacos or on a plate.
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    4

    Restaurante La Lupe

    Mexican restaurant on the pedestrian street Real de Guadalupe, also serving breakfast.
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    5

    El Fogón de Jovel

    Restaurant with Chiapan cuisine a few steps from the Zócalo. Jovel is the Tzotzil name for the San Cristóbal Valley.
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    Food and Drink in San Cristóbal

    The city has a great café scene and a cuisine that combines Chiapanecan dishes with influences from around the world.

    Coffee from Chiapas

    In many small roasteries and cafés in the Old Town, you can get coffee from the Chiapas Highlands.

    Tamales

    Corn tamales in many varieties, such as with Chipilín leaves, you'll find at markets and street stalls.

    Posh

    Tzotzil sugarcane liquor, also drunk during healing ceremonies. In town, it's sold in bars and shops.

    Culture and History

    From Ciudad Real to the City of ChurchesDiego de Mazariegos founded the city in 1528 as Villa Real de Chiapa. Its current name is partly after Bartolomé de las Casas, Bishop of Chiapas and defender of the indigenous population. In the 16th century, the Dominicans built the Santo Domingo monastery, and the main facade of the cathedral was completed in 1721. On January 1, 1994, the Zapatista EZLN briefly occupied the city; today, the Museo Jtatik Samuel commemorates Bishop Samuel Ruiz and that period.Everyday Indigenous CultureIn the markets and alleys, you'll meet Tzotzil and Tzeltal people from the surrounding area; many wear their village's traditional dress. Always ask before photographing people.ExcursionsSan Juan Chamula: A Tzotzil community with a church without pews, its floor covered with pine needles. Photography is strictly forbidden inside.Zinacantán: Neighboring village, known for embroidered clothing with flower motifs and weaving.Cañón del Sumidero: Boat trips from Chiapa de Corzo, accessible via the highway towards Tuxtla Gutiérrez.

    Nightlife

    1

    Bar Revolución

    Bar and café on the corner of 20 de Noviembre pedestrian street, often with live music in the evenings.
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    2

    La Viña de Bacco

    Small wine bar on the pedestrian street Real de Guadalupe, where tapas are served with a glass of wine.
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    On-site travels

    The Old Town is compact and flat enough to reach everything on foot. Taxis are inexpensive, and for evening trips, it's best to take one from a designated stand (Sitio).Colectivos to San Juan Chamula and Zinacantán depart near the Mercado Municipal. Long-distance buses from the company OCC stop at the bus station on the Panamericana south of the city center. The city's own airport has been closed since 2010; the nearest is Aeropuerto Ángel Albino Corzo (TGZ) near Tuxtla Gutiérrez.

    Accommodations in San Cristóbal de las Casas

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    Nearby

    Chiapas

    Chiapas

    Chiapas is Mexico's southernmost state, bordering Guatemala to the east. In the highlands lies the colonial city of San Cristóbal de las Casas at around 2,200 meters, while in the humid northern lowlands is the Mayan site of Palenque, a UNESCO World Heritage site since 1987. The capital is Tuxtla Gutiérrez, from where boat trips through the Cañón del Sumidero are accessible.
    Tuxtla Gutiérrez

    Tuxtla Gutiérrez

    Tuxtla Gutiérrez has been the capital of Chiapas since 1892 and, with around 600,000 inhabitants, is the state's largest city. The city is located in the warm valley of the Río Sabinal at just over 500 meters and directly borders the Cañón del Sumidero National Park.
    Comitán de Domínguez

    Comitán de Domínguez

    Comitán de Domínguez, situated at over 1,600 meters in southeastern Chiapas, has been a Pueblo Mágico since 2012. Around the Parque Central, colonial churches, museums, and colorful houses stand, and the city is also a gateway to the Lagunas de Montebello, the waterfalls of El Chiflón, and the Mayan site Tenam Puente.
    Palenque

    Palenque

    Palenque is a Maya ruined city on the edge of the rainforest in northern Chiapas, which flourished as a powerful regional capital between 500 and 700. You come for the Palace with its tower and the Temple of the Inscriptions with the tomb of the ruler Pakal; since 1987 the site, together with its national park, has been a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Add the Temple of the Cross group and waterfalls such as Misol-Ha in the surrounding area.
    Hierve el Agua

    Hierve el Agua

    Hierve el Agua is located about 70 kilometers east of Oaxaca de Juárez in the mountains above the Mitla Valley. Over millennia, calcareous spring water has flowed down the cliffs here, creating deposits that look like petrified waterfalls. Above are pools of spring water and expansive views over the Sierra.

    Sources & method

    • Photos: Wikimedia Commons, Pexels. Each photo carries its credit.
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