Things to do in San Cristobal de las Casas

Best time to visit San Cristobal de las Casas

• a note or something on   ✦ an occasion worth the trip

• November to February

  Dry, sunny days, cold nights; best weather.

• March to May

  Warm days, cool nights; good.

• June to September

  Rainy afternoons; green and quiet.

What's on

• Feria de la Primavera y de la Paz April

  Spring fair with concerts, food, and crowds.

Best things to do in San Cristobal de las Casas

• Templo de Santo Domingo

  Free

  Baroque church with the textile and amber market on its plaza.

• Museo del Ámbar

  $

  Amber museum by La Merced; learn to spot fakes before shopping.

• Andador Real de Guadalupe

  Free

  Pedestrian street of cafes and shops; best in the late afternoon.

• Plaza 31 de Marzo

  Free

  Main square with the cathedral; evenings bring music and crowds.

• Na Bolom

  $

  House-museum of the Bloms; Lacandon Maya history and a garden restaurant.

• Centro de Textiles del Mundo Maya

  $

  Top collection of highland Maya weaving; context before market shopping.

• Templo de Guadalupe

  Free

  Hilltop church with city views; go in the morning.

• Arco del Carmen

  Free

  Old colonial arch and chapel; good stop on a walking route.

Where to stay in San Cristobal de las Casas

• Centro

  first-timers, walkers, cafe life

• Barrio de Guadalupe

  quieter stays near the centre

• Barrio de Mexicanos / La Merced

  budget stays, longer trips

Think twice about

• Far outskirts without a car
• Right on the andador for light sleepers
• Streets around the bus terminal

Best restaurants in San Cristobal de las Casas

• La Casa del Pan Papalotl

  $

  Feminist collective bakery; the city's best comida corrida at lunch.

• TierrAdentro

  $$

  Tzotzil women's cooperative; highland Chiapas cuisine, try chipilín tamales.

• El Fogón de Jovel

  $$

  Traditional Chiapan restaurant; order the sopa de pan.

• Nostalgia Sabor Istmeno

  $$

  Oaxacan-inflected dishes and drinks; a change of pace.

• El Mercadito

  $

  Market-style restaurant known for sopa de pan.

• Restaurante Casa Lum

  $$$

  Contemporary regional cuisine in the Casa LUM hotel; reserve dinner.

Best bars in San Cristobal de las Casas

• La Casa del Mezcal

  $$

  Mezcalería with regional pox; try the Tzotzil sugarcane spirit.

• Café Bar 500 Noches

  $$

  Cafe and tapas bar with live jazz; go early for a seat.

Best coffee in San Cristobal de las Casas

• Café Yik

  $

  Shade-grown cooperative cafe; the definitive Chiapas coffee.

• Café Carajillo

  $

  Artistic cafe on the andador; good breakfast and wifi.

Outdoor things to do in San Cristobal de las Casas

• San Juan Chamula

  $

  Tzotzil village church mixing Maya ritual and Catholicism; no photos inside.

• Zinacantán

  $

  Weaving village known for flower-embroidered textiles; pair with Chamula.

• Cañón del Sumidero

  $$

  River canyon boat trip between 1,000m walls; full day via Chiapa de Corzo.

• El Chiflón

  $

  Tall waterfalls with a walking trail; swimmable pools at the top.

• Lagos de Montebello

  $

  Chain of coloured lakes near Guatemala; long full-day trip.

Best hotels in San Cristobal de las Casas

• Casa LUM

  $$$

  Boutique hotel on Real de Guadalupe with a strong restaurant.

• Hotel Bo

  $$$$

  Design hotel with a garden and restaurant; the splurge.

• Cafeología

  $

  Cafe and small hotel on Real de Guadalupe; wake up to coffee.

• Villa Mercedes San Cristóbal

  $$

  Reliable mid-range hotel with a restaurant; good value.

• Casa del Alma Hotel Boutique & Spa

  $$$

  Boutique hotel with a spa; calm and comfortable.

Is San Cristobal de las Casas expensive? What a day costs

A day of food, drink, sights and getting around, before the room

What to book ahead

• Restaurante Casa Lum: a few days ahead
• Casa LUM: weeks ahead
• Hotel Bo: weeks ahead
• Cafeología: weeks ahead
• Villa Mercedes San Cristóbal: weeks ahead
• Casa del Alma Hotel Boutique & Spa: weeks ahead

• Easter week and December: book hotels ahead.
• Temazcal and guided village tours: book a day ahead in high season.

Is San Cristobal de las Casas safe?

• Safe with normal precautions; altitude and cold nights catch people out. Respect village photo rules absolutely. Emergency number: 911.

San Cristobal de las Casas travel tips: tourist traps to skip

• Fake amber is everywhere; buy only from dealers who let you test pieces.
• Never photograph people in villages without permission.
• Eat Chiapaneco; the generic andador restaurants are unremarkable.

Getting around San Cristobal de las Casas: public transport and more

• The centre is walkable; the andador links Zócalo to Guadalupe.
• Taxis have no meters; agree on the fare first.
• Colectivos run to Chamula, Zinacantán, and Chiapa de Corzo.

Who San Cristobal de las Casas suits

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