Guide to San Cristobal de las Casas
Swim in striking blue waterfalls, take a boat ride through gigantic canyons, go souvenir shopping at colourful markets, explore ancient ruins and appreciate incredible natural scenery; these are some of the best things to do in San Cristobal de las Casas. Continue reading this guide to San Cristobal de las Casas for more and everything you need to know for your visit.
San Cristobal de las Casas (also known as San Cristobal for short) is a colourful colonial city in Chiapas, Mexico’s southernmost state. Chiapas is known for its incredibly diverse landscapes from endless mountain vistas and turquoise waterfalls to ancient Mayan ruins and magnificent canyons.
Chiapas has one of Mexico’s largest indigenous populations and is scattered with dozens of traditional Tzotzil and Tzeltal villages. The modern-day descendants of this ancient civilisation have retained a distinct identity and culture. For this reason, San Cristobal, being the cultural heart of Chiapas, beautifully fuses ancient traditions and modern comforts making it a great base for exploration.
San Cristobal de las Casas sits in a small valley surrounded by green hills and pine forests. Situated at an altitude of 2200 metres, it has a cool climate and the air is always clean and fresh.
Beautiful cobbled streets, plazas and colourful markets make the city worth a visit on its own. Likewise, it’s also a great base from which to explore more of Chiapas’ incredible natural scenery. Swim in turquoise waterfalls, visit ancient ruins, hike around forested lakes, take a boat trip down impressive canyons, and more!
In this guide to San Cristobal de las Casas, we’ll share the best things to do and everything you need to know for your visit including where to stay, how to get there, the best time to visit San Cristobal and so much more.
Make sure to visit our Mexico City and Oaxaca guides if visiting San Cristobal de las Casas is part of a larger Mexico itinerary.
No time to read this guide to San Cristobal de las Casas now? No worries, pin this post for later!
Contents
Best Things to do in San Cristobal de las Casas
Here are the best things to do in San Cristobal de las Casas.
Explore San Cristobal de las Casas' Quaint Colourful Streets
We’ll start this guide to San Cristobal de las Casas off with what we’d recommend doing as soon as you arrive; exploring the quaint colourful streets.
San Cristobal is quite small, making it very easy to walk around and get a feel for what it has to offer. Much of the city has retained its Spanish colonial style with narrow cobbled streets winding their way around multi-coloured buildings; it’s definitely one of Mexico’s most beautiful cities!
One of the best things to do in San Cristobal de las Casas is to visit the Zocalo; the city’s main plaza and a very peaceful area. There’s a cute kiosk in the middle perfect for a coffee and watching the world go by. The Zocalo is a popular meeting point for both tourists and locals and you’ll usually see groups of people gathered reading or chatting.
Diagonally next to the Zocalo is Plaza de la Paz; a livelier square where you’ll find the city’s cathedral, street performers and the main nightlife and restaurants.
Our top tip: if you lose your bearings, look for the Santa Domingo Church perched on a hill north of the town, or the Guadalupe Church on a hill to the west.
Take a Boat Ride Through Cañon del Sumidero
Next in our guide to San Cristobal is a trip to Cañon del Sumidero; one of Mexico’s 13 natural wonders and one of the best things to do in San Cristobal de las Casas.
For some breathtaking natural scenery, take a boat ride on the Grijalva River through the Sumidero Canyon National Park. This canyon is a geological fault formed millions of years ago and is considered to be one of the most spectacular places in Mexico!
The Sumidero Canyon walls reach incredible heights of up to 1,200 metres in places and have some beautiful features including the “Cueva de Colores” (Cave of Colours) and the “Cascada Arbol de Navidad” (Christmas Tree Waterfall).
A lot of the park’s vegetation is deciduous forest home to a variety of wildlife such as spider monkeys, birds and even crocodiles so keep your eyes peeled and cameras at the ready.
Our Top Tip: a trip to Sumidero Canyon National Park can be easily arranged with El Chiflon and Lagos de Montebello (below).
Visit El Chiflon Waterfall
Tucked away inside a beautiful valley are five giant waterfalls plunging into pools at the bottom. The top waterfall is one of the highest and most powerful waterfalls in Mexico! Tumbling 120 metres down an almost vertical limestone cliff, be prepared to get showered mist.
If you visit the El Chiflon Waterfall during the dry season, you’ll be treated to a magnificent turquoise colour. During the rainy season, which was when I visited, the water is quite murky because of the mud. Not ideal for swimming in but the falls are more powerful.
The entire area around El Chiflon Waterfall is absolutely stunning! There are forest trails you can explore and pools you can swim in. The path between the falls is relatively flat and easy. Allow for about an hour to reach the top waterfall and come back down with time for photos.
For the ultimate adrenaline-pumping activity, there’s even a zip line you can do across the falls!
Explore Lagunas de Montebello National Park
Exploring Lagnuas de Montebello National Park is one of the most unique things to do in this guide to San Cristobal de las Casas as not many people know about it and it’s remained largely off the tourist trail.
Lagunas de Montebello National Park borders Guatemala and is a breathtaking area of almost 60 striking blue and turquoise lakes, a vast pine forest, a variety of wildlife and impressive Mayan ruins. In 2009, UNESCO designated the area a Biosphere Reserve.
There are tons of activities you can do here from swimming in the lakes with a scenic mountainous backdrop to hiring a small boat or raft constructed from tree trunks to hiking one of the many trails rewarding you with panoramic views across the lakes, surrounding forest and mountains.
Lagunas de Montebello is genuinely one of the most beautiful areas in Mexico. It has an incredibly peaceful atmosphere and is without a doubt one of the best things to do in San Cristobal de las Casas.
Our Top Tip: if you’re short on time, you can combine a trip with El Chiflon Waterfall and the Sumidero Canyon. However, if you really want to do this area justice, and see more than just the lake’s shore, spend a night or two in Comitan as it’s only an hour from this charming town.
Shop for Souvenirs at San Cristobal's markets
Due to Chiapas having a large indigenous population, the region is heavily influenced by traditional arts, crafts and clothing. For this reason, one of the best things to do in this guide to San Cristobal de las Casas is to explore some of the wonderful colourful markets.
For locally produced textiles, handcrafted souvenirs, leather goods and amber jewellery, head to the Santa Domingo Artisan Market in front of the Santa Domingo Church.
For those with a sweet tooth, check out Mercado de Dulces y Artesanias Ambar. Try some of the traditional Mexican sweets including caramelised pumpkin candies, coconut bars, yuca root candies and candied apples. You’ll also find regional handicrafts here.
For some truly local cuisine and regional fruit you may not have seen elsewhere, visit the San Cristobal Mercado Municipal. This market’s remained largely off the tourist trail so you’ll receive a real insight into local daily market life.
Stroll Down Real de Guadalupe
Real de Guadalupe is the main pedestrian street in San Cristobal. It’s a quaint cobblestone street lined with buildings of every colour imaginable home to restaurants, bars, bakeries, cafes and shops.
This street is constantly bustling with street vendors selling everything from multi-coloured textiles to tacos, people haggling for bargains and people chatting away at mealtimes. It’s the perfect place to grab a table outside, have a cold cerveza and watch the world go by.
Visit Palenque
Mexico is packed full of archaeological treasures offering a true insight into how ancient cultures lived. Close to Mexico City is Teotihuacan; one of the most popular cultural centres in Mesoamerica and near Oaxaca lies Monte Alban; one of the earliest cities in Mesoamerica.
In Chiapas, you’ll find Palenque; one of the most documented Mayan archaeological ruins. This complex of limestone pyramid tombs and temples is set deep in the tropical jungle and dates back to 226 BC. The city flourished in the 7th century BC and was populated until 799 AD.
Unlike many other ruins around Central America, you can still climb Palenque’s main temples. From the top, you’ll be rewarded with panoramic views across the site and the nearby temples that have been swallowed up by the jungle.
Although it’s possible to visit Palenque from San Cristobal, it’s a four-and-a-half-hour drive each way. If you’re short on time you can do an organised tour that also includes Misol-Ha and Agua Azul (see below). Alternatively, we’d recommend staying a night in Palenque.
Swim In Agua Azul Waterfall
One of the most spectacular things in this guide to San Cristobal de las Casas is Agua Azul; a series of waterfalls and bright blue pools. Rather obviously, their name comes from the striking blue water of the thundering falls. Their incredible colour is a result of the high mineral content of the water depositing itself on the rock.
In 1908, Agua Azul was designated a wildlife refuge and later promoted to Biosphere Reserve status. Inhabiting the surroundings are a variety of different wildlife including jaguars and endless bird species.
Amongst the cascading falls are various pools you can swim in. We’d recommend at least swimming in the ones closer to the entrance for a full view of the falls from below, however, the pools further up the waterfall are quieter so once you’ve enjoyed the view, head further up.
There’s also a walking path up the side of the waterfall where you can see the smaller cascades joining together to create the larger falls towards the bottom. Visiting Agua Azul really is one of the best things to do in San Cristobal de las Casas; the natural scenery is absolutely stunning!
Bear in mind that depending on the season you visit, the falls change colour. During the rainy season, the water flows at a much higher intensity and mixes with mud resulting in the blue colour being less intense. Agua Azul is still very impressive as there’s a much higher volume of water.
Our Top Tip: although it’s possible to visit Agua Azul on a day tour from San Cristobal with Palenque and Misol-Ha (below), it’s a lot closer to Palenque. So, if you have the time, stay a night or two there.
Explore Misol-Ha Waterfall and Cave
One of the best things to do in San Cristobal de las Casas is to visit the breathtaking waterfall Misol-Ha. Misol-Ha cascades 35 meters into a wide pool surrounded by lush tropical jungle.
During the dry season, Misol-Ha is an incredible spot for a dip, however, like Agua Azul and El Chiflon, during the rainy season, the water can appear murky because of the mud.
Behind the waterfall is a path leading into a cave, allowing you to experience close-up the power of the water.
For the ultimate jungle experience, stay in one of the on-site eco-tourism cabins.
Our Top Tip: again we’d recommend staying in Palenque as by the time you arrive from San Cristobal, the path will be very crowded.
Climb the Stairs to Templo de Guadalupe
We’ll finish this guide to San Cristobal de las Casas off with one of the best views of the city!
Walking west along Real de Guadalupe you’ll reach the picturesque Templo de Guadalupe. Built in 1834 atop the Guadalupe Hill, there are 79 stairs to reach the shaded wooded plaza surrounding the church.
Here, you’ll find some benches you can sit at and admire the view over the red-roofed tiles out to the surrounding mountainside.
Our Top Tip: if you ever get lost walking around San Cristobal, this church is visible from quite a distance and great for finding your bearings.
Everything You Need to Know For Your Visit to San Cristobal de las Casas
Where to Stay in San Cristobal de las Casas
San Cristobal de las Casas is a very walkable city so deciding where to stay isn’t too difficult. We’d recommend staying close to Real de Guadalupe so you’re just a few minutes walk from the main restaurants, vendors and bars.
The closer you are to Real de Guadalupe, the higher the price of accommodation so if you’re travelling on a budget, look for something a little further out. As it’s a small city, you’ll still be able to walk into the centre.
In this guide to San Cristobal, we’ll share a budget, mid-range and luxury hotel option. Alternatively, use the map below to look for accommodation.
- Budget hotel option: Villa Coleta is located close to the centre of San Cristobal, is pretty basic but has everything you need to make you feel at home.
- Mid-range hotel option: Casa Santa Lucia is very close to the city centre, includes a delicious breakfast and has friendly and welcoming staff to make your stay in San Cristobal memorable.
- Luxury hotel option: the gorgeous colonial-style Plaza Gallery Hotel Boutique is located in the heart of San Cristobal. All rooms have either a terrace or a balcony and even the smallest details are taken care of.
Our Top Tip: it gets pretty chilly in the evenings so make sure your accommodation has heating.
The best time to visit San Cristobal
Due to the altitude, San Cristobal has a temperate climate pretty much all year with temperatures varying between 20 and 25 degrees Celsius. April and November have the most pleasant temperatures, however, and there are also fewer tourists. The evenings are prone to getting cold so bring layers.
December to April are the driest months for Mexico as a whole. Although this means the best weather it also means more crowds and higher prices. I visited in November when it was still quite cool and had fewer crowds. It’s also Day of the Dead at the start of November which is definitely worth experiencing!
The rainy season is June to October but the coast is affected the most. Hardly any rain falls in Central Mexico, although you may experience the odd heavy afternoon shower.
How long to spend in San Cristobal
We’d recommend at least three nights to fully experience everything in this guide to San Cristobal de las Casas. If you plan on visiting Palenque, Agua Azul and Misol-Ha, allow for at least four nights.
San Cristobal is a fantastic base to explore Chiapas’ surrounding natural beauty so you could easily spend a week here!
How to get to San Cristobal
There are a few ways to get to San Cristobal depending on where you’re coming from.
Tuxtla Gutiérrez Airport is an international airport in Chiapas, approximately 1.5 hours from San Cristobal. From here you can take buses or taxis to the city. The most affordable way is to take a colectivo from just outside the airport exit which costs approximately 300 MXN per person, whereas a taxi costs roughly 1,200 MXN per person.
The cheapest way to get to San Cristobal, and around Mexico in general is by bus. ADO is the most popular bus company and this is how I travelled around Mexico. They offer different levels of luxury and tickets can be booked online or at the bus station.
Do I need a visa?
As a UK passport holder, you don’t need a visa to visit Mexico as a tourist. You will, however, need to complete an immigration form and have this with you when you enter and leave Mexico.
What currency is used?
Mexico uses the peso. At the time of writing 1 USD is 17.01 MXN.
What plug do I need?
Mexico uses plug types A and B. Both have two flat parallel pins and B has a grounding pin.
I hope you’ve found this guide to San Cristobal de las Casas useful. If you have any other questions feel free to leave a comment. If your trip is part of a larger visit to Central America, head to our additional Mexico, Guatemala and Belize guides below.