San Cristobal de las Casas is a highland town in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas. Located at 2,200 metres, the city a crisp and cool climate. The pedestrian friendly cobblestoned streets and pastel dwellings laid out onto this mountain setting further add to San Cristobal’s charm and is an ideal base for further explorations throughout the state of Chiapas.
San Cristobal de las Casas is largely inhabited by indigenous people with an interesting cultural flair due to centuries of colonial heritage. The towns numerous pedestrian friendly streets are lined with an astonishingly rich amount of architecture and culture. The Real de Guadalupe street is perhaps the most famous street of them all in terms of bars, cafes, restaurants as well as handcrafts and textiles.
San Cristobal de las Casas is best known for its well-preserved colonial architecture, such as the centuries-old, yellow San Cristóbal Cathedral on the Parque Central. The Los Altos Museum, in the baroque former Santo Domingo de Guzmán convent, has regional history and textile exhibits whilst outside the building, a market sells colourful weavings and other handicrafts.
For those with extra energy, walk up to either of the two churches that are perched atop hills in San Cristobal de las Casas: Iglesia de Guadelupe and Iglesia de San Cristobal. You’ll not only be rewarded by the ornate churches themselves, but you’ll earn spectacular views of San Cristobal de las Casas.
You’ll also find over a half dozen museums throughout San Cristobal de las Casas. The Centro de Textiles del Mundo Maya is arguably the best, highlighting textile production throughout the region. The intimate Na Bolom and Museo de Ambar are also culturally fascinating to many visitors.
Yet perhaps the best thing to do in San Cristobal de las Casas is to stroll along the many pedestrian-friendly streets and simply soak it all in. Sip some local Chiapan coffee at a cafe in the morning and switch over to pox, a local liquor, by nightfall. There’s no shortage of shopping opportunities either as you can find an abundance of locally made handicrafts at the market.
While it’s great to get acquainted with the town itself, what we think are some of the best things to do in San Cristobal de las Casas Mexico goes beyond the churches and museums in town. The mountains here contain an abundance of natural beauty and adventure.
