SAN CRISTÓBAL DE LAS CASAS, MEXICO

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As I tried to write a description for San Cristóbal de las Casas, it was hard for me to put my finger on what makes it so special. After much thought, the term “poetic contrast” popped into my head so I’m going to roll with it. Before you roll your eyes, hear me out. While the city center has a very prototypical Mexican feel (colonial, colorful, and cobblestone-clad), visits to the surrounding national parks give off a far different energy; you feel like you’re in an entirely different country! This rich contrast is what no other city in Mexico can match!

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Attractions:

  • Lagunas de Montebello National Park: Oh, you weren’t expecting to see forests full of pine and oak trees in Mexico? I didn’t see this coming either before my visit and although it’s far from town, the trip is well worth your time! Full-day tours run at around 400 MXN ($20 USD) and include stops at El Chiflón Waterfalls and a few of the picturesque, azure lakes in the surrounding area. Be sure to bring a sweater because the elevation and thick, green wooded areas make for a chilly climate. If you’re lucky, you’ll see some orchids blooming as well! The park borders Guatemala and is approximately 3 hours from SCDC.

  • Guadalupe Church: Ascend up this gorgeous church’s steps to get a great view of San Cristóbal de las Casas! The white and yellow church is usually adorned with green, red, and white flags to represent Mexico’s bandera. The church is free to enter and open daily from 9:00am-1:30pm and 4:00pm-8:00pm.

  • Sumidero Canyon: Located in a national park with the same name, this canyon is spectacular! Although you can take a public bus, I find that booking a tour from SCDC is the easiest way to see the area; tours are 7 hours long and cost 300 MXN ($15 USD). The tour includes round-trip van transit (1.5 hours each way), a boat ride through the canyon (2.5 hours), and time to explore the small town of Chiapa de Corzo (1 hour). The best part is seeing crocodiles and monkeys in their natural habitat from the boat!

  • Casa Na Bolom: The former home of anthropologist Gertrude Blum and archaeologist Frans Blom currently serves as a museum, hotel, and research center run by the nonprofit the couple founded in 1950. This nonprofit, Na Bolom, is focused on cultural and environmental preservation. The museum is open daily from 9:00am-7:00pm and costs 60 MXN ($3 USD) to enter.

  • Wander the Markets: There are two main markets in town each serving their own purpose. "José Castillo Tielemans" Market (or Mercado Viejo) is known for its wide variety of food options; be sure to stop here if you’re hungry! It is open daily from 6:00am-6:00pm. The Sweets and Handicrafts Market, or Mercado de Dulces y Artesanías Ambar, is open every day from 8:00am-9:30pm and is the spot to go for souvenirs and trinkets!

  • Real de Guadalupe: This is SCDC’s main pedestrian street lined with shops, bakeries, restaurants, and bars. Check it out!

  • Other attractions to see include: Diócesis de San Cristóbal de las Casas, El Arcotete Parque Ecoturistico, and Santo Domingo Church.

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Accommodation:

  • Hotel - Sombra del Agua: Well on its way to becoming a 4-star hotel, Sombra del Agua is beautiful! Its courtyard and traditional feel will surely make for an absolutely lovely stay! I highly recommend!

  • Hostel - Posada del Abuelito: Looking for a family-run hostel with a quiet atmosphere, free breakfast, and a courtyard full of hammocks? This is your spot! It’s a 15-minute walk from the city center and 20 minutes from the ADO bus terminal.

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Transportation:

San Cristóbal de las Casas’ main bus station is Terminal ADO; all buses below leave from here. You will see flight options below; scroll to the bottom of this section for more information on the bus ride from San Cristóbal de las Casas to Tuxtla’s airport.

  • Oaxaca is 12 hours by bus from San Cristóbal de las Casas and costs 828 MXN ($42 USD); buses leave twice nightly at 8:00pm and 10:45pm.

    • VivaAerobús offers flights weekly from Tuxtla (TGZ) to Oaxaca (OAX). Flights are 75 minutes and cost 875 MXN.

  • Puebla is 12 hours by bus from San Cristóbal de las Casas and costs 1,240 MXN ($63 USD); buses leave 4 times daily.

    • VivaAerobús offers flights from Tuxtla (TGZ) to Puebla (PBC) as well. Flights are 80 minutes and cost 875 MXN.

  • Antigua, Guatemala is 12 hours by shuttle bus from San Cristóbal de las Casas and costs $35 USD (700 MXN) via Gekko Trails Explorer. This shuttle picks up at your hostel at 7:00am and arrives in Antigua at approximately 7:00pm.

    • There are no border costs associated with departing Mexico or entering Guatemala.

  • Mexico City is 14 hours by bus from San Cristóbal de las Casas and costs 1,280 MXN ($65 USD); buses leave 4 times daily. In Mexico City, this bus drops off at Terminal de Autobuses de Pasajeros de Oriente (TAPO).

    • VivaAerobús flies from Tuxtla (TGZ) to Mexico City (MEX), too. Flights are 90 minutes and cost 875 MXN.

  • Mérida is 17 hours by bus from San Cristóbal de las Casas and costs 1,134 MXN ($57 USD); buses leave twice nightly at 4:20pm and 6:50pm.

    • VivaAerobús has flights from Tuxtla (TGZ) to Mérida (MID). Flights are 90 minutes and cost 860 MXN ($43 USD).

The closest airport to SCDC is Tuxtla Gutierrez International Airport (TGZ or Ángel Albino Corzo), which is 80km (50 miles) southwest. The bus connecting TGZ to SCDC is 1.5 hours and costs 48 MXN ($2 USD); buses run 10 times daily.

Thank you, Freddy, for the great picture of me looking off into the sunset. I’d also like to thank Carlos Alcazar for the terrific photo of Sumidero Canyon!