This mountain city at 7,200 feet has pink and yellow 16th-century churches, indigenous markets selling Maya textiles, and colonial buildings in bright blues and oranges.
San Cristóbal de las Casas sits at 7,200 feet in Mexico's southern state of Chiapas. You'll walk past pink and yellow 16th-century churches, browse indigenous markets where Tzotzil Maya vendors sell hand-woven wool textiles and golden amber jewelry, and spot colonial mansions painted in bright blues and oranges. A 30-minute drive takes you to Sumidero Canyon, where limestone walls rise 3,000 feet above your boat, or you can swim in the clear pools beneath El Chiflón's 120-meter waterfall.
Walking Through the Historic Center
Real de Guadalupe, the main pedestrian street, runs through the heart of San Cristóbal. You can sip coffee from nearby mountain farms at local cafes, and eat in buildings that date to the 1700s. Indigenous artisans sell their rebozos (shawls) and huipiles (embroidered blouses) in shops along the street. At one end stands the yellow Cathedral facing Plaza 31 de Marzo, while the pink Santo Domingo church, with intricate white stucco designs, marks the other end.
Markets and Local Crafts
Over 100 indigenous vendors from surrounding villages set up their stalls at Santo Domingo church each morning. You can buy wool blankets woven in Chamula, amber necklaces mined in Simojovel, and leather bags made in San Cristóbal workshops. The Municipal Market, a few blocks away, runs daily with produce stalls, food vendors making fresh tamales and pozol (a corn drink), and spice sellers with regional chilies and herbs.
Churches and Viewpoints
Two hilltop churches look out over San Cristóbal's red-tiled roofs. Climb 79 steps to reach the white and yellow Guadalupe Church, or 280 steps to San Cristobalito. Both churches open from early morning until sunset. From either point, you can photograph the town with mountains rising behind it.
Day Trips from San Cristóbal
At Sumidero Canyon, an hour from town, you can take two-hour boat tours between walls that reach up to 3,000 feet. Watch for crocodiles sunning on the riverbanks and spider monkeys in the trees above. El Chiflón waterfalls, two hours away, drop in several tiers, with the main cascade falling 120 meters. Take a swim in the lower pools or hike up to several viewing platforms.
Getting Around and Weather
You can walk to most places in the compact city center. For longer distances or at night, taxis run throughout town. The high elevation keeps nights cool year-round, with temperatures dropping to 50°F (10°C). From November to April, days stay sunny with little rain.
