In a nutshell
- San Cristóbal de las Casas is a stunning colonial city in the state of Chiapas in southern Mexico — one of the most culturally rich places we visited on our Mexico trip.
- The surrounding area is packed with incredible highlights: the Sumidero Canyon, the fascinating indigenous village of Chamula, and the turquoise Agua Azul Waterfalls.
- In this guide, we cover the best things to do in San Cristóbal, which day trips are genuinely worth it, and give you practical advice on where to stay, safety, getting there, and the weather.
The Most Beautiful Sights in San Cristóbal
San Cristóbal is located in southern Mexico at an elevation of about 2,100 meters. The city is full of traditions and history. At no other travel destination in Mexico did we learn as much fascinating information about the local culture as we did in San Cristóbal.
We really recommend doing the Free Walking Tour through the city. The walking tours start every day at 10 AM and 4 PM on Plaza de la Paz in front of the Catedral de San Cristóbal. They give you a great first impression of the city and you’ll learn a ton.
After that, you can explore the top attractions in San Cristóbal de las Casas:
- Real de Guadalupe: The main street, lined with shops and restaurants — great for a leisurely stroll.
- Plaza Central and Catedral de San Cristóbal Mártir: The main square with a beautiful church and gorgeous colonial buildings all around.
- Templo de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe: A church on a hilltop that doubles as a viewpoint — just don’t expect too much from the panorama.
- Andador del Carmen: A charming alley packed with restaurants and bars, perfect for an evening out.
- Templo de San Cristobalito: Another hilltop church, similar in feel to the Señora de Guadalupe.
- Mercado de Dulces y Artesanías Ámbar: A market hall that’s great for browsing, picking up amber souvenirs, and grabbing a bite at one of the excellent food stalls.
- Plaza de la Merced: A lovely square with a beautiful church and the Museo de Ámbar right next door.
All of these highlights are right in the city center, which is pretty compact. You can cover them all on foot in a single day.
The Best Day Trips from San Cristóbal
We still recommend spending three to four days in San Cristóbal. There are so many great things to see in the surrounding area that you’ll want the extra time.
#1 Cañon del Sumidero
A trip to the Sumidero Canyon is the ultimate classic day trip from san cristobal mexico. For us, the canyon is genuinely one of the most beautiful sights in all of Mexico. It’s about 80 kilometers from San Cristóbal and makes for a perfect full-day outing.
We recommend booking a guided tour to the Sumidero Canyon — it’s worth it both for the price and the convenience compared to getting there on your own.
You can book guided tours at almost any agency or hotel in San Cristóbal. They cost between 450 and 500 MXN. If you’d rather plan ahead, you can also book online.
Book the guided tour to the Cañón del Sumidero
On the tour, you’ll stop at the viewpoints along the canyon rim and take a boat ride through the gorge, where you may spot monkeys and crocodiles. The trip takes about eight hours and transportation from San Cristóbal is included.
#2 San Juan Chamula
Chamula was the most unusual village we visited on our entire Mexico road trip. It’s only about a 30-minute drive from San Cristóbal and is autonomous — meaning the village operates by its own rules.
The residents speak Tzotzil, not Spanish, men typically have multiple wives, formal marriages don’t exist, and drinking on the street is completely normal.
In the center of the village stands the Templo de San Juan Bautista — the standout attraction for visitors in Chamula. Photography inside the church is strictly forbidden. If you try it anyway, expect your phone to be knocked out of your hand.
Chickens are slaughtered inside the church, and locals burp after drinking a Coca-Cola. All of these are considered healing rituals.
We strongly recommend taking a guided tour to Chamula — you’ll get so much more out of it with someone who can explain the culture and customs. Most tours also include the neighboring indigenous village of Zinacantán.
You can book tours to San Juan Chamula on-site in San Cristóbal for around 300 MXN. Online tours cost a bit more, but you can lock in your plans further in advance.
Book the guided tour to San Juan Chamula and Zinacantán from San Cristóbal
#3 Palenque
Palenque is a small town in Chiapas famous for its Mayan ruins. Even though it’s 200 kilometers from San Cristóbal, it’s a popular excursion from the city — and totally worth it.
Honestly, Palenque is just as impressive as the famous Chichén Itzá, and far less crowded. You can book day tours to Palenque from San Cristóbal, but keep in mind you’ll leave very early in the morning and won’t be back until late at night.
Our tip: If you’re doing a road trip through Mexico, we’d suggest taking the tour from San Cristóbal to Palenque and then, instead of heading back in the evening, staying overnight in Palenque and continuing on to Mérida or Campeche from there.
Book the guided tour from San Cristóbal to Palenque including the Agua Azul waterfalls
#4 Agua Azul Waterfalls
The Agua Azul waterfalls sit between San Cristóbal and Palenque — much closer to Palenque — and are included in most day tours to the Mayan ruins.
There are several cascades at the site, all glowing in a stunning turquoise color — hence the name Agua Azul. The photo opportunities here are seriously incredible.
Important: Don’t drive your own car from San Cristóbal to Palenque or to the Agua Azul waterfalls. Robberies occur regularly on the federal highway — this is one route where a guided tour is genuinely the safer choice.
Food and Drink in San Cristóbal
The Chiapas region is especially known for its coffee and chocolate — and these are the two things you absolutely have to try in San Cristóbal. Our top picks are Kukulpan for coffee and Xut – La Pastelaria for chocolate.
There aren’t really any dishes that are unique to San Cristóbal itself — at least that was our impression. That said, you’ll find plenty of great taco stands and restaurants serving both Mexican and international food. For lunch, we loved La Casa de Willy.
One more thing: the local spirit in San Cristóbal is Pox (pronounced: Posh) — not tequila or mezcal as you’d find elsewhere in Mexico. You can find it in all kinds of varieties at shops throughout the city. Definitely worth a try.
Read our full guide to food in Mexico
The Coolest Hotels and Hostels in San Cristóbal
Most places to stay in San Cristóbal de las Casas are lovely and surprisingly affordable. Here are our personal favorites.
Good and affordable
Better
Safety in San Cristóbal
The center of San Cristóbal is safe. We never felt uncomfortable and even walked through the city center late at night without any issues.
That said, you should avoid areas outside the city center after dark. Even during the day, steer clear of deserted streets in poorer neighborhoods.
There is significant gang activity in the state of Chiapas. You won’t notice much of it in San Cristóbal itself, but non-touristy areas around the city can be more dangerous. Stick to San Cristóbal and tourist areas as much as possible.
For more safety advice for Mexico, check out our separate article on the topic.
To our article on safety in Mexico
Getting to San Cristóbal de las Casas
San Cristóbal makes a great stopover if you’re traveling between Yucatán and Oaxaca — or the other way around. It’s also not far from the border with Guatemala.
For long-distance buses, ADO is your best bet. The buses are comfortable and you can buy tickets directly on the ADO website. If that doesn’t work for you, ViajoMucho or Checkmybus are solid alternatives.
Here are the most popular routes to San Cristóbal, with approximate prices and travel times:
- Oaxaca – San Cristóbal: 12 hours (1,000 MXN)
- Mérida – San Cristóbal: 15 hours (1,500 MXN)
- Palenque – San Cristóbal: 5 hours (500 MXN)
- Frontera La Mesilla (Guatemala) – San Cristóbal: 4 hours
If long bus rides aren’t your thing, there’s also an airport nearby: the Aeropuerto Internacional Ángel Albino Corzo (TGZ). From here you’ll find affordable domestic flights to cities like Ciudad de México and Cancún.
More tips on getting around Mexico — check out our Mexico travel guide
Weather in San Cristóbal de las Casas
San Cristóbal is noticeably cooler than most other places in Mexico, and it rains fairly often. Make sure to pack a warm jacket and rain gear — you’ll thank yourself later.
Daytime temperatures usually hover around 68°F, and it’s often overcast. At night, it can drop to around 50°F pretty quickly.
Don’t count on wearing shorts around san cristobal de las casas. But if you head out on day trips into the surrounding lowlands, temperatures climb back up fast.
For more details on when to go, check out our article on the best time to visit Mexico.
Read our tips on the best time to visit Mexico:
Where to Next?
From San Cristóbal de las Casas, it’s easy to head north to Oaxaca and Puebla, or go east toward the Yucatán Peninsula with stops in Mérida and Valladolid.
