In a nutshell
- San Cristóbal de las Casas is a charming colonial town nestled in the highlands of Chiapas, southern Mexico.
- The area around San Cristóbal is full of incredible sights, including the stunning Sumidero Canyon, the traditional village of Chamula, and the breathtaking Agua Azul waterfalls.
- In this guide, we’ll show you the best things to do in San Cristóbal de las Casas, share our favorite day trips, and offer helpful tips on places to stay, safety, getting there, and the local climate.
The Best Things to Do in San Cristóbal
San Cristóbal lies in southern Mexico at an altitude of about 2,100 meters. The city breathes history and tradition. Nowhere else in Mexico did we discover as many captivating stories about local culture as here.
We strongly recommend joining the free walking tour. Tours depart daily at 10 am and 4 pm from Plaza de la Paz, in front of the Catedral de San Cristóbal. It’s a great way to get your first feel for the city and soak in lots of local insights.
Then you can explore the top sights in San Cristóbal:
- Real de Guadalupe: the main street, dotted with shops and bars.
- Plaza Central & Catedral de San Cristóbal Mártir: the heart of town with the cathedral and elegant buildings.
- Templo de Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe: a hilltop church and viewpoint (though the panorama is modest).
- Andador del Carmen: a pretty lane lined with restaurants and bars.
- Templo de San Cristobalito: a hilltop church similar in feel to Guadalupe.
- Mercado de Dulces y Artesanías Ámbar: a market hall for browsing crafts, especially amber, and enjoying excellent food.
- Plaza de la Merced: a charming square with a lovely church and the Museo de Ámbar.
All these sights lie within the compact center of San Cristóbal, making it entirely feasible to see them on foot in a single day.
Attractions near San Cristóbal
Still, we suggest spending 3–4 days in San Cristóbal, because the surrounding region has many amazing treasures too.
#1 Cañón del Sumidero
A trip to Sumidero Canyon is a classic. We rank this canyon among the most beautiful natural sights in Mexico. It’s about 80 km from San Cristóbal and makes a perfect day‑trip destination.
We recommend booking a guided tour to Sumidero Canyon. It’s better value and less hassle than doing it independently.
You can book guided tours through almost any agency or hotel in San Cristóbal. Prices typically range from 450 to 500 MXN. If you prefer to plan ahead, you can also reserve the tour online.
Guided tour of the Cañón del Sumidero
On the guided tour, you’ll visit the canyon viewpoints and take a boat trip through the gorge. Along the way you may spot monkeys, crocodiles, and other wildlife. The full excursion takes about 8 hours and includes transport from San Cristóbal.
#2 San Juan Chamula
Chamula is the most unusual village we encountered on our Mexico trip. It’s just about 30 minutes by car from San Cristóbal and is somewhat autonomous—meaning they follow their own rules.
Most locals speak Tzotzil, not Spanish. Men sometimes have multiple wives, there is no formal marriage ceremony, and people openly drink on the street.
At the center of the village is the Templo de San Juan Bautista, which is the main draw for visitors. Photography is strictly forbidden inside—if you try, your phone might very well be knocked from your hand.
Rituals here are intense: chickens are sacrificed in the church, and locals belch after drinking Coca-Cola—part of their belief in healing.
We highly advise taking a guided tour of Chamula. That way you’ll learn more about the local culture and customs. Most tours also include a visit to nearby Zinacantán.
You can book the tours to San Juan Chamula locally in San Cristóbal. They cost around 300 MXN. Tours are a bit pricier online, but booking ahead gives you more planning flexibility.
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. Though it’s about 200 km from San Cristóbal, the site remains a favourite excursion for those looking for things to do in the area.
Palenque rivals the well‑known Chichén Itzá in magnificence, yet sees far fewer crowds. You can take a day‑trip to Palenque from San Cristóbal, though it means starting early and returning late.
Our tip: If you’re doing a round trip through Mexico, try departing San Cristóbal for Palenque, stay overnight in Palenque, and continue on to Mérida or Campeche the next day rather than returning.
Guided tour from San Cristóbal to Palenque including the Agua Azul waterfalls
#4 Agua Azul Waterfalls
The Agua Azul waterfalls lie between San Cristóbal and Palenque (but much closer to Palenque) and are included in most day tours to the Mayan ruins.
Several falls here glow with their beautiful turquoise hue—that’s where the name Agua Azul comes from. Perfect spot for amazing photos and relaxing by the water.
Note: It’s not safe to drive yourself from San Cristóbal to Palenque or Agua Azul. Robberies happen regularly on the main road.
Food in San Cristóbal
The Chiapas region is especially known for its coffee and chocolate—two things you should definitely try while in San Cristóbal. For excellent coffee, head to Kukulpan, and for something sweet, we love the chocolate treats at Xut – La Pastelaria.
There aren’t many dishes that are unique to San Cristóbal itself, at least not that we noticed. Still, you’ll find plenty of taco joints and a great selection of restaurants serving both Mexican and international food. A great spot for lunch is La Casa de Willy.
The local spirit in San Cristóbal is pox (pronounced “posh”), not tequila or mezcal like in other parts of Mexico. Pox comes in many varieties and you’ll find it sold throughout the city.
The Best Places to Stay in San Cristóbal
Most hotels and hostels in San Cristóbal de las Casas are charming and affordable. We’ve picked a few of our favorites for you.
Cool and inexpensive hostel: Posada del Abuelito
Budget-friendly hostel: La Abuelita Hostal
Great value hotel: Hotel Casa de Gandhi
Stylish boutique hotel: Guayaba Inn Boutique Hotel
Safety in San Cristóbal
The city center of San Cristóbal is safe. We always felt comfortable, even when walking around late at night.
Still, it’s best to avoid the areas outside the center after dark. Even during the day, we wouldn’t recommend exploring deserted streets in less developed neighborhoods.
There’s a high level of gang-related crime in Chiapas as a whole. While you’re unlikely to encounter any issues in touristy areas, the regions outside of town can be riskier. Stick to San Cristóbal and places commonly visited by travelers.
For more safety advice, check out our separate guide on staying safe in Mexico.
Getting to San Cristóbal de Las Casas
San Cristóbal makes a great stopover if you’re traveling between Yucatán and Oaxaca. It’s also not far from the border with Guatemala.
If you’re taking a long-distance bus, we recommend ADO. The buses are comfortable, and tickets can be booked on the ADO website. If that doesn’t work for you, try ViajoMucho or Checkmybus.
These are some of the most common routes to San Cristóbal, along with approximate travel times and prices:
- Oaxaca – San Cristóbal: Around 12 hours by bus (about 1000 MXN)
- Mérida – San Cristóbal: Around 15 hours (around 1500 MXN)
- Palenque – San Cristóbal: About 5 hours (500 MXN)
- Frontera La Mesilla (Guatemala) – San Cristóbal: Roughly 4 hours
If you’d rather skip the long bus journeys, San Cristóbal is also served by a nearby airport: Ángel Albino Corzo International Airport (TGZ). From there, you can catch affordable domestic flights to cities like Mexico City and Cancún.
For more information on how to get around the country also read our Mexico travel tips.
Weather in San Cristóbal de Las Casas
San Cristóbal is cooler and wetter than most other places in Mexico, thanks to its high elevation. So don’t forget to pack a warm jacket and some rain gear.
Daytime temperatures usually hover around 20°C, and it’s often cloudy. At night, it can drop to around 10°C or even cooler.
So you’ll probably spend most of your time in jeans rather than shorts. But if you’re heading out on day trips to nearby places, the temperatures tend to be warmer—something to keep in mind as you plan your packing list.
If you’d like more info on the climate across the country, check out our guide on the best time to visit Mexico.
Where to Next?
After San Cristóbal, you can continue your Mexico trip north to Oaxaca City and Puebla City if you go North, or south to Mérida and the Yucatán Península.