Centro
First-timersThe andadores, the cathedral and most hostels.
Town guide
Things to do in San Cristóbal de las Casas
A cool highland town in Chiapas: cobbled streets, colourful churches, Tsotsil and Tseltal Maya villages nearby, a big market, mezcal and coffee bars, and boat trips through the Sumidero Canyon.
35
Hostels in the city
9.3
Average, from 14,146 reviews
2,200 m
Above sea level
3–4
Days
Highland Chiapas
San Cristóbal sits at about 2,200 metres in the mountains of Chiapas, in Mexico's far south. It is a low colonial town of painted houses, red-tiled roofs and pedestrian streets, ringed by hills and Indigenous villages.
It has long drawn backpackers, with cheap hostels, cafés, vegetarian food and a busy cultural scene. The surrounding Tsotsil and Tseltal Maya communities, such as San Juan Chamula and Zinacantán, keep their own traditions, dress and religious practices.
Nights are cold, so bring a warm layer. Give San Cristóbal three or four days, with a trip to the Sumidero Canyon.
Where to base yourself
Stay near the pedestrian streets (andadores) in the centre; Barrio de Guadalupe and El Cerrillo are close and quieter.
Barrio de Guadalupe
Quiet, viewsAround Real de Guadalupe, east of the centre.
El Cerrillo
Local, quietNorth of the centre, near Santo Domingo.
Barrio de Mexicanos
LocalAn old neighbourhood north of the centre.
Orange labels are neighbourhoods, dots are the 12 top-rated hostels. Map data from OpenStreetMap contributors.
Things to do
Things to do in San Cristóbal
Walk the Andador Real de Guadalupe and the Andador Eclesiástico, and climb the steps to the Guadalupe and San Cristóbal churches for views. Browse the craft market around Santo Domingo church, and the main municipal market.
Visit San Juan Chamula, whose church mixes Catholic and Maya practice; photos inside are forbidden, and you should ask before photographing anyone. Zinacantán is known for its flower growing and weaving.
Take a boat through the Sumidero Canyon from Chiapa de Corzo, between cliffs up to a kilometre high, with crocodiles and monkeys along the river.
Free things
And what it costs nothing to do
Walking the andadores and climbing to the hilltop churches is free. The markets and the cathedral square cost nothing.
The Museo de la Medicina Maya and the Na Bolom museum charge small fees.
Free walking tours run most days; tip the guide.
Food and drink
Eating and drinking
Try tamales, sopa de pan and local Chiapas coffee and chocolate. The market has cheap set meals for €2 to €4.
The centre has many vegetarian, international and bakery options for travellers.
Try pox (pronounced posh), a cane and maize spirit. A 10 to 15 per cent tip is usual in sit-down restaurants; check the bill first, as some add a service charge (propina).
Nightlife
Going out
San Cristóbal has bars with live music, mezcal and pox bars, and a few clubs, mostly along Real de Guadalupe and around the centre.
Nights are cold, so bars are cosy rather than late.
A beer costs €1.50 to €3.
Getting around
Getting around
The centre is walkable. Colectivos go to Chamula and Zinacantán, and tours run to the Sumidero Canyon.
The nearest airport is at Tuxtla Gutiérrez, about an hour away. ADO buses go to Oaxaca overnight and to Mexico City.
For Palenque, the UK advises against using Federal Highway 199 from just outside San Cristóbal; go via Villahermosa or fly, and check the latest advice.
Costs
What San Cristóbal costs
Hostel beds start at around €8 to €15 a night, some of the cheapest in Mexico. Market meals cost €2 to €4.
A Sumidero Canyon tour costs about €20 to €30, and a village tour about €15 to €25.
Pay in pesos. Carry cash for the markets and villages.
Safety
Safety and scams
The town itself is calm for visitors. Respect local customs in the villages, especially about photos.
Chiapas has road blockades and protests, and the UK advises against all but essential travel within 40 km of the Guatemalan border, which rules out places such as the Lagos de Montebello, and on Highway 199 to Palenque. Check the latest advice before any road trip.
Do not drink the tap water; use bottled or filtered water, which most hostels provide. In an emergency, call 911.
Worth the trip
Villages, canyons and ruins.
San Juan Chamula
A church like no other.
Sumidero Canyon
Boat between towering cliffs.
Chiapa de Corzo
A colonial river town.
Palenque
Jungle Maya ruins; avoid Highway 199.
What's on
What is on while you are there
Fiestas and holidays.
Spring, after Easter
Feria de la Primavera y de la Paz
San Cristóbal
Spring fair.
1 to 2 November
Day of the Dead
Cemeteries
Candles and families.
February
Carnival in Chamula
San Juan Chamula
A Maya carnival.
12 December
Fiesta of the Virgin of Guadalupe
Guadalupe church
Pilgrims and fireworks.
Hostels
Where to stay
The highest-rated hostels in San Cristóbal de las Casas, live from Hostelworld. Prices and availability are live on each property page.
Planet Hostel
Dorms from €6 a night
See dates and book
13 Cielos Hostel
Dorms from €8 a night
See dates and book
Casa Tequio
Dorms from €8 a night
See dates and book
Hostal La Isla
Dorms from €6 a night
See dates and book
Puerta Vieja Hostel
Dorms from €10 a night
See dates and book
Posada del Abuelito
Dorms from €7 a night
See dates and book
Casa Arcoiris Hostel
Dorms from €6 a night
See dates and book
CHE San Cristobal de las Casas
Dorms from €6 a night
See dates and book
Casa Azabache
Rooms from €9 a night
See dates and book
La Abuelita Hostal & Terraza
Dorms from €5 a night
See dates and book
La Fortaleza Hostel
Dorms from €4 a night
See dates and book
Rossco Hostel
Dorms from €11 a night
See dates and book
When to go
November to April is dry, with sunny days and cold nights. May to October brings afternoon rain. Days are mild all year and nights can drop close to freezing in winter.
Jan
Dry, cold nights
Feb
Dry
Mar
Dry
Apr
Spring fair, Easter
May
Warmest
Jun
Rain
Jul
Rain, busy
Aug
Rain
Sep
Rain
Oct
Rain
Nov
Dry, Day of the Dead
Dec
Holidays, cold
Bar height is temperature. Colour is how busy it gets:
quiet
busy
peak
Average highs, rounded. Cold nights all year.
What your trip will cost
Per night, for one person, based on San Cristóbal de las Casas prices.
Treat these as a guide. Tours cost extra.
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- Beds—
- Food and drink—
- Getting around—
- Doing things—
San Cristóbal de las Casas questions
The ones we get asked most.
Is San Cristóbal safe?
The town is calm; avoid the border area and Highway 199, and check for blockades.
How cold does it get?
Days are mild but nights are cold, near freezing in winter.
Can I take photos in Chamula?
Not inside the church, and ask before photographing people.
How do I get to Palenque?
Via Villahermosa or fly; avoid Highway 199.
How do I get to the Sumidero Canyon?
On a tour or via Chiapa de Corzo.
How many days do I need?
Three to four.
When is the best time to visit?
November to April.
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