Chiapas · Mexico
Where to stay in San Cristóbal de Las Casas
San Cristóbal de Las Casas is a city in Chiapas, Mexico, home to about 184,000 people.
- Best months
- November to March
- Nearest airport
- TGZ46 km · Angel Albino Corzo International Airport
- Currency
- MXNpeso
- Time zone
- America/Mexico City
- Language
- Nahuatl, Spanish, Yucatec Maya
About
About San Cristóbal de Las Casas
Founded by the Spanish in 1528, San Cristóbal de las Casas was the political capital of Chiapas until the end of the 19th century, when that role was transferred to Tuxtla Gutierrez. It has a large indigenous population made up primarily of Tzotzil- and Tzeltal-speaking Mayans. The city has a vibrant artesanias community, creating hand-made traditional crafts in diverse trades including blacksmithing, pottery, woodcarving, amber jewellery making and embroidery. The crafts trades support the region's many Maya indigenous communities.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Things to do
What to see and do in San Cristóbal de Las Casas
See
- Templo de Santo Domingo Guzmán
- Museo de los Altos de Chiapas
- Museo de la Medicina Maya
- Museo Na Bolom
- Museo del Ámbar
- Museo Mesoamericano del Jade
- Templo de Guadalupe
- Templo de San Cristóbalito
- Orquídeas Moxviquil
Do
Stroll around town, enjoy the environment and lovely buildings, visit cafés, restaurants, churches and squares. San Cristóbal has an active nightlife when it comes to the artistic scene, including clubs, electronic events, live concerts, jams, cabarets and niche local cinema.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Which part of San Cristóbal de Las Casas to stay in
San Cristóbal is considered by some to be the backpackers hub in Chiapas. Some accommodation should be found for around M$50. There are signs on buildings advertising rooms for that amount, though they may have common bathrooms. Very nice hotels such as Hotel Real del Valle on Guadalupe just off the main square may be had for M$200.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Where to stay
Hotels in San Cristóbal de Las Casas
7 hotels within 25 km of the centre, as recorded in Wikidata. Each name links to its encyclopedia article where there is one.
| Hotel | Opened | From centre |
|---|---|---|
| Casa San Cristobal | 0.7 km | |
| Cielo Hotel | 0.4 km | |
| Collection O Casa de Familia OYO Rooms | 0.3 km | |
| Hotel Dugelay | 0.5 km | |
| Kukul'ik Studios & Workspace | 0.5 km | |
| OYO Hotel Punta Guadalupe OYO Rooms | 0.6 km | |
| Snail Bed and Breakfast | 0.3 km |
All 7 hotels in San Cristóbal de Las Casas, with their history and operators
When to go
The best time to visit San Cristóbal de Las Casas
The most comfortable months for a city stay in San Cristóbal de Las Casas are November to March. April is the warmest month, with average highs of 29 °C; September is the wettest, with about 278 mm of rain.
Comfortable means average daytime high between 18 °C and 29 °C and under 80 mm of rain in the month. Averages for 1991–2020 over the surrounding area, a grid square about 50 km across, so a coast or a nearby mountain can make the town itself warmer or cooler. Data: CRU TS v4.10, Climatic Research Unit, University of East Anglia (Open Database License).
Getting there
Getting to San Cristóbal de Las Casas: airports and arrival
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Angel Albino Corzo International Airport (TGZ), about 46 km from the city centre in a straight line; Carlos Rovirosa Pérez International Airport (VSA, 141 km) is also within reach.
Getting in
The closest airport to San Cristóbal is Ángel Albino Corzo International Airport (TGZ) in Tuxtla Gutierrez, a drive of about 1 hour 15 minutes. The fare for a taxi is M$600 per taxi to San Cristóbal (and M$200 to Tuxtla). Collective shuttles direct to San Cristóbal (on Bl Juan Sabines Gutiérrez, just West of the ADO station) can usually be found right beyond the taxi stand, for M$240. (these coincide with the arrival or departure of flights).
Getting around
If you are reasonably mobile you should be able to walk anywhere within the city without strain. Bicycles are also a good way to get around if you have an adventurous side. Taxis are all over the place (a little too many of them, honestly) and easy to flag down. Rates are negotiable, and are generally M$30-40; after 22:00 fares go up by M$5. Ask the price before getting in to make sure that you get the going rate. Because of a number of assaults by drivers, solo women are strongly advised to avoid hailing taxis on the street after dark. It is best to call for one or have one called for you.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
TGZ · Angel Albino Corzo International Airport
VSA · Carlos Rovirosa Pérez International Airport
Local knowledge
Eating, drinking and staying safe in San Cristóbal de Las Casas
Eat
On and around the main square there are many sit-down restaurants. You can find cheaper food at the local street vendors and at the markets. Go to the main public market and eat tamales for breakfast. Another local specialty is sopa de pan which you will probably not find in any restaurant catering to tourists. You will find it in the comedors in the market. That is the best food in town. On Saturdays many houses sell tamales out their front door. Look for the red lights. On any given evening there are places where people make antojitos on the street in front of their houses. This is real local food. At certain times of the year different insects are consumed in different ways.
Drink
Most all restaurants serve filtered water. The local drink here is "posh" or pox. It is a hard liquor made from cane and has been used traditionally for healing and partying. It is frequently served in ponche – a pineapple or fruit hot punch with a special bread broken into it.
Wikivoyage contributors, CC BY-SA 4.0; excerpted.
Questions
San Cristóbal de Las Casas: questions travellers ask
When is the best time to visit San Cristóbal de Las Casas?
The most comfortable months for a city stay in San Cristóbal de Las Casas are November to March. April is the warmest month, with average highs of 29 °C; September is the wettest, with about 278 mm of rain.
Which airport is closest to San Cristóbal de Las Casas?
The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Angel Albino Corzo International Airport (TGZ), about 46 km from the city centre in a straight line; Carlos Rovirosa Pérez International Airport (VSA, 141 km) is also within reach.
What currency is used in San Cristóbal de Las Casas?
peso (MXN).
Nearby
Destinations near San Cristóbal de Las Casas
Sources: city facts from Wikidata and Wikipedia; airports from OurAirports; climate from CRU TS v4.10 (University of East Anglia Climatic Research Unit), 1991–2020 monthly means, 0.5° grid; places to stay, guest scores and amenities from each operator's own public pages. How this guide is made.