San Cristobal de las Casas, located in the Mexican state of Chiapas, is a charming colonial city set amidst the lush mountains. Its cobbled streets, brightly painted buildings, and bustling indigenous markets will transport you to a different but lively world. The city is surrounded by traditional indigenous communities, and offers a unique opportunity to explore their rich culture, natural beauty, and ancient traditions. From exploring the local markets to boating through the magnificent Sumidero Canyon, there is something for every adventurer here.
Table of Contents
- How to get to San Cristobal de las Casas
- Where to stay in San Cristobal de las Casas
- What to do in San Cristobal de las Casas
How to get to San Cristobal de las Casas
From Puerto Escondido
Getting to San Cristobal de las Casas from Puerto Escondido is a long drive, at roughly 14 hours. I took the ADO bus and it was a very comfortable ride, minus waking up at almost every stop we made. The bus leaves from the main bus station in Puerto Escondido and drops you off at the San Cristobal de las Casas bus station. Tickets were roughly 700 pesos (can be more or less depending on the online discounts they offer) and can be bought through the app.
I got on the bus at the Huatulco stop, which is where I went after Puerto Escondido. (To read about my experience in Huatulco, check out my blog post here). It is the same bus that leaves from Puerto Escondido that comes to Huatulco about 3 hours later.
From Anywhere else
You are able to reach San Cristobal de las Casas from ADO bus from Mexico City, Cancun and everywhere in between. Although it may be a very long bus ride and much more expensive than what I paid. You can also take a flight to Tuxtla Gutiérrez, which is the capital of Chiapas state. From the airport you can take the ADO shuttle bus to the city of Tuxtla and then to San Cristobal de las Casas.
Where to stay in San Cristobal de las Casas
Why stay at Puerta Vieja in San Cristobal de las Casas
There are MANY hostels to stay at in San Cristobal de las Casas. But my favorite and maybe even the best hostel (I may be a little biased!) is Puerta Vieja. The one thing that attracted me to this hostel is that breakfast and dinner is included in the price. I paid about $11 per night, so this was an awesome deal. They also have drink deals one certain days of the week, including free drinks on Tuesdays and Fridays. And the food and drinks are delicious. Not to mention, this is only a 10 minute walk from the ADO bus station.
the rooms
The rooms are clean and very comfortable. The bathrooms can get a big busy at certain times of the day but they are also kept very clean. You will see filtered water next to the sinks that you should use to brush your teeth with. The water in San Cristobal de las Casas is notoriously unclean so make sure to use filtered water for drinking and brushing teeth. I talk about the water a little more in a later section on this page.
the common areas
The hostel also has a kitchen and several filtered water jugs placed around the hostel. There is a huge lounge area in the middle of the hostel as well as a nice bar and outdoor area. Overall, a very homey feeling.
The WiFi is not so great in the rooms but is decent in the common areas. I still wouldn’t say this hostel is an ideal spot for the digital nomad.
What to do in San Cristobal de las Casas
San Cristobal de las Casas is located in the highlands of Chiapas state, in my opinion one of the most beautiful states in Mexico. Filled with lush jungles, waterfalls, and Mayan ruins, there is much to do in and around San Cristobal de las Casas. During my short stay here, I wasn’t able to see as much as I had liked, especially with the constant rain. Below is a list of things to see in and around San Cristobal de las Casas:
Things to do in San Cristobal de las Casas
Walk around the city
A walk around the city will be colorful and exciting. Here are a couple things to see to make your own walking tour around the city:
- Plaza 31 de Marzo – the main plaza in the city
- Iglesia del Carmen – archway over the road that once used to be the gate to the city
- Templo de Santo Domingo de Guzmán – a beautiful church in the north of the colonial city
- Tienda de los Artesanos de Chiapas – artisan shop for local handicrafts
- Iglesia de San Cristóbalito – a church that offers a stunning view of the city
- Municipal Market – a market in the north part of the city filled with fresh fruits and vegetables, tradiional clothing, and so much more
Things to do around San Cristobal de las Casas
Sumidero Canyon
Hostel pickup and Sumidero Canyon viewpoints
This is probably the most popular attraction around San Cristobal. Thus, it is much easier and may even be cheaper to see this through a tour. Puerta Vieja was offering tours of Sumidero Canyon for about 660 pesos. The tour began early in the morning where the shuttle buses picked us up and drove us about an hour and a half to two viewpoints of the canyon. The first was at Mirador el Roblar and the second was at Mirador Cañón del Sumidero, the latter being the nicer view. Mirador Cañón del Sumidero also has a small museum with photos of the area and artwork for sale, and paid restrooms nearby.
Sumidero Canyon boat tour
About another hour and a half drive later, our tour took us to the start of the boat tour, which is located around here. The boats are very simple with one seat on each side and the walkway in between. There were other boats in a 2 x 2 configuration with a walkway in between. My boat did not have a rain cover and it was drizzling a bit while I was there but it wasn’t too bad.
The boat ride was so beautiful. It took us right between the canyon where we got to see several different species of birds, monkeys, and crocodiles. We also stopped at several waterfalls running down the canyon walls. The tour guides only spoke Spanish, making it a bit difficult for me to catch everything they said, but they were super friendly and hilarious. At one point in the tour we are taken to an echoing canyon wall. The tour guide will tell you to yell and the echo back is so clear, it was hard to tell if it even was an echo!
Buffet lunch
The tour guides dropped us off on the opposite side of the river that we were picked up on. From there our tour went to a small local restaurant where we got to have a buffet lunch which was included in our tickets. The buffet lunch was ok, nothing too spectacular, but enough to fill my stomach. Then we made it back to the hostel around 4pm-ish.
El Chiflon Waterfalls
This was one of those things that I will definitely have to come back to see. El Chiflon waterfalls, located close to the Guatemalan border, is a beautiful, blue waterfall in the middle of a jungle. A short walk on a trail is required to reach the falls, but the area is well organized with benches. An entry fee of 50 pesos is required to enter the area. And definitely don’t forget to bring your swimsuit!
Lagunas de Montebello National Park
Another one of those spots that I was unable to see during my stay, but if you have the time I’ve heard it’s worth seeing. Right along the border of Guatemala, this National Park has several beautiful lakes, caves, and hiking trails.
El Arcotete
Easy to reach from San Cristobal, this is a natural arch formed over a river. There are also some hiking trails nearby and some nice spots for a picnic.
Water in San Cristobal de las Casas
Tap water in San Cristobal de las Casas is notorious for causing sickness and parasites, so definitely be careful with what you’re ingesting while you are visiting here. I met several people that had diarrhea, parasites, or anything in between after visiting San Cristobal de las Casas. During my stay here I came to learn that a Coca-Cola plant that is on the edge of the city has been using water from one of the leading groundwater sources in the country. Causing much of the public to have limited access to clean, drinking water. This has caused much outrage in the past from the locals, justifiably so. The cost of Coca-Cola is often cheaper than water, making it an unhealthy substitution for water, which surely does not help the cause of lack of clean water in the area.
Nonetheless, San Crisotbal de las Casas is still a beautiful place to visit and one that I would highly recommend. While being extra cautious, I was lucky enough to not get sick here. You just need to be wary when using the tap water for washing fruits and vegetables, dishes, and yourself. Make sure you dry any dishes before eating on them. Try not to swallow any water while showering. And only brush your teeth with the filtered water.
Where to Next?
Next my adventure takes me to the jungles of Chiapas state. With ancient Mayan ruins and spectacular natural beauty, I spend the next few days in Palenque. Getting to Palenque from San Cristobal de las Casas was quest on its own. But my time in Palenque was like staying in a jungle paradise. Read my next post for more details on how I managed to live with the wildlife in Palenque!
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