SAN CRISTÓBAL DE LAS CASAS
Colourful streets, mountain air and the heart of Chiapas.
Quick facts
Chiapas
Mexico
5 Nights
6 days
Colectivo from
Palenque
June
2026
Hostel
Palo Santo
Incredible
temperature
San Cristóbal de las Casas is a colourful mountain town in the highlands of Chiapas, known for its cobbled streets, colonial buildings, lively markets and strong Indigenous culture. The town has a relaxed atmosphere, with plenty of small streets, cafés, restaurants and local shops to explore on foot. We spent five nights here, taking our time to walk around the centre, visit the markets and enjoy the cooler mountain weather.
Our Map
This map includes the places we visited during our short stay in San Cristóbal de las Casas, ffrom where we stayed to the spots we found around the town centre. We spent five nights here, taking our time to walk through the colourful streets, explore local markets, try some of the food and get a feel for the town.
We hope this map helps you discover a few good spots in Palenque and makes planning your visit a little easier.
All our favorite places in San Cristóbal de las Casas. Save it to your Google Maps!
Restaurants we enjoyed
Las Carmelitas Restaurante y Antojería
Our favourite one in San Cristóbal. Very affordable, with a daily menu, different promotions and generous portions. It’s also right in the centre, making it an easy option while exploring the town.
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YIk Café Andador Guadalupano
Perfect place for a coffee. We came back several mornings, sitting on the terrace and enjoying the different types of coffee they have.
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Magic Oven
Perfect for a bakery stop. We had some croissants with cheese and ham, as well as a few chocolate pastries, and really enjoyed them. It would have been even better if they had heated them up, though.
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Sport Bar & Cervecería – La Artesanal
We enjoyed this place for a beer and some food. While we were there, the FIFA World Cup was on, so we could enjoy the matches here. They also have a pool table, which made it even more fun.
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Taqueria San Francisco
The cheapest tacos we had in Mexico. Located in Parque Fray Bartolomé de las Casas, it’s a very simple place with just a few stools outside, but the tacos were worth stopping for.
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Pizzería y Chocolatería Corazón de Cacao
Not the best pizza or pasta we had in Mexico, but they offer a good-value buffet. We chose the more economical option, where we could create a half-and-half pizza with different ingredients.
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Price guide: $ = very cheap · $$$ = very expensive
Places we stayed
Palo Santo Hotel Boutique
Welcoming · Central · Local
If you’re travelling to San Cristóbal, stop searching for a place to stay, you’ve already found it.
We stayed at Palo Santo for five nights and loved the warm, friendly atmosphere. Roi, the host, was one of the highlights of our stay. He made us feel welcome from the moment we arrived and shared plenty of tips that helped us discover San Cristóbal beyond the obvious spots.
The place felt more like staying somewhere with a local friend than a typical hostel, and after a day exploring the town, it was a lovely place to come back to.
We had a great stay and would definitely recommend Palo Santo if you’re visiting San Cristóbal.
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Our Cost
*5 nights · 6 days · 2 people
| Category | Total (2 People) | Per Day (2 People) | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 🛏 Accommodation | 150 AUD | 30 AUD* | Palo Santo Hotel and Boutique |
| 🚌 Transport | 113 AUD | 19 AUD | Around and to Oaxaca |
| 🍽 Restaurants and cafes | 165 AUD | 28 AUD | Local restaurants, tacos & coffee |
| 🛒 Groceries | 10 AUD | 2 AUD | Snacks & daily basics |
| 🎟 Attractions | 70 AUD | 12 AUD | Activities & entrance fees |
| 🧺 Extras | 5 AUD | 1 AUD | Miscellaneous expenses |
| Total | 513 AUD | 104 AUD | – |
* Accommodation is calculated per night, while the other categories are calculated per day. All prices are approximate.
A walkable town
One of the things we liked most about San Cristóbal is how easy it is to explore on foot. The historic centre is compact and many of the main sights, markets and cafés are within walking distance. You can spend a morning simply wandering the streets, stopping at churches, plazas and local markets, and seeing where the day takes you.
The centre is also full of cafés, restaurants, small shops and street food, so you don’t really need a fixed itinerary. Just walk, explore and enjoy the atmosphere.
PLACES YOU CAN VISIT ON FOOT
Plaza 31 de Marzo & Plaza de la Paz
Catedral de San Cristóbal
Santo Domingo Church & artisan market
Real de Guadalupe (main pedestrian street)
Iglesia de Guadalupe
Arco del Carmen
Mercado de Santo Domingo
Mercado de Santo Domingo
Iglesia de San Francisco
Beyond San Cristóbal
Sumidero Canyon
One of the most popular day trips from San Cristóbal.
We’ll have a separate page with all the details, including how to get there, prices and what to expect.
A Day in Tuxtla Gutiérrez
Spend a day in the state capital and visit places like the Miguel Álvarez del Toro Zoo (ZOOMAT), the Glorioso Cristo de Chiapas, Parque de la Marimba, the Regional Museum of Chiapas, San Marcos Cathedral and the botanical garden.
Chamula
Famous for the Iglesia de San Juan Bautista, a unique Maya religious space. Go early in the morning to see the rituals taking place. Remember it’s a living place of worship so be respectful and keep in mind that photography inside is forbidden.
Zinacantán
Another Tzotzil Maya
community known for its colourful textiles and traditional weaving. You can easily combine it with Chamula using local colectivos.
You don’t need to book a tour for everything around San Cristóbal. If you’re comfortable using colectivos, you can reach several of these places yourself and have more freedom over how long you stay. Just ask locally where the colectivo for your destination leaves from, as departure points can vary.
Gallery
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Would we recommend San Cristóbal de las Casas?
Absolutely. It was our favourite place in Chiapas, and one of our favourite stops in Mexico. We were actually very happy that we decided to spend five nights here, because we never felt like we had enough time. We could easily have stayed longer.
We loved the atmosphere of the town, the colourful streets, the local markets, the food and simply having the freedom to walk around without needing to plan every moment. It also felt like a place where we could settle in for a few days rather than just pass through.
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