Itinerary for San Cristobal de las Casas
created by Julie Goldman
San Cristóbal de Las Casa/indigenous name, Jovel
Recommended Flight: Volaris, nonstop flights from Tijuana, Mexico.
| Day | Activities | Notes |
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Day 1
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Hotel La Estancia: 4 Star Hotel located in walking distance to the Historic Town Center Plaza de la Paz Free Walking Tour A local guide provides a wealth of information of San Cristobal de las Casas’s history, cuisine, culture, and practical information to know during your stay. It’s a great overview of San Cristobal that can make for a particularly nice intro for new visitors to the city. This walking tour departs every day at 10:00 am and 4:00 pm, from Plaza de la Paz, which is the main central plaza in front of the Cathedral. Santo Nahual Restaurant: A fusion of the flavors of Mexico and cuisines from around the world, you will find Italian, French, and Mexican inspired dishes – everything from shrimp tacos to eggplant lasagna to tuna burgers. Santo Nahual, set in one of the oldest houses in the Americas, in the heart of San Cristóbal, is chef-driven, and has a rustic chic décor that all make the meal that much more enjoyable. |
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| Day 2 |
Sumidero Canyon [closed Tuesdays] boat tour is the quintessential day trip to take from San Cristobal de las Casas. And that’s for good reason. Sumidero Canyon is an extremely beautiful place Sumidero Canyon, or Cañon del Sumidero, is part of Parque Nacional Cañon del Sumidero, a national park covering 50,000 acres. |
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| Day 3 |
Frontera Artisan Food and Coffee Address: Belisario Domínguez 35, Barrio del Cerrillo, 29220 San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chis. Hours of Operation: Monday – Saturday: 8:00 am – 9:00 pm Sunday: 8:00 am – 6:00 pm Climb the stairs up to Guadalupe Church or San Cristobal Church for some of the best views of the city and the surrounding area. Museo del Ambar, where you’ll find out all there is to know about the region’s amber industry. |
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| Day 4 | El Chiflon State Park (2 hours from SCC) is a stunningly blue series of five cascades that culminates with the enormous Velo de Novia waterfall, plunging a dramatic 120 meters. While walking up a path on the bank of the Rio San Vincente for about a kilometer you’ll hear the roar of this massive waterfall grow louder and louder. |
$50 pesos fee for entry; bring swimsuits, snacks
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| Day 5 |
Parque Nacional de las Lagunas Lakes of Montebello, over 50 lakes, is about two+ hours from San Cristobal. Over 50 lakes, half in Mexio and the other half in Guatemala. |
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| Day 6 | Chiapa de Corzo (2 hr) is listed as one of the “Pueblos Magicos” by the Mexico Tourism Board and is less than an hour drive from San Cristobal de las Casas. The plaza acts as a focal point of small colonial town. Be sure to poke around the big tree – La Pochota – and the La Pila fountain which is said to pay tribute to the Spanish crown. | |
| Day 7 |
Indigenous Villages (60 min): Zinacantan and San Juan de Chamula; San Juan de Chamula blends together indigenous Tzotzil Mayan traditions with Catholicism. In Zinacantan, visit the home of a local Indigenous textile-maker who makes the style of dress worn only by the local men and women in this area Centro de Textiles del Mundo Maya Xut: artisan Mexican fusion: Calle Dr. Jose Felipe Flores 17A, courtyard
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| Day 8 | Flight home | |
For next trip:
- Huitepec Ecological Reserve (30 min): Hike on the outskirts of San Cristobal de las Casas. The trail goes up the side of a mountain and winds through a lush forest. This pleasant natural attraction is worth spending a few hours to enjoy. A river carves its way through a mountain to form a natural tunnel. It’s an interesting sight that’s quick and easy to reach from San Cristobal de las Casas!
- TENEJAPA Tzeltal village with one of the most vibrant markets in the highlands of Chiapas. Tenejapa is a Tzeltal-speaking Mayan village in the Chiapas highlands about 45 minutes by collectivo from San Cristobal de las Casas. Though it is off-the-beaten-path and receives very few foreign visitors, Tenejapa is alluring because of its vibrant Thursday market and its fine textiles — among the finest in southern Mexico.
- The Kakaw Museum is the perfect place to relax after a long day of sightseeing. Kakow is an important aspect of ancient Mayan culture and farmers in San Cristobal grow cocoa organically.
Other links for San Cristobal