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Before you go
Your trip to San Cristóbal de las Casas.
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
San Cristóbal de las Casas – Chiapas Destination San Cristóbal de las Casas and the Sumidero Canyon about 60 km from Tuxtla Gutiérrez
How to get there
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Aeropuerto Internacional Ángel Albino Corzo (TGZ) Tuxtla Gutiérrez · 80 km
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Terminal de Autobuses OCC San Cristóbal 1 km
Approximate road distances. Check flights and bus schedules before you travel.
From Tuxtla Gutiérrez it is about 60 km, an hour via the dual-carriageway highway, and from Tuxtla airport about 80 km, with direct vans. There are buses from Palenque, Oaxaca and Mexico City.
How many days
Two or three days: one for the center and the churches, one for Chamula and Zinacantán and, with more time, one for the Sumidero.
When to go
From November to April there is little rain, with sunny days and cold nights that can approach freezing in December and January. From May to October it rains in the afternoons. Holy Week and year-end holidays fill the town.
The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.
Do you need a car?
No. The center is walkable, and there are shared vans and tours to Chamula, Zinacantán and the Sumidero.
Suggested itinerary
An order that works
Built with the places on this page. No rush: it's paced so you have time to see them.
One day in San Cristóbal de las Casas
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Morning
Santo Domingo and market
Start with the temple of Santo Domingo, with its baroque façade, and the craft market around it, featuring textiles from various Chiapas villages.
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Afternoon
Cathedral and center
In the afternoon, go to the main square and the yellow cathedral and walk along the Real de Guadalupe promenade up to the church of Guadalupe, atop a stairway.
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Late afternoon
Cerro de San Cristóbal
At late afternoon, climb the stairway of Cerro de San Cristóbal to see the town and the valley from above.
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Evening
Evening in the centre
Dine on the Andador Eclesiástico and have a hot chocolate or a Chiapas coffee; it gets cold at night.
Check before you go. Opening hours and days change, and places may close for renovations, holidays or events. This itinerary is a suggestion from Cidade Turismo, not a commitment: plan yours by checking directly with each place you intend to visit.
Before you go
Frequently asked questions
What is the altitude of San Cristóbal de las Casas?
About 2,200 meters.
What to see in San Cristóbal de las Casas?
The temple of Santo Domingo and the craft market, the cathedral, the promenades, the churches of Guadalupe and San Cristóbal atop the hills, and the Na Bolom cultural center.
Which villages to visit near San Cristóbal?
San Juan Chamula and Zinacantán, about 10 km away, are the most visited.
Is San Cristóbal a good base for Chiapas?
Yes. It is an hour from Tuxtla and the Sumidero, about 90 km from Comitán and about 200 km from Palenque.