San Cristóbal de las Casas
Read more
Slide to the left to continue
◈ This bustling town is nestled between mountains. Walk its streets like its locals do every day, at the end of almost all of them you will find mountain and mist. Get to know the heart of the Tzotzil and Tzeltal communities; sit down in their kitchens and try a hand-made tortilla, straight off the comal. Help a weaver create their intricate textiles; and finally, drink an aromatic coffee and be a barista for a day in Carajillo Café.
.
.
- Walk from the Templo de Santo Domingo to the Templo del Carmen and visit their cultural spaces.
- Try the wine in the Inter Vino store, the posh in La Posheria and the coffee in Carajillo Café.
- Take short trips to Zinacantán, Amatenango del Valle and San Juan Chamula.
- Walk along the Andador Eclesiástico and the Andador Real de Guadalupe, two pedestrian routes that constitute the heart of this Magical Town.
Follow the Andador Eclesiástico and the Andador Real de Guadalupe, two pedestrian routes that constitute the heart of this Magical Town.
❖ Andador Eclesiástico
Meandering along this pedestrian walkway, you will pass through the lively hustle and bustle that makes San Cristóbal so special. It will take you past the Cathedral, then north towards the Templo y Ex Convento de Santo Domingo, then south to the Templo y Arco del Carmen. Stores selling amber and handicrafts, the classic bar, Revolución, and the biggest branch of the French patisserie Oh La La! can all be found along it, as well as the old Casa Mazariegos, which today is a convention center.
❖ Handicrafts and
Candy Market
The presence of indigenous groups and their Mayan legacy results in a wide variety of colorful and cheerful handicrafts for sale in this town. In this market you can buy embroidered textiles, skirts, blankets, jackets, wool, vests, and much more. There are pieces of forged iron, amber and jade carvings, and beautiful pottery.
❖ Catedral de la Paz
This is an emblematic and architecturally stunning cathedral. Its facade makes an impact with its geometric design, and its baroque, Mudejar and neoclassical elements. As you contemplate it, notice the dance of light and shadow. Inside, you will immediately see its imposing columns with a neoclassical air, baroque altarpieces covered in gold leaf, and religious paintings from the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries. Don’t leave before having a look at the pulpit and the Altar de los Reyes (the King’s Altar).
Behind the cathedral is the Templo de San Nicolás, one of the first churches in the city. In its origins, only indigenous people used it. Its facade is simple and there is a bell gable at the top, between two circular towers that resemble broad capstones.
❖ See the Embroidery
in Zinacantán
What makes this town unique and famous are the fine embroidered shawls made by the women here, in tones varying from green to purple, and decorated with images of the flowers grown by each family. When a tourist comes to visit the town, the Zinacantán women rush to meet them and invite them into their homes. The idea is to show them the looms where they weave the shawls and other textiles. They also offer you home-cooked food; for example, delicious quesadillas made with queso fresco (white cheese) and hand-made tortillas, and they often serve a few glasses of pox (sugarcane spirit).
❖ Visit El Arcotete
This eco-tourism park is around 4 miles away from San Cristóbal de las Casas, positioned around the Río Fogótico. Its main attraction is a stone arch, through which the river flows, and above it is a cave filled with stalactites and stalagmites. There is a double zip-line that crosses the sky just above these rock formations. You can also go rappelling, choose between freefalling or going down the walls close to the arch.
❖ Explore the Grutas
de Rancho Nuevo
This impressive complex of underground caves was only discovered in 1947. There are innumerable stalactites and stalagmites, which in some cases have fused together to form columns. It is believed that these caverns extend for several miles underground, although the regular 45-minute tour takes visitors along an illuminated pathway that is around 3,280 feet long. The guides, who are children, perform entertaining impressions of the bizarre shapes of the rock formations. Next to the entrance to the caves is a forest, where you can enjoy horseback rides (there are usually guides who rent out horses), hiking and camping, and there are also zip-lines, barbecues, a couple of concrete slides and a playground.
❖ Fiesta de
San Cristóbal Mártir
Saint Christopher Feast takes place between the 17th and the 25th of July, after the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. Nocturnal processions with lit torches take place as part of these celebrations.
❖ Virgen de Guadalupe
On the 12th of December in the Santuario de Guadalupe, you will hear the sound of the cockerel crowing and the continuous sound of the fireworks, today they celebrate the Virgin of Guadalupe. The pilgrims, the torch-bearers and processions from every corner of Chiapas arrive at her altar, which is covered in flowers. As the night goes on, groups of Parachicos come together to dance outside the church.
❖ Carnaval
de San Juan Chamula
“K’in Tajimoltik, the Fiesta del Juego (Games Party) is the celebration that incorporates many ancient Mayan elements. The carnival lasts for five days, the dates when it is celebrated are linked to the five “lost days” of the Mayan calendar. Rituals are carried out, games are played, there are ceremonies, dances, prayers and much more. It is celebrated during the five days leading up to Ash Wednesday.
