San Cristobal de Las Casas was one of the first towns built in Spanish America. It is called magical town, but actually has the quality of city. For various reasons, this city has had at least ten different names, eventually being the "San Cristobal" in honor of the patron saint of travelers, and "de las Casas "by Fray Bartolome de las Casas, who was the first bishop of the city and fought tirelessly to abolish slavery of the Indians, not only in this region but in many other parts of the New World.

In this city, one of the most beautiful in Mexico for its harmonious urban composition, discover imposing religious buildings like the Cathedral or the Templo de Santo Domingo, covered with richly detailed Baroque and indigenous manufacturing, which perpetuate the cultural heritage of ethnic Tzotzil, Tzeltal and Lacandon residing its surroundings and who you can also see exotic collections of everyday objects, crafts and prehispanic pieces sheltered in institutions of broad anthropological and philanthropic tradition as the Museum Na Bolom or the Cultural Center of the Altos de Chiapas.

If you visit this city, you do not forget to book your accommodation in one of the hotels in San Cristobal de Las Casas online for the best deals. The food of the region is mainly composed of cold meats and cured meats like ham, the sausage and the sausage, undisputed Spanish origin; plus dishes of indigenous origin, like tamales saffron, weeds or sweet breads and compounds soup party. Among the sweet taste we recommend the Chimbo, crystallized fruit, coconut candies, the pressed peaches and cassettes. Compounds also can find breads, sloops, and patcitos chiculguajes. As for traditional drinks you can enjoy the bitter atole, Granillo, mass or milk; pozol the tascalate or white or cocoa and fruit drinks; as well as the traditional Chiapas coffee.

Cathedral of San Cristobal diocese headquarters in the province of Chiapas, dedicated to the Assumption. Its construction began in 1528 and was called San Cristobal Cathedral Martyr. His first parish priest was Fray Bartolome de las Casas. The original building underwent some changes and was rebuilt in the seventeenth century. Its facade dating from the eighteenth century and is baroque with a profuse decoration with plant motifs made of mortar, surrounding niches where the sculptures of San Pedro and San Pablo are appreciated, among others.

Government Palace building is a sober severe neoclassical style, built in the late nineteenth century by the architect Carlos Z. Flores. It is believed that the construction of the building, the builder was inspired by an old treatise on architecture of famous master Vignola. The original intention was to build a magnificent group that occupied an entire city block, although it was only possible to build a quarter of the total. It is located on the street November 20 in San Cristobal de las Casas.

Templo de San Nicolas. This was one of the first temples of the city that were devoted exclusively to the Indians. Its construction was carried out by the Augustinian friars in the early seventeenth century. It has a simple facade that ends in a belfry, which stands between two circular towers that resemble thick spikes. It is situated behind the Cathedral of San Cristobal de las Casas.

The park officially the Square March 31, although the locals call it simply "The Park". The main square of San Cristobal de las Casas has been the center of the civic, market and water supply from the colonial era, because there was once a source for it. Today shows a kiosk in the early twentieth century and is still the president of the social activity of the city.

Casa de la Sirena. This is known by the curious sculpture that adorns his corner and the openings of the windows, which reproduces the body rare and stylized siren seems demure monitor the building platerescas forms.

Temple and former Convent of Santo Domingo 's most beautiful temples of the city for its magnificent Solomonic Baroque facade, which unfolds a large infinity ornamental motifs made in mortar on the stone work that accuses a naive participation of indigenous hand. Its interior possesses a rich collection of eight altarpieces made between the sixteenth and eighteenth centuries, some adorned with paintings of good quality; Particular emphasis carved pulpit in gilded wood with a pedestal in one piece.

Temple of Charity. This ensemble was founded in 1712 by the order of Juaninos, with the first hospital for Indians who worked in the city and consecrated the Virgin of Charity. Its facade is curious shapes as it shows groups of pilasters with bodies that resemble curvilinear carvings on wood; Some critics say that this style was used in Peru during the eighteenth century and came away. Inside the temple has a Baroque altarpiece dedicated to the Virgin and another to a Black Christ of Esquipulas, Guatemala.


Temple of Mercy. Was the home of the religious order that founded Mercy in the sixteenth century temple and the convent, but They not prospered over time. Today only the Temple of simple proportions, and its facade and interior of austere neoclassical style remains.

Capilla de San Cristobal. This small enclosure was founded around the sixteenth century, remodeled in the late eighteenth century and returned to rebuild after many destructions. His appearance is very simple and is one of the important monuments of the city. It is located on the summit of Cerro San Cristobal.

Na Bolom Museum "House of the Jaguar" is a special private mansion that belonged to the famous scholar of the region Franz Blom and his wife Gertrude.Both were lovingly gathered a vast collection of handicrafts and the area with which they were decorating various rooms to serve students and researchers in the Maya area. The place is very cozy and has a well-stocked library specializing in issues and Lacandon Maya.

Cultural Center of Los Altos de Chiapas Hosted in what was the old building of the convent of Santo Domingo, this place exhibits an interesting insight into aspects most relevant historical life of the city, showing objects and images that illustrate it. It also has temporary exhibitions on the ground floor is recommended to visit the San Jolobil workshop, founded by Tzeltal and Tzotzil indigenous women, where you can enjoy a rich variety of textiles and beautiful fabrics made by these artisans extraordinary.

Amber Museum temporarily Perched was the convent of La Merced, displays carved amber pieces, most characteristic Gem Chiapas.

Sergio Castro Museum over ninety rich original costumes colorful crafts of the looms and tissues usual costumes and ceremonial use are exposed Tzotzil, Tojolabal and Lacandon. It has a collection of musical, built and currently used by the natives of the Altos de Chiapas instruments. It is located in Guadalupe Victoria Street no. 47.Jade Mesoamerican museum displays replicas of carved jade objects other than the prehispanic Mexico. It is located in Av. September 16 no. 16.

Museum of Popular Culture. Located opposite the old Mercy convent exhibits pieces of folk art and everyday life of the various peoples of Chiapas.

Mayan Medicine Museum Its main objective is the dissemination of Tzotzil and Tzeltal healing practices. It consists of a variety of museological environments where traditional medicine Maya Chiapas shown, in addition to practical and therapeutic resources of traditional indigenous doctors. Is located at Av. Salomon Gonzalez Blanco. No. 10.

Fiesta in San Cristobal de las Casas: The most important are those of April 1, commemorating the anniversary of the founding of the city, and July 25, which It is the titular feast of San Cristobal.

Gastronomy of San Cristobal de las Casas: Most of the establishments are invited to savor traditional dishes, following the meeting of two cultures: Indian and Spanish. An example of this can mention the hams and sausages, substantial part of the queue kitchen, pigtails sloops, tamales saffron soup, grilled bread queue, gruel sprinkles and posh is a typical drink of the region, which is considered to Indians as sacred. Do not forget that San Cristobal being very attractive for visitors from all over the world here city can also find a wide variety of dishes of international stature such as Italian, Thai, Indian, Chinese and classic vegetarian

Crafts San Cristobal de las Casas: In San Cristobal de las Casas you can find a wide range of textiles that are the result of the conjunction of several ethnic groups: beautiful embroidery, blankets, skirts, coats, vests and fabrics wool, you also find extraordinary works of wrought iron, among other artistic expressions.

Festivals in San Cristobal de las Casas: Apartments Magic -called "big celebration" of San Cristobal de Las Casas in the "Fair of Spring and Peace" which is celebrated for a week, the next to Easter in which they carry out various activities: artistic shows, food fairs, bullfights, cultural, sports, children, rides and the traditional parade of the Queens Fair. Every year at the end of October, held in San Cristobal de Las Casas the Cervantino Festival Baroque lasting about 10 days in which are held many artistic and cultural events from around the world .

Main activities in San Cristobal de las Casas: Walks and tours to different places of the city.

The toll highway from Tuxtla Gutiérrez to San Cristóbal rises quickly from the plains, breaking through the clouds into pine forests. Whether you arrive by first- or second-class bus, you’ll almost certainly be just off the Carretera Panamericana (Hwy-190), which becomes Bulevar Juan Sabines Gutiérrez at the southern edge of town, though if you’ve arrived from Bochil, you’ll be just north of the market area. For the centre, turn right out of the OCC first-class terminal, and it’s seven blocks north on Insurgentes to the plaza. Most second-class services stop along the highway to either side of the OCC terminal. Taxis within the center are available.

First-class buses for destinations in the state and throughout the Yucatán leave from the OCC terminal at the south end of Insurgentes, near the ring road, with second-class buses departing either side. AEXA (across the highway), runs first- and second-class buses to similar destinations. You can also buy first-class tickets from the Ticket bus office (Mon–Sat 7am–11pm, Sun 9am–5pm) closer to the centre at Real de Guadalupe 5.

Tuxtla Gutiérrez is served frequently by firstclass buses, and combis also tout for customers outside the bus stations on the main highway for Chiapa de Corzo they’ll drop you on the main highway, where you have to catch a local bus into town. Villahermosa is not so well served, though there are two first-class services daily with OCC (11.20am & 11pm); it’s easier to get any bus to Tuxtla and change there. For Palenque, there are eleven daily first-class departures. All buses going to Palenque call at Ocosingo, and in addition there’s ample passenger-van traffic: just go to the highway and someone will call out to you. OCC has the most comfortable service to Ciudad Cuauhtémoc via Comitán (6 daily) on the Guatemalan border. To Comitán only, you’ll find any number of combis along the highway, with hourly departures. There are nine daily services to Tapachula and three overnight services for Oaxaca; for more choice to the latter, head to Tuxtla. The first-class companies all have overnight services to Mexico City (7 daily). For Campeche and Mérida, there’s a first-class service at 6.20pm. Buses for the Yucatán coast (4 daily) go via Chetumal, where you can catch connections to Belize, and make all major stops to Cancún. Bochil buses (1hr 30min) depart from north of the market area. Heading to Tuxtla’s airport (the nearest in operation), you can take a direct bus organized by tour agencies.