San Cristobal Travel Guide

Immerse yourself into a dreamland of ancient traditions, vivid colors, spicy flavors, and herbal scents. Close to Tuxtla Gutierrez, capital city of Chiapas, lies San Cristobal de las Casas, a quaint little town high in the mountains with a population of around 200,000.

San Cristobal de las Casas is visited throughout the year by travelers from all over the globe, who want to discover more about the ancient Maya civilization. Legends are kept alive by the town's heirs, who still enchant foreigners by speaking their precious native language. Locals are more than glad to show off their handicraft skills and explain the meaning behind their work. The images of colorful flowers are taken from the impressive landscape to decorate clothing, handbags and pottery. Collars, pendants and earrings made of amber, featuring insects and tiny blossoms are worn by locals and sold throughout the town.

The town also features brightly colored churches, houses, government buildings and parks that invite the traveler to relax a while take a deep breath and admire the stunning surroundings. If you would like to experience the cuisine of the region you may want to visit the lively local markets, where all kinds of traditional foods are sold. To satisfy your cultural cravings visit the Na-Balam cultural center, home to a museum and a photo gallery on the Mayas' past and present and also features an interesting collection of plants used for medicinal purposes. On your next trip to Chiapas you must take time to visit San Cristobal de las Casas, a truly unique, fascinating town.