Top Things to do in San Cristobal de las Casas
Top Restaurants in San Cristobal de las Casas
The 6 Best Archaeology Tours in San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas
A stronghold of Mayan culture, San Cristóbal’s colonial stucco walls and Spanish tile roofs contrast with the surrounding villages, which remain home to an array of Mayan-descendant Indians. The city itself is a delight. Paired with the cultural diversity surrounding it, there’s nothing like it in Mexico.
Restaurants in San Cristobal de las Casas
1. Na Bolom Museum (Archaeological, photographic archive, Lacandon culture, nursery)
Overall Ratings
4.9 based on 8 reviews
We are a non-profit Civil Association. Funded by a museum, hotel and restaurant. Where 43% of our income is allocated to social programs. Such as: Climate change, Lacandón medical fund, culture and heritage, Mayan artisan program and research and archives.
Inclusions: Restroom on board
Exclusions: Lunch
Reviewed By Sandy S
We had hoped that the museum in this former seminary offer deep insights into the cultures of the indigenous peoples of the mountain villages. However, the displays focused more on the life and explorations of the founder, Blom, and his photographer wife. Her portraits of the Mayan people are worth a isit in themselves.
2. Day Trip to Agua Azul Waterfalls and Palenque from San Cristobal
Overall Ratings
3.8 based on 20 reviews
This day let yourself be impressed by the beautiful natural beauties of the waterfalls of Agua Azul and the wonderful Mayan constructions in the archaeological site of Palenque.
Inclusions: National Park fees, Hotel pickup, Transport by air-conditioned minivan, Spanish driver
Exclusions: Food and drinks, Hotel drop-off, Guide
Reviewed By Tigerlileeee
My only regret in all my time in Mexico. Was told I’d be picked uo at my hostel at 8 AM and dropped off at my hostel at 8 PM. Was told to bring a swimsuit. First half of day was fine, driving then enjoying El Chiflon (although the tour description says that the lakes come first and the waterfall after). The nature itself is incredible but DO NOT take this tour from this company. My advice - if at all possible take a collectivo, go on your own & camp there!! After the waterfall, it was more driving and then our driver says we are going to stop for lunch. He pulled over on the side of the highway where there are a lineup of five eateries that literally have photocopied the exact same menu on their wall. Which means you have the option of one. This photocopied menu had only four options. Meat, meat, meat, or cheese. I bought a beer and since I didn’t have smaller change, handed the lady a 50 pesos bill. She cracked open the beer for me, took my money, walked away, I took a sip and she never came back. 50 pesos for a beer. I was expecting 20 tops! Truly highway robbery. Incidentally, only about half a kilometer further down the highway there are numerous restaurants with vegan, vegetarian, meat, and seafood options available to please everyone’s pallet but this was not offered as an option. WHY? We continued on our way driving until eventually coming to the Montebello Lakes. We were told ahead of time that there would be an option to rent a small wooden boat to take you around the lake. We arrived at the lakes at 4:10 PM. This can be confirmed by the timestamp on the first photograph I took there which was the first thing I did upon arrival. You get out of the bus and are funneled down a staircase which leads to a concrete platform that ends in water with all the wooden boats lined up against it. No beach, no sand, no water access. We were told we had one hour. One hour to choose to pay the additional for the boat or sit on our butts on the concrete platform and do nothing. No swimming allowed. In order to swim, you have to pay the additional for one of the boats who then will take you to a beach where they permit you to swim. It is a monopoly. Everyone was under the impression that after sitting in a hot bus sweating for 8 hours minus the 2 hrs @ the waterfall in order to reach the lakes, of course we would be able to swim in the “crystal waters”! This is not the case. 7 persons in our group, after being really upset by this, eventually decided to give in and just rent the boat. That meant they were a couple minutes late returning. But only a couple. Meanwhile, Antonio the driver loads the rest of us into the van and drives away. Since I was the only one on the tour who didn’t speak a word of Spanish, I was not in a position to stop him. He drove up the highway a ways and told people they could get out and take a photo before coming back approximately 20 minutes later. The group of 7 were ranging between furious and about to bawl. They were absolutely freaking out because they thought that they had been altogether abandoned near the Guatemala border. Antonio laughed. We then left around 5:30 to drive back to San Cris where we arrived at 8:40 PM. Antonio at that time then Merli parked the van somewhere in the city and told us to get out. When I protested that I had paid to be dropped off at my hostile he extremely sarcastically said, “Finished!” & told me to get out of the van. Interesting that he knew this word since the entire day I hadn’t a clue what was going on as he made no effort to tell me even through sign language where we were, where to go, how long we would be there or anything. I had to ask for interpretation from fellow guests. At this point, having taken multitude of photos throughout the day, the battery on my phone was at 4%. I rely on my phone for directions. If my phone had of been dead I would’ve had no way to message anyone or find my way back to my hostile that night. Thankfully, it held out to 2% battery power by the time I found walked back to my hostel. I followed up this tour with a visit to their office and spoke with who I presume to be the manager. He listened to me and then he called Antonio. He came back and told me that “Antonio said” we were at the lakes for four hours, that drop off to the hostel was not included, and that no one ever told me I could swim at the lakes. Clearly Antonio knows he can lie and say whatever he wants about what happens on the trips and that his boss will believe him over any customer. Even when faced with proof of my photographs timestamp. The manager couldn’t care less that his driver was rude to me, he couldn’t care less about the suggestion of having more options to eat that would please more people would make his business better, he couldn’t care less that his trip description is misleading and has no intention of changing it, and he couldn’t care less that Antonio left seven people behind to think that they were stranded. Lagunas de Montebello is absolutely stunning. El Chiflon waterfall is the prettiest I’ve seen in my life. That’s Gods work. This review is for the company and the men. They deserve zero stars. Please don’t support such bad business.
3. 12-Day Southeast Mexico Tour: Oaxaca, Chiapas, Palenque, Merida and Riviera Maya
Enjoy a 12-day tour to discover the magic and culture of southeast Mexico. You will depart from Mexico City and visit important towns and landmarks including Oaxaca, San Cristobal de las Casas, Paleque, Uxmal and Merida. Your tour ends in Cancun and includes transport, accommodation and a professional guide.
Inclusions: 10 nights accommodation as per itinerary, Breakfast, Breakfast, Dinner, Breakfast, Dinner, Lunch, Breakfast, Breakfast, Lunch, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Breakfast, Lunch, Breakfast, Breakfast, Airport pickup in Mexico City, Airport drop-off in Cancun
Exclusions: Food and drinks, unless specified
Reviewed By Ksksksksks
Festive weekend atmosphere, plenty of artisanal shops inside this monetary bazaar. Fresh tacos Made in the courtyard, beer, live music.
4. 11 days by the Aztec and Mayan Route:Puebla, Oaxaca, Chiapas, Yucatan and Cancun
Take this Aztecs and Mayas Express Circuit - Package in 11 days and visit the most interesting and representatives places of Mexico: from Mexico City, Colonial Cities ato the Mexican Southest to finish this experience in the incredible Mexican Caribbean. All tour arrangements are done by us, so you can ensure you enjoy an incredible circuit. You only need to book the hotels by your own. We will pick you up every day to do the corresponding tour, then we will transfer you to your hotel. If you have doubts we can assist you.
Inclusions: Air-conditioned vehicle, All Fees and Taxes
Exclusions: Hoteles are not included. Those must be booked by your own.
Reviewed By Heather M
I highly recommend this trip as an add-on to your stay in Mexico City although you might want to stretch it out a bit to spend more time exploring these wonderful cities. We feel we just got a sampling of what there was to see. We will definitely go back and spend more time in this area. Our guide Oscar was outstanding and made the trip all that more enjoyable.
5. Tour San Cristóbal - Palenque - San Cristóbal
Because we offer you to know the most important attractions in Chiapas from Agua Azul, Misol Ha and Palenque, through the Bonampak and Yaxchilan Jungle, the Roberto Barrios Waterfall and transfer them back to San Cristóbal de las Casas.
Inclusions: Lunch, Breakfast
Exclusions: Food not included for day 1 and day 3
Reviewed By Freyja4485
The tour started off fine, we had two hours at the chiflon waterfall. This is an absolute must as it is a beautiful waterfall and a good climb. The trouble started afterwards, we saw people working on the van (never a good sign). We stopped for lunch (non commissioned) at amazing little places near a viewpoint of montebello lakes. Probably the best lunch I have had on any of these tours. It was raining at this point and was still raining when we got to Montebello lakes. The lakes would probably be very beautiful on a sunny day, but while raining they were mysterious and still beautiful in a different way. There were also shops and an area where you could go to Guatemala. This was fun. I had assumed we would get two hours as our guide didnt speak english. We got an hour and a half and were actually late back to the bus. Being late didnt matter much though as the bus wouldn't start. When it did start it ran and then stalled. All the men got out to try and help push start it. This didnt work, so we waited for other tour buses. The other buses took us to another set of lakes to then be transferred home. After those lakes we on a new bus drove for about 10 minutes, stopped and then got back on our old bus. After 5 minutes on the old bus we needed gas, so we waited. Then in another 15 mins we stopped 4 times, and stalled a couple. After the last stop (they kept saying we would be getting a new bus) the bus started and we only stopped periodically for the bus driver to check on the engine. We did make it home thankfully. I feel bad for the bus driver, he did a great job amidst the stress of a bad bus. Overall, I don't think that you should book through viator as an english speaker. The company that they gave us was Otisa, which has bad reviews. Book when you get to San Cristobal. If you book through viator make sure you check who is doing the actual tour.
6. Private Tour to The Toniná Archaeological Zone and El Corralito
You will live an unforgettable experience in the hands of our professionals, with private transportation in air-conditioned vehicles. We will visit El Corralito, which is located in the place El Corralito, a community of the Tsotsil ethnic group, 19 km from the municipal seat of the municipality of Oxchuc, with a semi-temperate sub-humid climate, consisting of a set of small natural pools, considered as pools under the shade of abundant trees typical of the region. We will continue to Tonina Pre-Hispanic City, whose meaning in Tzeltal is “Big Stone House”. It is a sacred space made up of an artificial mountain with seven platforms, raised on a calcareous hill that dominates an extensive and elongated valley. Toniná lived its apogee between the end of the 6th century and the beginning of the 10th AD.
Inclusions: Private transportation, All Fees and Taxes
Exclusions: No type of Food or Drink or services not clearly specified in "services included"
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