San Cristóbal de las Casas - Things to do

A lush jungle archeological site, Palenque’s temples rise from mist and moss, echoing the grandeur of an ancient world. A few hours north of San Cristóbal, it’s best experienced overnight, though possible as a long day trip. Read our post.

A deep gorge carved by the Grijalva River, Sumidero Canyon feels almost mythic with its vertical walls, circling vultures, and green silence between cliffs. It's an easy day trip from San Cristóbal. Boats sail to Chiapa de Corzo, a pueblo mágico. Read our post.

A self-governed Zapatista learning center on the city’s edge, CIDECI hums with collective rhythm: gardens, murals, and workshops. It’s a glimpse of Zapatista life, and was our most special experience in San Cristóbal. Read our post.

A few hours from San Cristóbal, Montebello’s chain of forested lakes shimmers in shifting blues and greens, right beside the Guatemalan border. It’s best as a weekend trip with quiet cabins, gorgeous hiking trails, and miradors worth the distance. Read our post.

These nearby Tzotzil Maya towns reveal distinct living traditions. In Chamula, ceremonies blend Catholic and Indigenous rites, sometimes including ritual chicken sacrifices inside the church. Meanwhile, Zinacantán is known for its vibrant textiles. Read our post.

Arcotete is a scenic park known for its natural limestone arch, small caves, and suspension bridges. It’s an easy half-day trip, great for walking or simply relaxing by the river. Read our post.

Our favorite waterfalls. Tucked into the jungle outside Palenque, Cascadas Roberto Barrios is a series of turquoise pools and gentle falls known for their quiet, local feel. Wooden paths and forest trails lead to multiple swimming spots. Read our post.

Wander through El Cerrillo, one of San Cristóbal’s oldest neighborhoods, where walls double as canvases. The street art here is bold and political with murals reflecting Indigenous resistance, local struggles, and collective hope. Read our post.

Join a local mycologist for a guided walk through the forests around San Cristóbal. You’ll learn to identify native mushrooms, explore their ecological role, and see Chiapas’s biodiversity up close. Read our post.

Set beside the old cathedral, Santo Domingo Market is one of San Cristóbal’s most colorful places to wander. Stalls overflow with local produce, woven textiles, and handmade crafts from surrounding villages. Read our post.

If you’re lucky enough to be in San Cristóbal at the start of November, you’ll get to experience Día de los Muertos. Families build altars, while cemeteries fill with music and shared meals. Co404 also hosts its own ceremonies during this time. Read our post.

San Cristóbal’s Day of the Dead parade winds slowly through the historic center in a blend of music, incense, and marigold-bright altars. Locals carry offerings for loved ones, while dancers and musicians fill the streets with a mix of celebration and remembrance. Read our post.

Romerillo’s cemetery becomes a luminous gathering during Day of the Dead. Families spend the day beside graves decorated with pine needles, flowers, and flickering candles, creating an atmosphere that is intimate, communal, and profoundly moving. Read our post.

Zinacantán’s cemetery is incredibly floral for Day of the Dead, mainly due to the town's flower industry. The atmosphere is intimate and deeply rooted in Tzotzil tradition, offering a rare glimpse into living rituals of care and memory. Read our post.

San Cristóbal’s main cemetery, the Municipal Pantheon, is a peaceful and colorful place to walk. Brightly painted tombs, candle offerings, and murals reflect local traditions of remembrance, especially around Día de los Muertos. Read our post.

Our favorite activity in Montebello was kayaking across a mirrored lake to a tiny island. The water is calm, and a slow paddle here feels like moving through stillness itself. Read our post.

Near Palenque, Misol-Há is a tall, single-drop waterfall that plunges into a deep jungle pool. You can swim beneath the falls or walk behind the curtain of water for a closer view. Read our post.

Overlooking turquoise lakes and rolling highlands, Chinkultic is a quiet archeological site near Montebello. Few visitors make it here, but its stone terraces and panoramic views make the short detour worthwhile. Read our post.

Best visited alongside Montebello Lakes, Cenote El Camarón is a quiet turquoise pool surrounded by forest. It’s perfect for a refreshing swim after exploring the nearby lakes. It has clear, cool water, and usually no other people. Read our post.

A scenic uphill trail through pine forest leads to Cenote Bartolo, a secluded turquoise sinkhole near Montebello. The climb is steady but rewarding, with sweeping views over the highlands and the many lakes nearby. It’s peaceful, local, and rarely crowded. Read our post.

One of Chiapas’s most impressive waterfalls, El Chiflón cascades through lush forest in a series of turquoise pools. You can hike to several viewpoints or swim below the lower falls. It’s often combined with a visit to Montebello Lakes. Read our post.

Just outside San Cristóbal, Moxviquil Botanical Garden has native plants and over 200 species of orchids. Shaded forest trails, a small greenhouse, and viewpoints over the valley make it a calm and educational stop. Read our post.

San Cristóbal is filled with colorful colonial-era churches, each with its own character and view of the city. Our personal favorites include Templo de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción and Iglesia de San Cristóbalito, with its beautiful hilltop views. Read our post.

Itzel is pure magic. Her cooking class begins with a visit to the local market before heading to her beautiful mountaintop home, where a river runs below and the whole city opens up in the distance. She adapted every delicious recipe to be fully vegan. Read our post.

Gerardo from Art Libreria offers a warm, hands-on vegan cooking class inspired by Chiapaneco flavors. Alongside fresh salsas and regional staples, you’ll learn to make vegan queso from scratch and prepare rajas con queso. Read our post.

Guillermo, a French chocolatier who moved to San Cristóbal for its cacao, leads a thoughtful workshop that traces cacao from bean to bar. You’ll roast, grind, and taste your way through the process, finishing with handmade vegan truffles. Read our post.

The most accessible of the Zapatista Caracoles, Oventic offers a window into autonomous life. It was closed to visitors during our time in San Cristóbal, but it's worth checking to see if it has reopened. We've seen writings from past visitors, and would have loved to visit.

Located near Ocozocoautla, Sima de las Cotorras is a massive sinkhole home to thousands of green parrots that circle at dawn and dusk. You can walk the rim, rappel inside, or visit nearby caves with ancient wall paintings. Photo credit.

Located just north of Montebello Lakes, Cenote Chucumaltik is a deep, crystal-clear sinkhole surrounded by cliffs and forest. It’s popular with divers and swimmers, with vivid blue water and calm, open views. Photo credit.

A few hours from San Cristóbal, Agua Azul is a series of bright turquoise waterfalls surrounded by jungle. The pools are ideal for swimming, and it’s often visited on the same trip as Palenque. Photo credit.

Set deep in the Lacandon jungle, Las Nubes is a powerful series of turquoise cascades on the Santo Domingo River. Wooden walkways lead to scenic viewpoints, and you can swim, camp, or stay in simple riverside cabins. Photo credit.

Tucked inside El Ocote Canyon, El Aguacero is one of Chiapas’s most dramatic waterfalls. A steep staircase leads down to the river, where you can swim beneath the falls and explore the surrounding caves. Photo credit.

Accessible only by boat along the Usumacinta River, Yaxchilán is an ancient Mayan site reclaimed by jungle and sound that's often visited along with Bonampak. Its moss-covered temples and howler monkeys make the journey from Palenque entirely worth it. Photo credit.

Famous for its vividly preserved murals, Bonampak offers a rare glimpse into Mayan life and ceremony. Hidden deep in the Lacandon jungle, it’s best visited from Palenque and often paired with Yaxchilán on the same river route. Photo credit.