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- Destinations
- North America
- Mexico
- San Cristóbal de las Casas
San Cristóbal de las Casas
The colonial village of San Cristóbal de las Casas is the jewel
in the centre of the cool Chiapas highlands, nestled in a valley
and surrounded by forests and hills. It is at the centre of many
traditional Mayan villages, and it is the indigenous soul of the
town, coexisting harmoniously with its colonial charm, that makes
it such an enchanting place to visit.
The town was originally designed as a Spanish stronghold against
the surrounding indigenous communities. It is a town of cobbled
lanes and long rambling streets that undulate with the hilly
terrain, squat whitewashed houses with red tiled roofs,
flower-filled patios, wrought iron balconies, shady plazas, ornate
facades and lavish churches. The main plaza was the Spanish centre
of town and today it is the best place to sit and watch the town
life happen. The cathedral dominates the northern side and its
steps are always busy with playful ragged children, arriving and
departing worshippers, resting passers by and vendors. North of the
plaza the daily market is a fascinating bustle of indigenous life,
a trading space for local produce and household goods.
The streets and plazas are filled with the vibrancy of people
from the surrounding villages who give the town its character and
dominate its trade. The region is known for its colourful
handicrafts, traditional markets, fascinating local fiestas,
legends and mystical ceremonies that are influenced by the Mayan
ancient traditions and way of life. Each barrio or neighbourhood of
the city has a distinctive identity, rooted in the old custom of
trade, with candle making, carpentry or blacksmith shops the
predominant feature in each.
San Cristóbal is an invigorating, yet peaceful town, a good base
to enjoy the graceful colonial atmosphere and to explore the
highland region and the outlying Indian villages. The grand Mayan
site at Palenque can be visited from here, as well as Agua Azul, a
dazzling series of waterfalls and turquoise pools that are one of
Mexico's natural wonders.
Information & Facts
Climate
San Cristobal de las Casas has a varied climate, especially with
the high altitude and mountainous regions. Summers are warm and
winters very cold. Rain is common throughout the year and
protective waterproof clothing is always advised when travelling
here. The average daytime temperature is around 73F (23C) but
evenings are known to get quite chilly, especially between November
and February.
Language
Spanish is the official language in Mexico. Some English
is spoken in tourist regions.
Money
Mexican currency is the New Peso (MXN) divided into 100
centavos. Credit cards are widely accepted, particularly Visa,
MasterCard and American Express. Travellers cheques are generally
accepted, but cannot be cashed on Sundays. ATMs are available in
most cities and towns and are the most convenient way to get money,
but for safety reasons they should only be used during business
hours. Although most businesses will accept foreign currency it is
best to use pesos. Foreign currency can be exchanged at one of many
casas de cambio(exchange houses), which have longer hours
and offer a quicker service than the banks.