When you think of travel destinations in Mexico, Chiapas is most likely not the first to come to mind, but it should. After visiting Quintana Roo, Oaxaca, Baja California, and Yucátan, I can honestly say that Chiapas has been my favorite state so far. Picture lush jungles, mountains, blue lakes, waterfalls, and a colorful small colonial style city.
Map Of My Stops In Chiapas
Which Airport To Fly Into When Visiting Chiapas
Most travelers opt to fly into the major airport of Tuxtla Gutiérrez since it is the largest airport and it’s closest to the popular city of San Cristobal. You can also choose to fly into Tapachula or Palenque depending on where you want to base yourself during your trip. I would recommend staying in San Cristobal since it’s the most central and every popular destination in Chiapas is just a day trip away from here.
How To Get To San Cristobal From Tuxtla Airport
From Tuxtla Gutiérrez airport you can simply take a shared bus operated by OCC, ADO or hire a Taxi. The more cost friendly option is the shared bus costing about $200 pesos. There’s no need to book this ahead since you can just purchase your tickets at the airport. The trip to San Cristobal takes about an hour and 20 minutes.
Where To Stay In Chiapas
I have nothing but great things to say about staying in San Cristobal. It’s set between the mountains and the cobblestone streets are lined with colorful buildings. San Cristobal De Las Casas is walkable so you can’t really go wrong with where to stay. The most central neighborhood is Barrio De Guadalupe so you may want to be as close as possible here to find the shops, tour agencies, and restaurants. Chiapas is one of the most affordable destinations in Mexico so expect to pay about $15-$60 a night for a private hostel room or Airbnb.
This hostel has won many awards, and for good reason. It’s comfortable, clean and breakfast is included. My private room here was about $18 a night with an ensuite bathroom-this price is hard to beat. The staff were also incredibly friendly and made you feel right at home.
If there’s one place you’re going to spend a little bit more money on, I’d highly recommend staying in this Airbnb. The loft overlooked the whole city and you can see some of the famous churches right from your bedroom. It’s situated in a great area with a nice “hike” to a viewpoint right behind the loft. I had to get a bit of work done and get on Zoom calls and the wifi here worked perfectly which is hard to find in San Cristobal.
Best Things To Do In Chiapas
Chiapas is the perfect place for nature lovers and outdoor enthusiasts. You’ve got caves, waterfalls, lakes, and rainforests. Almost all the attractions are a day trip away from San Cristobal and there are so many tour agencies to choose from.
You don’t have to go very far to get some hiking done in San Cristobal. This attraction is only 20 minutes away from the main touristy area and you can easily get a taxi for 100-150 pesos. We were able to explore the park in just a few hours and we loved the cave and suspension bridge. If you’re on the adventurous side, you can zip-line and rock climb in the park.
No trip to Chiapas is complete without checking out Cańon Del Sumidero. This National Park is 2 hours away and the boat tour typically takes 2 hours. I booked my tour with Paxial Tours and had an enjoyable experience. Our guide took us to 3 viewpoints before heading in and our group saw lots of spider monkeys and crocodiles during our boat tour!
El Chiflon + Lagos De Montebello
Get ready for a jam-packed day! The tour to El Chiflon and Lagos De Montebello starts at 7am and ends at 9pm. Your first stop will be El Chiflon waterfall and you’ll have two hours to explore which is more than enough time. The second half of the tour is where it felt a bit rushed. We headed over to Lagos De Montebello (2 hour drive) and only had about 20 minutes at each lake. After visiting the lakes the tour took us to the border of Guatemala where you can actually cross and visit some shops. Again, we only had 20 minutes here so it didn’t feel like enough time.
If I had to do things differently here, I’d rent a car and stay in a cabin in Lagos De Montebello for a few nights to fully enjoy this experience.
Where To Eat In San Cristobal De Las Casas
If you’re a foodie then you are in for a treat in San Cristobal! For a small mountain town in Mexico, this place has the most diverse options for food. I’m talking about health cafes, Asian cuisine, Italian, and Mexican. Whatever you’re craving, you’ll be sure to find it. Not to mention a meal can cost about $2-5.
Let’s start off this food section with the most bang for your buck, and the most lively place you can go. La Viña De Bacco has a large selection of wines and you can get a glass for just 25 pesos which includes tapas. Opt for the outdoor seating since there’s often live music outside.
If you want to treat yourself to something fancy, I highly recommend checking out San Agustin. There’s a nice variety of cuisines such as Peruvian, Japanese, Thai, and a steakhouse that was highly praised by a few people I’ve met. I dined in the Japanese restaurant which was amazing and I enjoyed their unique take on a Japanese Carajillo.
I gotta admit, I had a pretty rough start at this restaurant. I walked over one evening, starving just for the owner to rudely tell me to leave since they were so busy. No apologies, no sincerity, just stone cold. So why am I recommending it? Well, I couldn’t help but wonder if it was just bad timing but I’ve heard this is THE best restaurant in the area. It’s owned by an Italian couple and everything they serve is made from scratch. I went back the next day and was greeted with a warm welcome. I had their lasagna which was the best I’ve ever had. How much was this meal? $5.
You cannot leave San Cristobal without trying Pachamama! I can’t speak for their Pizza but their Pastas have been AMAZING. I never thought I’d be finding some of the best Italian food in this Mexican town but I was pleasantly surprised. Their outdoor patio is set right on the cobblestone street of Calle Guadalupe which makes for the perfect romantic setting and there’s often live music outside.
When a taco craving hit, this place delivered. I had their Al Pastor tacos with pineapple and it was packed with flavor. Don’t forget to check out the salsa station that had over 20 different freshly made salsas to choose from. My incredibly satisfying meal here only cost 60 pesos for 3 tacos.
Helpful Tips
- If you have more time, I highly recommend taking an overnight trip to Palenque. It’s known for historic ruins surrounded by lush jungle.
- Day tours can sometimes feel rushed so if you like to take ample time exploring, I highly recommend renting a car.
- Learn some Spanish words if you don’t speak the language. Chiapas sees mostly Mexican tourists so English is not available in most places.
- Bring layers of clothes. Daytime temperatures can be very hot and nightime can get as low as 30 degrees °F.
Looking for a more laid back beachy destination in Mexico? Check out my Puerto Escondido Blog