The coloured streets of San Cristobal de las Casas

Brightly coloured streets with Santo Domingo in the background

San Cristobal de las Casas was our base for a few days as we explored the Mayan villages in the surrounding valleys.

The town is not too large, making it easy and safe to walk around without getting lost. The narrow pavements and cobbled roads wind through streets of brightly coloured houses. If you do lose your bearings, look up and you’ll usually be able to see Santo Domingo on a hill in the north of town as an easy landmark.

Most of the houses are brightly painted

Santo Domingo

Towering over the town is the Museo Templo y Convento Santo Domingo.

Museo Templo y Convento Santo Domingo

It’s surrounded by a market selling traditional textiles, leather work and numerous other things we didn’t really need.

Market around the base of Santo Domingo

Colourful textiles in the market

The Zocalo

There are two large squares diagonally next door to each other. The Main Plaza is a peaceful area, with people sitting around reading and chatting quietly.

Shoe shiners in the zocalo

Plaza de la Iglesia is home to the cities cathedral, yet is a far more lively place. The main nightlife, tourist and restaurant streets all branch off Plaza de la Iglesia, making it a hub for meeting people.

San Cristobal Catedral at Sunset

Street entertainers wend their way through people selling corn dollies and bundles of wood. Students sit around the large cross in the middle of the square, chatting loudly or dancing to music.

San Cristobal Catedral on a stormy night

Zocalo by night

Our hotel in San Cristobal de las Casas

I rarely mention hotels, as everyone has their own preferences based on budget, level of service and comfort, but it’s hard to see anyone not liking Hotel Diego de Mazariegos. It’s reasonably priced, sociable and central, yet very quiet and comfortable. Rooms are spacious and well equipped.

Our standard room had a couple of sofas and even a small wood-burner – great for those cold winter nights, but it was about 38C when we were there. The price includes breakfast, which was large but unexciting.

Hotel rooms

The courtyard of our hotel

There are great restaurants all over town, but one which deserves a mention is Emilianos Moustache. It’s a bit off-putting with the odd name and cartoons drawn on the outside, but the mixed platter was simply delicious. Highly recommended.

Hopefully related posts:

VIP treatment – San Cristobal de las Casas, Guatemala The pastel coloured streets of Campeche – Mexico In Photos: The coloured streets of Trinidad – Cuba Revisiting Agua Azul waterfalls – Mexico