San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico

Indigenous villages, festivals, and outdoor activities

VILLAGES & FESTIVALS

Two principle communities, Chamula and Zinacantán are easily reached from San Cristobal and are must-sees. Their festivals and churches demand a traveler to open their eyes to new ways of seeing and dreaming. San Juan Chamula also hosts one of the most colorful and celebrated carnivals in the state of Chiapas.

San Cristobal de las Casas itself also has some fascinating festivals, including Semana Santa (Easter), Feria de la Primavera y de la Paz (Spring Fair), Feast of San Cristobal, and the Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead).

One can use San Cristobal as a base to visit many outlying communities such as Tenejapa, Amatenago, Ocosingo and the Maya ruin of Tonina and Comitan with its wonderful, little visited Maya ruins of Tenam Puente and Chincultik and the magnificently colorful Lagos de Montebello, a Mexican National Park. All can be easily visited in one day.

OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES

In the surrounding areas of San Cristobal de las Casas you'll also find spacious outdoor areas where you can do all kinds of recreational activities, such as rock climbing and cave diving in underground tunnels with extraordinary calcareous rock formations.

Cascada El Chorreadero - Located in Chiapa de Corzo, more than 60 km (37 mi) west of San Cristobal de las Casas, off Highway 190. At this 25-meter (82-foot) waterfall you'll find stalactite and stalagmite formations in caverns that are ideal for cave diving. At this spot you can also go hiking, rappel down the waterfall's rock formations, or explore the natural pools that form at the waterfall's base.

El Arcotete - Located 4 km (2.5 mi) northeast of San Cristobal de las Casas. At this place you'll find a natural stone arch that has taken shape from the river running through it. This spot is ideal for rock climbing, cave diving and rappelling down 35-meter (115-foot) walls. Open daily from 9:00 to 5:00.

Rancho Nuevo Ecological Reserve - Located 10 km (6 mi) southeast of San Cristobal de las Casas, off Highway 190. At this reserve you'll find a cavern with tunnels that are 550 meters (1,815 feet) deep and 10 km (6 mi) long. The stalactites and stalagmites make it an impressive place to go cave diving.

Source: Mexican Tourism Board - www.visitmexico.com