Top Things to do in San Cristobal de las Casas
Top Restaurants in San Cristobal de las Casas
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Things to do in San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas: The Best Nature & Parks
A stronghold of Mayan culture, San Cristóbal’s colonial stucco walls and Spanish tile roofs contrast with the surrounding villages, which remain home to an array of Mayan-descendant Indians. The city itself is a delight. Paired with the cultural diversity surrounding it, there’s nothing like it in Mexico.
Restaurants in San Cristobal de las Casas
1. El Rancho Evergreen Guest Ranch
Overall Ratings
5.0 based on 86 reviews
El Rancho Evergreen, located 45 min south of San Cristobal de las Casas, The ranch provides a great place for many outdoor activities like riding lessons, trail rides, hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking and bird watching etc. All within an aera of tranquility and in harmony with nature. Come for the day, stay over night or spend a week. The perfect get away...
Reviewed By picklerick93 - Mexico City, Mexico
I spent a day at the Rancho Evergreen and it was exactly what I've been looking for: nice people who care about their animals, about nature, about your wellbeing... and the food is delicious! :) It's definitely not one of those "hop-on-hop-off" horse ride experiences. You meet "your" horse, spend time with it and the ride is adapted to your riding skills. I definitely recommend staying at this place if you want to spend a day with horses or just in the nature to disconnect a little. Can be easily reached by public transport and taxi.
2. Laguna Miramar
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 37 reviews
This lake, 190 kilometers from San Cristobal, is buried deep in a rainforest filled with diverse forms of wildlife.
3. El Arcotete
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 181 reviews
Reviewed By emilyjanelang - San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico
The Arcotete is park featuring a natural limestone arch over the Fogotico River, close to San Cristobal. In the last decade or so, a narrow pathway with cement steps has made it possible for travellers to climb up to the intricate little caves and passageways, full of stalactites and stalagmites, with a view of the river itself directly below. This is a spectacular and dizzying experience! You can also take the path down from the parking lot to the edge of the river and admire the rock formations from below, or wave to your friends up above. Wide fields cropped by sheep are great for playing soccer, there are cabins and swings, a hanging bridge and paths through the woods and along the riverside. The local indigenous people manage the place and have a restaurant by the parking lot with good quesadillas and other local snacks and dishes.
4. Orquideas Moxviquil
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 449 reviews
Orquideas Moxviquil, OM, began in 1994 with a passionate desire to rescue the fallen flora of Chiapas's ever depleting forests. NOTE: Please enter through the OM entrance, NOT the Moxviquil entrance to experience the full magic of OM. The desire to maintain a small sampling of the natural flora of Chiapas for future generations was the driving force that created this oasis of the varied lifeblood of Chiapas's living natural wonders. These plants rescued from over 200 locations is a divine testament to the passion of rescuing and the desire to save the diminishing gifts of nature for future generations. The plants are preserved from further squandering of natures most delicate and little protected flora gems. This destruction is manifested in the pursuit of food, financial return and greed. OM continues to seek areas of destruction to preserve for the grandchildren of the world an expanding collection of this diversity in a sanctuary of preservation in the valley of San Cristobal, Chiapas. As of October 2014, the collection has over 25,000 rescued plants, comprising 600 species native to Chiapas. The garden located at 2100 meter above sea level has a hothouse for plants from the tierra caliente, hot lands, 1500 meters above sea level down to sea level, a fern grotto, a Maya Medicinal garden, two lakes one that is home to a rare local fish, Popoyote, several seasonal wetlands, extensive areas to walk, meditate and look for birds and other fauna in the cultivated and native wild forests of the Moxviquil 100 hectare reserve. OM has just completed the construction of our second greenhouse dedicated to the Lagos de Montebello, the most bio rich area of Mexico. Bring your headphones to tune in and relax, bring a camera to capture the colors, textures and forms available to you a lunch and a drawing pad. Sit on the last bench in the greenhouse and pretend; pretend you are deep in a Chiapas jungles, the birds will call, the wind will blow and your senses will be bathed in the exotic paradise that is OM. OM is dedicated to enriching your knowledge and enjoyment. One way we do this is by asking each person to please touch the plants, to experience with your fingers the delicate forms, the sharpness, the textural richness of the native plants of Chiapas. Smell and listen for the sounds that permeate the gardens.
Reviewed By R5457FCsandys - Albuquerque, United States
Our combi (collective taxi) on the Ojo de Agua route dropped us right at the entrance to this fascinating botanical garden devoted to hundreds of species orchids and bromeliads. Examples of species native to the surrounding mountains dotted trees along the path. Looking vaguely Tolkienesque, specialized structures housed species from three different ecological zones: rainforest, wetlands and tropical jungle. Our guide, Antonio, was cordial and knowledgeable, pointing out everything from orchids smaller than the tip of a pinkie to those the size of a bread plate, even encouraging us to smell the different varieties. We recommend visiting here before heading to Sumidero Canyon or a hike in the cloud forest. And wear sturdy rubber-soled walking running shoes. Although paths through the garden are well-maintained, this is no place for flip-flops!
5. Parque Central Manuel Velasco Suarez
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 57 reviews
Reviewed By An0nyMs
So much of what tourists need is around the plaza or within a few blocks: restaurants (and budget restaurants just south along Insurgentes), banks with ATMs (Santander has much lower surcharges, around $31 MXD, vs BBVA Bancomer's $81 MXD), two 24-hour OXXO stores (about the only place to get anything late at night). When I was there, the Cathedral, the Church, and the building on the west side that houses the MUSAC museum (I'm not sure of its name) were all closed for reconstruction. In front of them all was a steel barricade covered with murals... I'll attach a photo showing a small part of the wall. (A lot of the murals are less like urban art.) The plaza itself is filed with musicians, shoe shiners, trees and shade, passersby... and it's never seemed too crowded to me.
6. Parque Ecoturistico de Rancho Nuevo
Overall Ratings
4.5 based on 16 reviews
Reviewed By bondtk - Franklin, United States
We stopped here for a day and was not disappointed!! They have horse back riding, little shops to buy from, zip lining, long tobogán slides, some restaurants right there and then the cave tour (awesome!). It was in the 60s and rainy so you might need to have a sweater handy as the climate is a bit cooler in the mountains. You pay a small fee to get in and there’s also a small fee to visit the caves. The tour guides were little kids (seriously) and I couldn’t understand a word she said, but my Spanish speaking family loved it!! Lots of places to have a family picnic up in the mountains. Plenty of space to enjoy nature!!
7. Grutas Del Mamut
8. Reserva Huitepec
Overall Ratings
4.0 based on 43 reviews
Reviewed By uthersb - Merida, Mexico
This was a great little trip. We wanted to get a colectivo so we walked to the Av Ramon Larainzar which becomes San Juan Chamula road. We hailed the first one that came along and I showed him the location on the phone. It cost 8 pesos. 30 pesos got us in and there was a map on a board. The walk is very pleasant and at a gentle pace took us about 1hr30. Lots of stops to sit down en route. We then got a colectivo back. Again, we hailed the first one and decided to see where it would take us. We went around the edge of San Cris and into the Castillo Market, which was perfect as that is where we were staying. Again, that cost 8 pesos.
9. Parque de los Humedales
10. Parque de los Arcos
Overall Ratings
3.0 based on 1 reviews
