The next place on my travels through Mexico is San Cristobal de las Casas, in Chiapas. I almost dropped San Cristobal out of my itinerary because of its travel distance from just about everywhere else (plus my beach time had left me a little behind schedule), but I am so glad that I did go.
People warned me it would be cold, although really it isn’t. Maybe it is cold by Mexico levels (it gets down to around 11 degrees in the early morning) but during the day it is generally quite warm enough. I’m told it can reach freezing in winter.
San Cristobal sits up in the mountains, at an altitude of ‘almost 7,000 feet’ (no, means nothing to me either, apparently that is around 2,200 metres in real terms); that’s what makes it cooler. I still slathered on the sunblock. The higher altitude made it feel as if the sun had needles injecting itself into me. It’s as if you can actually feel the damage the sun is doing: a stark reminder to get out the sunscreen that I neglected whilst I was down on the beach.
San Cristobal is yet another city where the Spanish colonial influence can be clearly seen. However what makes it different is the high population of indigenous people who either live in the town or travel in from neighbouring villages to sell their wares.
There is a huge handicraft market in the grounds around the Santa Domingo church. The main thing to buy here is textiles, although ceramics and jewellery (particularly amber and jade) are also popular purchases.

Handicraft market. These women come from a neighbouring town; they’re wearing their traditional costumes.
If you carry on walking up the hill you will come to a more traditional, chaotic Mexican market. I enjoyed it more here, maybe because I’m not much of a shopper and it’s more the atmosphere of markets that I like so much.
You can take tours into the Mayan villages nearby (or you can travel independently but really it’s far better to go with someone who can explain stuff to you). More on that here.
San Cristobal is seated firmly in Zapatista territory. In 1994 the Zapatistas, a leftish organisation made up of many of the indigenous people in the region, seized power in a show of strength against national government. They continue to have a huge influence in the city. You will often see their flag flying, or graffiti-d onto buildings.
If you travel out of San Cristobal into the surrounding jungle areas you will come across Zapatista road blocks: people in masks, like an early halloween celebration, but with a shotgun slung casually over their shoulders. (More about this here, and how I travelled to some ‘nearby’ ruins that took eight hours travelling time including many encounters with Zapatista roadblocks).
Meanwhile San Cristobal continues to hold my attention well.
Categories: Mexico
So great to be following along to places I visited long ago, and to see that some things have not changed. Also, what a shock to see the church in Chamula is no more. If you have a minute, check out my recent blog post on Chamula if you want to see what it looked like in the early 90s. https://emergencykittens.wordpress.com/2015/10/14/chomulas-unusual-church/
Ah no that church is still there. And still just as unusual with the pine needles on the floor and the candles and incense and the Shamen sacrificing animals. You got a good picture of the church; it still looks exactly the same. No photos allowed inside of course.
The ruins are as you come into the town, next to a graveyard. There were some people outside doing the whole tomb sweeping thing.
I found the town fascinating. Our guide was so interesting. I have been trying to put this stuff up online but internet is a little sketchy here.
Relief! So glad the church, if we can call it that…maybe temple?…is still there. Those ruins look so much like the one still standing, wonder what the story is there….Anyway, let’s hope you get a good internet connection soon. 🙂 Safe travels.
Hi Sarah
Oh I do like a market! And how colourful did this one look. I love the colours and I would have to buy something but then you have to carry it. Get down that market and arrange something where they ship them over here and I sell them and split the profit lol. It really does look a beautiful place and I too have no idea about the sea level thing. As long as you can breathe still, all is good 🙂
Safe travels my friend xx
Don’t think that idea hadn’t occurred to me, to import a pile of this stuff and sell it in Shoreditch amongst all the hipsters. If only life were that simple.
My bag is already weighed down, somehow or other. And the only thing I’ve managed to decide on to buy here is 250g of cocoa.