San Cristobal de Las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico?

Question

Hey I'm an exchange student going to live in San Cris. for a year, just wondering if anyone lives there or has been there. Just looking for someone's opinion about the area. Thanks

Answer 1

San Cristobal de Las Casas is my favorite town in all of Mexico--the market and the Indian crafts are the best.  But a word of warning:

Special Note About Photography: The people in this region do not, as a rule, like photographs taken of them and the things they own. In some of the surrounding villages, it is prohibited to take photographs all together, with those who do not comply facing equipment confiscation, fines and even temporary imprisonment. Ask before you take photographs of people and their possessions; you may be asked to pay a small fee for the privilege.

The above quote is from:

http://www.mexperience.com/guide/colonia...

Because of its elevation, it can get cool at times.  I woke up one morning in August, and I could see my breath; but by afternoon it was in the seventies.Things to see:

1. Na Bolom

2. Maya Medicine Museum

3. The 365 churches in the area

4 The nearby villages of Chamula and Zinacantan

5 The Santo Domingo church where handicrafts are sold

6. The market

7. Go to Palenque on the weekend and swim at Agua Azul

8. There's also a nice little Maya site called Toniná at Ocosingo

Answer 2

My wife and I visited San Cristobal last year and loved it. In fact we fell in love with the entire area and hope to go back again soon.  Lots of Europeans tourists crowded the hotels and restaurants and Palanque did not have an English speaking guide but none of that really interfered with our enjoyment.  To us, the high point of the trip was Palanque, Agua Azul water falls and Chiapas de Corso.  It was curious that few Americans were in the area but the prices were the lowest in Mexico.  You'll have to use your Spanish because few people speak English, even in the best hotels and restaurants.  By the way, we found it to be very safe.

Leonard.