San Cristóbal de las Casas is a compact city, and its neighborhoods sit within a 20-minute walk of the Zócalo. The historic centre is where most visitors stay and eat, while the barrios to the north hold the best boutique hotels and local life. Here is what each area offers and who it suits.
San Cristóbal de las Casas Neighborhoods: Centro Histórico
Centro Histórico
The Centro Histórico runs from the Zócalo and cathedral east to Santo Domingo and the market, bounded by the pedestrian andadores Real de Guadalupe and Andador Eclesiástico. This is where you will find the museums, craft stalls and most of the restaurants in the things to do guide, and it suits first-time visitors who want everything on foot. Hotels here are the priciest in town, with doubles averaging MXN 1,200 to 2,800 a night in the dry season. It is busy and can be noisy at night, especially along Real de Guadalupe.
San Cristóbal de las Casas Neighborhoods: El Cerrillo and Guadalupe
El Cerrillo
El Cerrillo is the hip barrio immediately north of the centre, centred on the Iglesia de El Cerrillo and the top end of Real de Guadalupe. It is known for its breakfast cafés, independent coffee shops and small boutique B&Bs, and it suits couples and remote workers who want a quieter base within a 10-minute walk of the action. Doubles average MXN 900 to 2,200 a night, and you will find more garden and terrace rooms here than in the centre. It is busiest during the dry season covered in the best time to visit guide and during the big events and festivals such as Día de Muertos.
Barrio de Guadalupe
Barrio de Guadalupe climbs the hill toward the Iglesia de Guadalupe and its 79-step staircase. It is more residential and local, with small family-run guesthouses and simple eateries rather than hotels. It suits budget travellers and longer stays, with private rooms from about MXN 400 to 800 a night. The trade-off is a steep uphill walk home, which you will feel at 2,200 metres, as the weather by month guide explains.
San Cristóbal de las Casas Neighborhoods: Mexicanos and La Merced
Barrio de Mexicanos
Barrio de Mexicanos sits west of the centre past the market, and it is the most traditional of the barrios, with small workshops and local comedores serving set lunches for MXN 60 to 90. It has almost no tourist accommodation, so it is a place to visit for food rather than to stay. It suits travellers who want a look at daily life away from the tourist strip; the travel tips guide covers market etiquette and cash tips.
La Merced and San Ramón
The streets around the Iglesia de la Merced and the San Ramón church, just north of the centre, mix quiet residential lanes with a few converted courtyard guesthouses. It suits visitors who want to be close to the centre but off the main drag, with doubles around MXN 700 to 1,500. It is one of the quieter options in the where to stay guide.
