Planning a budget-friendly trip to San Cristóbal de las Casas, Chiapas? This short guide includes 10 of the top free things to do in San Cristóbal de las Casas based on my experience living there for two months on a tight budget.
I spent two months living in this unique Mexican town and compiled a list of all the best free activities you can do. I must mention that some things listed include paying for public transport, which is super affordable in San Cristóbal de las Casas. So, without further ado, let’s get cracking on the 10 top free things to do in San Cristóbal de las Casas, Mexico.
1. Hike up to Don Lauro Peak at sunrise
Yes, I’ve put this first because the El Don Lauro viewpoint at sunrise is incredible. Sure, you can climb it at sunset, but I’ve done this hike around eight times, and you can’t beat a sunrise on a clear, frosty morning. It’s free to climb up; all you have to do is pay for public transport or hitchhike to the starting point!
Here’s a more in-depth guide to hiking Don Lauro in San Cristóbal at sunrise.
It takes only 40-50 minutes to hike up, and then afterwards, if the budget allows, grab a morning coffee and pastry in one of my favourite cafes in San Cristóbal.
2. Take the San Cristóbal “Free Walking Tour”
Every day, Free Walking Tour San Cristobal runs from Plaza de la Paz (next to the wooden cross) at 10 am & 4 pm for English speakers and 10 am for Spanish.
It’s one of the best walking tours I’ve ever done, as each guide takes you to their favourite spots and introduces you to local and authentic places. The walking tour ends in a beautiful spot with a chocolate pox tasting. Pox is a ceremonial Mayan liquor made of corn, sugar cane and wheat (I didn’t hear of it before this tour!).
So go on, take the tour. It’s the perfect way to orient yourself when you first arrive and make a note of all the must-visit spots.
3. Experience the chaos at the municipal markets
The best time to experience the local San Cristóbal food market is at 9 am when it’s in full swing (here).
Outside, you’ll find the local indigenous groups selling fruit and vegetables; inside, you’ll find meats and other produce. Be prepared to feel a little overwhelmed, as it’s a sensory overload, but it’s worth it to gain an insight into local life in San Cris.
4. Wander down Guadelupe Street
This street feels like the centre of the universe in San Cris, a reference point if you need to re-orientate yourself, as often the cobbled streets look all the same! It’s a pedestrianised street filled with coffee shops, wine bars, Mexican eateries, and international restaurants.
After a few days in San Cristóbal, you’ll spot the same people as you walk, eat, and drink on Real de Guadalupe Street. Boy, I’ve spent many hours people-watching on this street.
My favourite coffee shop is Cafelogia and my favourite bar is La Vino de Bacco.
5. Climb up the 79 steps to Guadalupe Church
Located at the end of the iconic Real de Guadalupe, you’ll find Guadelupe Church. Climbing the 79 steps to Guadalupe Church should be high on your San Cristóbal bucket list. The views from the top are stunning and offer you a new perspective of the city. It’s one of my favourite churches in San Cristóbal (along with Templo de Nuestra Señora de la Asunción, close to the markets), and it’s a free activity, which is what we love, eh?
6. Visit the nearby indigenous village of San Juan Chamula
San Juan Chamula is a must-visit for anyone curious to witness ancient Mayan beliefs meet traditional Catholicism with a little Coca-Cola capitalism thrown in. Oh, and an ancient ritual of chicken sacrifices.
While Chiapas is home to many indigenous groups, Chamula is home to the most prominent of them, the Tzotzils. You can easily spot the ladies of Chamula on the streets of San Cris with their iconic black woollen skirts.
Reaching San Juan Chamula is simple. Take a taxi for MXN100 or jump on a shared collectivo from this stop for only MXN18. It’s better to go around 10 am on any day. But if you want to witness real hustle and bustle in the town, Sunday is market day.
7. Explore the colourful markets around Santo Domingo Church
Getting lost in the market in Mercado de Artesanias de Santo Domingo and dropping MXN 100 on an iconic San Cristóbal knitted jumper is a rite of passage that should not be missed at all costs. The jumper definitely screams ‘gap yah’ to the pals at home, but you shouldn’t care because you’ll live in it, and it’ll keep you warm on cold San Cris nights.
A guide on the Free Walking Tour I recommended above explained how the markets came to be. They were established by the local indigenous groups surrounding San Cris. One day, they gathered around Santo Domingo, set up their stalls, and refused to leave until they were granted an official space to sell their handmade goods. After a lot of confrontation, the authorities agreed and allowed them to stay. Hell yeah.
The market is supposedly organised into different ethnic groups and villages selling their unique products, but it honestly looks all the same to me.
8. Go hiking or rock climbing in Arcotete
El Arcotete is an ecotourist park 4km from San Cris. It’s famous for its caves, hiking, and Quinceañera photo shoots.
Because of the park’s unique rock formations, Arcotete is the perfect spot to go climbing. You can go by yourself using this guide or contact Vertigo Rock Climbing here (which is obviously the paid option!).
If you choose to go alone or want to go to Arcotete to visit the caves, it’s super easy. You need to jump on a colectivo from this spot. This is not where it departs, but it saves you from weaving through the traffic in the centre. Instead, wait on the corner and catch it as it leaves town. There should be one every 10/15 minutes. It will have ‘El Arcotete’ on its windshield, and you just need to flag it down. It should cost MXN 10 and take 10/15 minutes.
9. Check out Live Music at El Naufragio or Bar Revolucion
El Naufragio is a hidden gem in San Cris. It serves the best homemade pizza, a big outdoor garden and locally brewed beer. You can check out the latest live music events here. Bar Revolucion is also a live music institution in San Cris and hosts music nights every day of the week. You can find their weekly lineup here.
10. Go bargain hunting in San Cristóbal’s thrift shops
Purely for the necessity of warm clothes, I stumbled on the thrift shops of San Cris, but once I did, boy, you couldn’t stop me. All the clothes are shipped from the US, and you can find some good deals. I’m still proud of my MXN 50 Patagonia hiking jumper find. The best thrift shops in San Cristóbal are on 5 de Mayo Street, especially this one.
I hope this list inspires you to explore and get the best of San Cris on a budget. I just wanted to add that San Cristóbal’s streets can surprise you no matter what day of the week or time of day. Once I stumbled across this mariachi band playing for a wedding in Plaza de las Merced and outdoor salsa at Quiosco Park near Real de Guadalupe Street.
San Cris captured my heart, and I’m certain it’ll capture yours, too (well, unless you go from July to September when it typically floods). Below you can find more articles to help you get the most out of your San Cristóbal trip. As always, reach out if you need any further advice!