11 Best San Cristóbal de las Casas Tours

Looking for the best tours in Mexico’s Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas?

The city’s picturesque historical center captivates the attention of hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Yet it is surprisingly difficult to find local tour companies that offer guided explorations of the city and surrounding areas.

I recently had the privilege of spending a month in this enchanting city and made it my goal to track down the best San Cristóbal de las Casas tours and day trips.

To make it easier on other travelers, I’ve complied the most highly-rated San Cristobal tours in this guide. You can choose from historical walking tours, workshops with local artisans, an iconic boat ride through Sumidero Canyon, bike rides to nearby indigenous communities, visits to ancient Mayan ruins, and more.

Before you read on, be sure to bookmark my other Chiapas travel guides.

Lush vegetation surrounding the Palenque ruins

11 San Cristóbal de las Casas Tours

1. Chamula and Zinacantan Cultural Tour

If syncretism, the Zapatistas, and Chiapas’ indigenous communities interest you, don’t miss this intimate and thought provoking San Cristobal tour.

You’ll journey 30-minutes outside of San Cristobal to two unique indigenous communities in the Chiapan highlands. First, you’ll stop at San Juan Chamula, known for its controversial church, the Templo de San Juan.

Inside the church you’ll witness how locals have blended Mayan beliefs, Catholicism, and other unusual practices like drinking Coca Cola and hard liquor to rid their bodies of evil and sacrificing chickens on the church floor, which is covered in pine needles and melting candles.

After explaining the meaning and historical context behind these practices, your guide will take you to a local art gallery and a lunch spot with a gorgeous view of the Chiapan mountains. Next, you’ll head to Zinacantan where you’ll meet with a local Tzotzil family and learn about their culture and artistry.

Your guide will take you back to San Cristobal by about 3pm so you’ll still have several hours to spend exploring the city before your next day of adventures.

2. Bike to Chamula and Zinacantan

For experienced cyclists, this bike tour to Chamula and Zinacantan is a wonderful alternative to the first San Cristobal tour (above).

Led by a professional cycling tour guide, you’ll visit the San Juan de Chamula church and an indigenous family in Zinacantán. But unlike the first tour, you’ll get around by bike.

You’ll ride 32 kilometers through rustic Chiapan countryside on a bike provided by the tour company.

“If you like to be active and want to explore the indigenous villages and more rural sites of the area I cannot recommend this tour more. The views were amazing! My tour guide was Luis, he explained a lot about the region and was really helpful with his clear hand signals during mountain biking. The tour takes about 5 hours and you have time to visit the churches and see the rituals performed in Chamula. You can bike at your own pace and take pictures whenever you want. Had the best experience!”

TripAdvisor Review

Exploring San Cristobal de las Casas with a local guide

3. San Cristobal Artisan Workshop Tour

This unique tour in San Cristobal is my favorite one to recommend to visitors. Your host is Nayib, an entrepreneur and artist who is deeply connected in San Cristobal’s artisan scene.

Nayib will take you to several local workshops where you’ll get to learn from San Cristobal’s chocolatiers, embroiderers, flower arrangers, innovative chefs, and other creatives.

The specific workshops you visit depend on the day, so some visitors even take Nayib’s tour numerous times during their trip to San Cristobal—it is that good!

“Best experience imaginable. Way beyond expectations. It was our first day in San Cristobal but we learned so much, saw so much beauty, and met such inspiring people that we could honestly go home today and feel like our trip was worth it. Nayib was fun, inspiring, personable, caring, generous, well-prepared, authentic and really interesting. Our minds are spinning with the beauty of the city and the people we met.”

Review from Shannon

Spectacular views of the mountains and colonial architecture on a San Cristobal de las Casas tour

4. Private City Tour of San Cristobal

This personalized private tour of San Cristobal is undoubtedly the best way to see the city.

You’ll get a local guide to yourself as you explore the city’s most important sites and hidden gems.

Since it is a customizable tour, you get to choose from three different itineraries:

★ History, legends, architecture, society, and culture
★ The textiles of Chiapas, indigenous culture, and society
★ Chiapan gastronomy and tradition with drink tastings

5. San Cristobal Free Walking Tour

San Cristobal’s popular free walking tour is a great alternative to the private city tour.

It is a three hour tour that is offered twice a day (10am and 4pm) in English and once a day in Spanish at 10am. The tour guides are well-spoken young locals who are not afraid to share both the beautiful and difficult parts of city’s history and current issues.

Stops along the way vary day by day but often include major landmarks of the city like Santo Domingo Church, the steps to Iglesia de Guadalupe, the city’s main plaza, markets, as well as several lesser known spots around town. After exploring San Cristobal’s charming streets, you’ll end the tour with a complimentary pox (indigenous alcohol) tasting.

You don’t need to pre-book a ticket for the free walking tour, just show up at Plaza de la Paz as the start time. Be sure to bring change so you can tip your guide!

Also See: 21 Mexico City Hidden Gems

Breathtaking Sumidero Canyon boat trip

6. Sumidero Canyon and Chiapa de Corzo

A trip to the State of Chiapas is not complete without seeing Sumidero Canyon (Cañón del Sumidero). After all, it is the second most visited site in Chiapas, after Palenque.

The best way to experience Sumidero Canyon is to take a boat tour along the Grijalva River which runs through the base on the canyon. Most tours also include visits to viewpoints above the canyon, and a stop at the main square of Chiapa de Corzo, an adorable pueblo mágico (magical town, as classified by the Mexico government).

If you’ve read my guide to Sumidero Canyon you know that there are a lot of mediocre Sumidero Canyon tours, but this tour is the best one I can recommend. It includes:

★ Roundtrip transportation from San Cristobal in a vehicle with AC, including hotel/Airbnb pick up
★ A 2-hour boat ride through Sumidero Canyon
★ All national park fees paid
★ 1.5 hours in Chiapa de Corzo

Keep in mind that there is an extra fee to request an English speaking guide, but if you can explore other Sumidero Canyon day trips from San Cristobal on Viator, GetYourGuide, and Civitatis.

7. El Arco Bike Ride

This highly-rated San Cristobal bike tour is a great way to stay active while traveling, get a glimpse of the the Chiapan countryside, and explore El Arcotete Ecological Park.

The half day tour includes a bike ride from the center of San Cristobal to El Arco, which is located on the outskirts of town. You’ll stop along the way at Quinta del Obispo, a 17th century church that is rarely visited by tourists.

At El Arco you’ll find the stunning Mamut Caves (Grutas Del Mamut), as well as an underground maze that was only discovered in 2011. You’ll also have the option to go zip-lining if you’d like!

This San Cristobal tour is best for fit travelers who are comfortable biking up to 15 kilometers, and for those who like me love caving!

8. Pottery Workshop

If you’re interested in Chiapas’ indigenous people and art, book this pottery workshop that takes place in a Tzeltal village near San Cristobal. The tour includes roundtrip transportation from San Cristobal, and is the perfect way to immerse in local culture while learning a new skill.

In addition to learning prehispanic pottery from local artists, this tour also includes a traditional breakfast, a visit to a local bakery, and a stop at the gallery of Juana Gomez, one of Chiapas’ most renowned indigenous artists.

“Mari and Albertina were so warm and wonderful. I loved hanging out with them in their peaceful and beautiful pottery studio. My husband, teenager and I made a dove and a plant pot. Our guide, Rudy, is so knowledgeable about Mexico and of this region. This is important to us because when we are on vacation, we want to learn and soak up the culture and history of the communities we visit. This tour delivered and far exceeded our expectations. Thank you, Rudy!”

Review from Pilar on Viator

9. Motorcycle to Hidden Waterfalls

If you’re looking for a hidden gem San Cristobal tour, this motorcycle to waterfalls tour is it!

Your guide is Alli, a Chiapas local who has rode her motorcycle all over the world—including a solo trip all the way from Alaska to Guatemala. She has been a professional tour guide for seven years and now offers this unique San Cristobal experience.

You’ll have the option to join Alli as a passenger or rent your own motorcycle to ride along the Pan-American highway through the Chiapan countryside to a beautiful waterfall, the cave of El Chorreadero, and the indigenous town of Navenchauc. Alli will even add on a stop at Sumidero Canyon if you’re interested!

“If you’re reading this; you should book this tour! Alli is an amazing guide and driver. I’ve never been on a motorcycle before and she makes you feel very comfortable and at ease. The scenic route is spectacular (so much better than booking a tour on a bus). My husband was a first time driver and Alli took the time to teach him and make him feel comfortable driving. This was definitely one of the best tours we have taken!”

Review from Kathy

Also See: 202 Mexico Instagram Captions + Mexico Quotes and Puns

Palenque is one of the best (and longest) San Cristobal de las Casas tours

10. Palenque Ruins

Visiting Palenque is one of the best things to do in Chiapas, and even if you’re staying in San Cristobal de las Casas, you can book a day tour to this ancient site!

This Mayan archaeological site is one of the most well preserved and most visited ancient cities in southern Mexico, and it is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

Keep in mind that Palenque is nearly six hours away from San Cristobal de las Casas, so all tours leave early morning, and return in the late evening.

However, Palenque is not the only place you’ll see on this day trip from San Cristobal, it also includes stops at the gorgeous Misol-Ha and Agua Azul waterfalls.

Montebello Lakes, a hidden gem day trip from San Cristobal Chiapas

11. Montebello Lakes and Waterfalls

Situated in southern Mexico near the Guatemala border, Chiapas’ Montebello Lakes (Lagos de Montebello) makes one of the best day trips from San Cristobal de las Casas.

This Montebello Lakes tour also includes a visit to the picturesque El Chiflon Waterfalls, and explore the hiking trails up to Bridal Veil waterfall.

You’ll want to pack a bathing suit, towel, snacks, water, and lunch as food isn’t included in the tour and there aren’t many options along the way.

Like with Palenque, this is an all day trip, so be sure to plan your San Cristobal itinerary accordingly.

Related: Swimming Beneath Waterfalls and Hiking in Santiago Apoala, Oaxaca