Located at 2300 m of altitude in the green mountains of Chiapas, San Cristobal of mow Casas profits from a fresh climate. Founded in 1528, the city became it capital of the state of Chiapas of 1824 to 1892. It owes its name in Dominican Bartolomé de Las Put, which defended the Indians against excesses of the colonists.
The rich person heritages Amerindian and Spanish, were modified little during the centuries. The Amerindian heritage is done visible on the faces, in the languages and on the costumes often very coloured in the streets and the markets. The Spanish heritage of the colonial time is indicated as for him a little everywhere, whether it is in the typical paving stones or the bell-towers of church. The surrounding villages are especially populated of Mayas belonging to the tzotzil groups and tzettal.
The slackened and particular atmosphere of this place is appreciated while walking in its streets bordered of low buildings in stucco with the roofs covered with red tiles. Since the zócalo, one can observe the majestic buildings, including inter alia the very large cathedral of inspiration baroque. The atmosphere becomes more animated as one goes up the avenue of General Utrilla, bordered of shops and kiosks of craft industry, with the approach of the church of Santo Domingo, with which the frontage rosâtre richly decorated is superbly illuminated the come evening. Its interior of inspiration rococo, raised of an abundance of gold sheets and of a high altar rounded out of wooden, does of it one of the prettiest churches of Mexico.
Around the church of Santo Domingo, Indians spread out objects of craft industry in a market of fortune. The principal market, with its profusion of coloured food products and its human fauna so variegated, is a little further towards north. If you wish to make purchases, you can turn to the markets like worms the shops of the street Real de Guadalupe, in the east of the zócalo, or the avenue General Utrilla, where you will find beautiful fabrics typical of this area, often decorated colors very sharp: huipites (embroidered blouses), shawls, jackets, kepis, handkerchiefs, covers, tablecloths and towels. You will also see yourselves proposing objects out of leather, ceramics and jewels (especially of amber).
Among the sites of interest, it is advisable to mention the museum San Jolobil, beside the church of Santo Domingo. To the ground floor objects and windows treating of the times précolombienne are presented and colonial. On the first floor uvres of art of the colonial time are exposed and the true treasure of this museum, is a collection of traditional costumes of the highlands of Chiapas. Na-Bolom, street Vicente Guerrero, are presented in the form of a museum and a research centre rested by two Danish archaeologists, Frans and Trudi Blom. This couple was given the responsability, during several decades, to counter the plagues threaten the Amerindian Lacandon jungle and its inhabitants, a fight which continues still today with the assistance of voluntary come from several countries. The museum presents the collection of objects prehispanic collected by Frans Blom like various objects and photographs illustrating the life of their contemporaries.

In the surroundings:
With ten kilometers in the north of San Cristobal the village of San Juan Chamula is which shelters an Amerindian community. The church, centers worship for the Indians chamulas is a perfect example of the syncretism between catholic beliefs and Mayas.

At two hours of road Tuxtla Gutiérrez, which is only to 532 m of altitude and from there the famous canyon del Sumidero, is inserted between its walls a height of 1000 Mr.
At three hours of road of San Cristobal of mow Put, close to the Guatemalan border, extend the Montebello lakes.
At four hours of road the cascades Agua Azul pass to be most impressive of Mexico.
One will be able to also visit the archeological sites Mayas de Palenque and Bonampak as well as the extraordinary jungle of Lancandons.

Remarks on the recent events
At the first hours of the year 1994, the town of San Cristóbal of mow Casas did the one of the draftings when a small band of guerrillas took of it during about thirty hours control by the weapons. the Zapatist Army of national release (EZLN) since forsook the military action to substitute to him a propaganda campaign much more effective. Little by little, the life took again its normal course with San Cristóbal, city quiet and pleasant.