Travelers interested in colonial architecture will not leave Chiapas [1] disappointed. San Cristóbal de las Casas [2] is easily one of Mexico’s finest colonial cities, boasting a beautiful cathedral, elegant Dominican priory and convent, and numerous well-preserved colonial-era structures. Nearby are the smaller, but no less significant, colonial towns of Comitán [3] and Chiapa de Corzo [4].
There also are a number of indigenous villages that are not colonial in an overall sense but that contain superb colonial structures, especially churches and convents. A rental car is recommended for this route, which includes leap-frogging from town to town.
Arrive in San Cristóbal de las Casas [2] and settle into your hotel. Walk down to the central plaza [5] in the afternoon, when the sun lights up the cathedral’s striking yellow facade.
Visit San Cristóbal’s colonial gems, including La Catedral de San Cristóbal [6], Casa Sirena [7], and Templo y Ex-Convento de Santo Domingo de Guzmán [8]. Book a rental car for the following days.
Visit outlying indigenous villages known for their colonial churches, including San Juan Chamula [9] and Tenejapa [10]. Time permitting, the church in Oxchuc [11] is also superb. (Remember that taking pictures of indigenous people or inside any of the town churches is strictly forbidden.)
Drive east toward Comitán [3], stopping to admire colonial churches and plazas in Amatenango del Valle [12], Teopisca, and Soyatitán [13]. In the evening, enjoy a meal and live music at Comitán’s lovely central plaza [14].
Visit Comitán’s churches, Templo Santo Domingo de Guzmán [15] and Iglesia de San Caralampio [16], and wander the town’s carefully restored colonial neighborhoods. Stay the night, or drive to Chiapa de Corzo [4].
Take a tour of Cañón del Sumidero [17]—not a colonial attraction, but a must-see nonetheless—and spend the afternoon enjoying colonial gems around Chiapa de Corzo [4], including La Pila [18], a superb 16th-century public fountain.
Get an early start on the Ruta Zoques [19], including stops at Chicoasén [20], Copainalá [21], and especially Tecpatán [22], home to one of the state’s most magnificent Dominican monasteries. Return to Tuxtla Gutiérrez [23] and enjoy the live music at Parque Marimba [24] before returning home.
Links:
[1] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chiapas
[2] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chiapas/san-cristobal-de-las-casas
[3] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chiapas/the-lakes-region/comitan
[4] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chiapas/tuxtla-gutierrez/chiapa-de-corzo
[5] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chiapas/san-cristobal-de-las-casas/sights/landmarks/el-zocalo
[6] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chiapas/san-cristobal-de-las-casas/sights/churches/la-catedral-de-san-cristobal
[7] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chiapas/san-cristobal-de-las-casas/sights/landmarks/casa-de-mazariegos
[8] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chiapas/san-cristobal-de-las-casas/sights/churches/templo-de-santo-domingo-de-guzman
[9] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chiapas/san-cristobal-de-las-casas/villages-around-san-cristobal/san-juan-chamula
[10] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chiapas/san-cristobal-de-las-casas/villages-around-san-cristobal/tenejapa
[11] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chiapas/san-cristobal-de-las-casas/villages-around-san-cristobal/oxchuc
[12] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chiapas/san-cristobal-de-las-casas/villages-around-san-cristobal/amatenango-del-valle
[13] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chiapas/discover-chiapas/explore-chiapas/churchgoing-chiapas
[14] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chiapas/the-lakes-region/comitan/sights/el-zocalo
[15] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chiapas/the-lakes-region/comitan/sights/templo-santo-domingo-de-guzman
[16] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chiapas/the-lakes-region/comitan/sights/iglesia-de-san-caralampio
[17] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chiapas/tuxtla-gutierrez/around-tuxtla-gutierrez/parque-nacional-canon-del-sumidero/canon-del-sumidero
[18] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chiapas/tuxtla-gutierrez/chiapa-de-corzo/sights/la-pila
[19] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chiapas/tuxtla-gutierrez/ruta-zoque
[20] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chiapas/tuxtla-gutierrez/ruta-zoque/chicoasen
[21] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chiapas/tuxtla-gutierrez/ruta-zoque/copainala
[22] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chiapas/tuxtla-gutierrez/ruta-zoque/tecpatan
[23] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chiapas/tuxtla-gutierrez
[24] http://www.moon.com/destinations/chiapas/tuxtla-gutierrez/sights/parque-marimba