San Crist?bal de las Casas lies in the southern Mexican state of Chiapas, high in the mountains, surrounded by pine forests. With its cobblestone streets and its red-tile roofs, San Crist?bal is a mix of 16th century, Spanish influences and a vivid, colorful indigenous culture. So you'll find beautiful churches, cathedrals and buildings, but also the largest indigenous market in northern America, where the indigenous people from surrounding villages come daily in colorful, traditional clothing to sell their fruits, vegetables and crafts.

You can choose from a variety of vegetarian restaurants and European style caf?s or eat the local foods in small eateries all over town. You can visit indigenous villages during the day (each village has particular clothing, or huipiles) and at night you can listen to music played in several different restaurants and bars.

The climate is different from other parts in Mexico: During the rainy season (May to October), you have a mild climate with usual sunny days, but rainy afternoons. During the dry season (October to May), you have beautiful, sunny and warm days, but chilly nights and no rain.

You can get to San Crist?bal by either air or bus. There are regular flights from Mexico City to Tuxtla Guiterrez, the capital of Chiapas. It is then two hours by bus to San Cristóbal. And, there are now a direct flight daily from Mexico City to the new airport in San Cristóbal. Buses in Mexico are comfortable, plentiful and convenient. Let us know if you need more information on how to get to us. We offer airport pick-up from the airports of Tuxtla Gutierrez and San Cristóbal de las Casas.

We at Instituto Jovel, are happy to help you plan day trips to the surrounding villages and archeological sites and also weekend trips to the jungle or to Palenque, visiting waterfalls and going on boat tours. There are many, many places to visit!