San Cristobal de las Casas, History,Chiapas Mexico
San Cristobal de las Casas,
Chiapas,
Mexico  provides a Travel
hub and Lodging for those
Visiting Nearby Ruins of
Palenque Tonina,
Bonampak and other Mayan
Archaeological Sites,
Bus Service and Hotels are
plentiful.
San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas,
Mexico is a hub for travel to the ruins and
for trips to pacific coast Chiapas and   
Guatemala.
Mayan people, residents of the area for Two thousand years, still live and farm the hills and speak their
Tzotzil and Tzeltal languages, a variant of Zoque and one of dozens of dialects of the ancient languages.
San Cristobal de las Casas captured worldwide attention in 1994 when a revolutionary army called The
Zapatista Army of National Liberation captured the city and opposed the Mexican Government. The two
sides reached an uneasy truce by 1996 and although the movement continues, the area is now relatively
safe for tourists.  
16.75 N  92.63 W
San Cristobal de las Casas
is the third largest city in
Mexico's southern most state
of Chiapas. The city of
143,000 occupies a ridge at
6900 feet elevation and is a
gateway to the Mayan ruins
of Palenque, Bonampak,
Tonina, and Yaxchilan in the
Usamacinta river drainage to
the east.
The Spanish Conquistadors and
colonizers settled in the mountains
around present day San cristobal de las
Casas in 1528 and started building the
city, first called Villareal de Chiapas de
los Espanoles. They defeated among
others, the indigenous Chiapencos, the
culture that gave the State of Chiapas its
name.
The city underwent many name changes
to finally, in 1848, become San Cristobal
de las Casas, a combination of St
Christopher and the first bishop of
Chiapas and champion of indigenous
rights, Bartolome de las Casas. Two
older names for the city linger: Jovel and
Hueyzacatlan.
San Cristobal de las Casas
was once home to Frans
Blom, one of the first  
archaeologists  to investigate
at Palenque.
His former house is now a
museum and inn for visitors
San Cristobal de las
Casas was once home to
archaeologist Frans Blom
and his wife Gertrude Duby
Blom.
They met and married in
San Cristobal and spent
their lives trying to
document and protect two
indigenous cultures and
the forests that were home
to the native people.
Day Trips
Nearby Chamula and  Zinacantan, indigenous villages of the Tzotzil Mayan people, are popular day trips
from San Cristobal because of their colorful hand-made textiles and ancient customs and festivals.
Mayan Ruins Trips
ADO Buses make the trip to Ocosingo for trips to the Mayan ruin of Tonina, and to the city of Palenque for
trips to Agua Azul and to the ruins of Palenque, Bonampak, and The Frontera where boats ferry visitors to
the ruin of Yaxchilan.
San Cristobal de las Casas is a stop  for travelers
to the ruins of Bonampak, Yaxchilan and Palenque.
Travelers going towards the Pacific coast can
visit the Soconusco /Olmec ruins of Izapa and the
museum at Tapachula
San Cristobal de las Casas History in Chiapas Mexico has
been one of a travel trvel hub for explorers to the Mayan ruins
of Tonina, Palenque, Bonampk, and Yaxchilan.
The colonial city offers good hotels, budget lodging,  and
transportation.
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