San Cristobal de las Casas is a colonial stronghold of white-washed, red-tiled houses huddled together on a plain with unrivalled provincial charm.

Considered the cultural capital of Chiapas State, San Cristobal de las Casas is the largest of Mexico's ‘magical towns', full of art, gorgeous houses with wrought-iron balconies, narrow cobblestoned streets, galleries and attractive outdoor areas.

The attractions of San Cristobal de las Casas include a wealth of colonial churches, the Yellow Cathedral in particular, the municipal crafts market, the Plaza del Mariachi, and several interesting squares.

There are a few museums, but most noteworthy is the Mesoamerican Jade Museum, an institution with replicas of ancient Olmec pieces that also sells pre-Hispanic reproductions carved in jade.

Despite all this the true pleasure lies in wandering the streets absorbing the atmosphere or using the town as a base for visiting nearby villages, buying inexpensive textiles, weavings and jewellery or learning Spanish at one of the numerous language schools.