Gallery
See it before you go
San Cristóbal de las Casas · Chiapas · Chiapas Highlands
Colonial San Cristóbal de las Casas plus a guided visit to San Juan Chamula and Zinacantán with a Tzotzil-speaking translator. You'll leave understanding what you saw, not just what it looked like.
Full-day itinerary
Meet in the main square. Van into the highlands, brief orientation on Tzotzil culture and church-visit etiquette.
A quick walk through the market square to the church of San Juan Bautista.
Pine-needle floor, thousands of candles, Coca-Cola offerings. No photography inside. Your Tzotzil translator interprets what's happening.
Time to walk through the market, buy honey, watch the daily rhythm.
15-minute drive to the neighbouring village, known for its greenhouse-grown flowers and its textiles.
Family-run backstrap-loom cooperative — demonstration of dyes and weaving, time to ask questions and buy directly.
Back in town by 13:30, in time for lunch on your own.
What's included
Round-trip van from San Cristóbal to Chamula and Zinacantán. About 30 min each way.
A guide who has worked in the highlands for years, in English or Spanish.
A Tzotzil speaker with you at every stop so villagers can speak for themselves.
Entrance to the San Juan Chamula church — respectful conduct required, no photography inside.
Visit to a family-run backstrap-loom cooperative in Zinacantán, with time to ask questions.
Eight guests max. We want to be guests in these villages, not a bus tour.
The details
Gallery
Your guide
Loading guides…
What guests say
"La visita a Chamula fue respetuosa y honesta — no una parada de fotos. El guía nos tradujo los rituales tzotziles con contexto. Aprendí más en 6 horas que en un año leyendo."
"The Zinacantán textile cooperative was a highlight. Bought a huipil directly from the weaver who made it — no middleman, and she explained the symbols on the cloth. San Cristóbal itself is worth an extra day."
"Un día largo pero muy educativo. La iglesia de Chamula es una experiencia que no se puede describir — hay que estar ahí. Nos hubiera gustado más tiempo en Zinacantán."
Book this tour