Exploring San Cristobal de las Casas & Sumidero Canyon: Our First Volaris Adventure
Joe and I recently bought a Volaris Flight Pass —an incredible deal at just $500 for unlimited last-minute flights. You can book 24 hours in advance for domestic flights in Mexico and three days for international. Since Volaris flies directly from Guadalajara to Charlotte, we knew it would be useful for trips back to SC/NC, but we were also excited to use it for exploring Mexico.
For our first adventure, we chose San Cristóbal de las Casas , a charming mountain town in Chiapas just two hours away by plane.
First Impressions of San Cristobal
After landing, we took a 1.5-hour bus ride into the city, passing incredible mountain and valley views. The town itself is walkable, colorful, and vibrant—many streets are pedestrian-only, canopied with umbrellas or woven textiles, and lined with street art.
Markets were another highlight, full of traditional crafts, textiles, and regional products that made every stroll an adventure.
Music & Nightlife
San Cristóbal has a surprisingly rich live music scene. Two of our favorite venues were:
Café de la Revolución – We happened to be there for their 22-year anniversary celebration, complete with live cumbia and salsa bands. Upstairs, people danced the night away, creating an atmosphere that was as lively as it was welcoming.
El Paliacate Espacio Cultural – Here we saw the Nox Quartet , a rock-jazz group, and Kostra de Moyera , a femme punk band. The energy of the crowd made me feel like I was back in my 90s college days.
Food Highlights
The food scene in San Cristóbal is diverse, creative, and delicious. Some standouts included:
Sarajevo Café Jardín – A lush, plant-filled restaurant where we tried local entomatadas —tortillas with chicken or panela cheese, Chiapas cheese, avocado, and toasted pumpkin seeds.
Cocoliche – Cozy, eclectic spot where I loved the chicken and bacon pasta.
Specialty chocolate shops – Chiapas is famous for cacao, so we stocked up on artisanal chocolate, a rare treat to find back home.
Excursion to Sumidero Canyon
One of the most breathtaking experiences was our trip to Sumidero Canyon (Cañón del Sumidero) , just outside Tuxtla Gutiérrez.
The tour began with viewpoints along the rim, where we looked down into the vast canyon as morning clouds lifted. From there, we boarded a boat to cruise the Grijalva River.
The ride lasts about 2 hours.
Expect heat—bring water, sunscreen, and a hat.
Wildlife sightings were incredible: crocodiles, monkeys, and countless bird species.
Gliding between towering canyon walls was an unforgettable experience—truly one of Mexico’s natural wonders.
Final Thoughts
By Sunday evening, we were back home in San Antonio, but the whirlwind trip left us hooked. San Cristóbal de las Casas is magical—filled with music, culture, food, and natural beauty. Pairing it with Sumidero Canyon made for the perfect quick getaway.
With our Volaris Pass, this is just the beginning. We’ll definitely be back to dive deeper into Chiapas and its incredible culture.