Budget Travel - Getting to San Cristobal de las Casas

Anyone know an inexpensive, interesting way to get to San Cristobal de las Casas, Mexico? Not sure when I will be going so any recommendations about best times to visit would also be appreciated.

You could look for a cheap flight to CUN (on Jetblue or Spirit, perhaps?) and then take a bus from there (see http://www.ticketbus.com.mx for bus schedules and fares on these routes). The bus would take about 16 hours and $30 US. You might also look at http://www.interjet.com.mx/ , http://www.volaris.com.mx/ or http://www.vivaaerobus.com/ , all of which are Mexican "low cost" (ostensibly) airlines which fly to VSA (~120 miles from San Cristobal) or TGZ (~30 miles) from other points in Mexico. Also as usual check kayak and skyscanner in case they offer cheaper alternatives to any flight you are considering.

I have been all through Chiapas and Southern Mexico. My only suggestion is to fly to the closest possible point and then go by car. This would probably mean flying to Mexico city and then to Tuxtla Gutierrez and then go by car from there. The only problem with flying from Mexico City is you usually have to stay the night in Mexico City because the flight to Tuxtla leaves early in the morning. Travel by car is not fun in this part of world. We went from Tuxtla Gutierrez to Palenque(stopping in San Cristobal for the night) and we also visited Agua Azul. I remember the drive to Palenque taking forever due to the rebels shutting down many of the roads. I never get car sick but everyone in our car was not feeling good after this drive. It was all mountain driving. This was in the mid 90's so i don't know about the political conditions now in Chiapas. Make sure you are with someone who speaks fluent Spanish and knows the area is you plan to drive far distances.As for flying to Cun and taking the bus that would not be fun at all but you could probally save money going that way. Overall it is a very fun trip.
This (http://www.tripadvisor.com/ShowTopic-g150802-i1743-k1494774-Hot_to_get_from_tgz_airport_to_SCDLC-San_Cristobal_de_las_Casas_Central_Mexico_and_Gulf _Coast.html) may be of help if you go to tgz.

I for flying to Cun and taking the bus that would not be fun at all but you could probally save money going that way. Overall it is a very fun trip.


Long distances buses from CUN (and all of Mexico and Latin America for that matter) are of very high quality and comfortable. It's a long trip, but you can break it up by visiting other places enroute.

The bus from CUN to San Cristobal was great. You can choose first class or executive. There are two lavs and a coffee/ tea machine aboard. Very comfy, reclining seats with lots of legroom. You leave CUN in the evening and wake up for the last few hours when the bus starts climbing into the hills near Palenque.

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I visited San Cristobal by bus and also had a good experience. Cancun probably has pretty cheap flights but you could also investigate Villahermosa and Tuxtla. Palenque even has an airport (or used to).

As the others said the buses are pretty good - they even have movies on board.

Part of the charm of San cristobal is that it is not easy to get to...
The bus ride can be torturous - we took one from Palenque to Playa Del Carmen during hurricane season, and the bus was stuck for hours in the middle of nowhere as the roads had been damaged badly. What normally takes 12 hours ended up an 18 hour slog.
And as others have mentioned the bus ride from Palenque to san cristobal can induce queasiness from even the most travel hardy persons.
Don't let any of that stop you, its a great trip. If you do fly into CUN I recommend stopping at Palenque for a night - Don't stay in the city - sleep at nearby El Panchan, then walk to the ruins at sunrise.