San Cristóbal de las Casas 1-day itinerary

Begin at the yellow-and-red Cathedral of San Cristóbal on the main plaza, built in the 16th century with a baroque facade that glows in the morning light. Walk the pedestrianised Andador Eclesiástico and Real de Guadalupe — the twin arteries of the colonial centro lined with amber jewellery shops, indigenous textile stalls, and cafés serving Chiapanecan coffee. Climb the steps to the Templo de Guadalupe on the eastern hill for a panoramic view over the terracotta rooftops to the green highland valley beyond.

Visit the Museo del Ámbar de Chiapas in the ex-convent of La Merced — Chiapas produces some of the world's finest amber, and the museum displays pieces with 25-million-year-old insects, plants, and even small lizards preserved inside. Learn to distinguish genuine amber from copal resin (the common fake) using UV light tests. Continue to the Santo Domingo artisan market surrounding the Templo de Santo Domingo — hundreds of indigenous Tzotzil and Tzeltal vendors sell handwoven textiles, embroidered blouses, wool shawls, and carved wooden masks.

San Cristóbal is Mexico's chocolate capital — cacao has been cultivated in the Chiapas lowlands since the Maya era. Visit Kakaw Museo del Cacao for a tasting and history of Mesoamerican cacao culture, then buy artisanal bars at one of the many chocolate shops along Real de Guadalupe. For dinner, try Chiapanecan specialities: tamales de chipilín (herb tamales), cochito horneado (slow-roasted pork), and pozol (fermented cacao corn drink) at a traditional restaurant near the plaza.