Iglesia de San Cristóbalito — Local services in Chiapas

This is the second church in San Cristobal that can be found at the top of a hill, but the Iglesia del Cerrito is much higher than the Templo de Guadalupe.

There were approximately 240 steps to the top of the hill where this small church was perched and it looked quite daunting, standing at the bottom! Thankfully, the stairs were designed in a zig zag pattern with benches and flat areas along the way which made things easier. There were trees and houses along the sides of the long staircase as well. The elevation in San Cristobal was already high and I was feeling the effects (lightheaded, headache), so I took my time climbing them and stopped for breaks to catch my breath.

I finally made it to the top where there were fantastic views of the city below. The church was pretty and surrounded by a forest. There were some picnic benches and a washroom at the top too. It was a peaceful place and I enjoyed relaxing there and taking in the views.

On the way down the steps, there were a group of young local men sitting on the steps at the bottom and I was the only tourist around at midday, which resulted in some uncomfortable cat-calling for me. It felt harmless and not threatening, but was still unwanted and something to be aware of if you are a solo female. Because this church is a little away from the central area and there are hidden areas along the stairs, I wouldn’t recommend going here after dark and early in the morning for solo females.

I definitely recommend the steep climb up to this church as the views...

Great view over San Cristóbal - for the most part. Unfortunately, trees block the way in all directions except to the front where the stairs are. Hence, it is not really worth it to go up here for the sunset. Yet, the church is a beautiful landmark which is well worth a visit - during the day. Also, for the fitness enthusiasts, the stairs are a great place to go for a work out in the mornings. You’ll love the view even more after having finished all stairs ten or fifteen times...

The large number of steps required to reach the seam of the hill is very much worth it once you see the spectacular view of the magical town of San Cristobal de las Casas.

At the time if writing this, the church was still closed dude to an earthquake that damaged many structures a while back. Unfortunate, but understandable.

If visiting during December, walk down the street behind the church to reach the Christmas tree of lights that you can see at the top of the hill...