A Travel Price Comparison for Mexico San Cristobal de Las Casas vs. Acapulco de Juarez for Nightlife, Couples, Attractions, and Food

Should you visit San Cristobal de Las Casas or Acapulco de Juarez?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit San Cristobal de Las Casas or Acapulco de Juarez? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

San Cristobal de Las Casas

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a charming, colorful, and cultural town. As this is a charming small town, visitors also come to explore the sights and local activities. It offers plenty of beauty for visitors. As this is a very quaint destination, you'll find it has a special atmosphere. Other popular activities here include shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Acapulco de Juarez

Acapulco de Juarez is a built-up, well-known, and vibrant city. Other reasons to visit include scuba diving and snorkeling, beaches, and shopping.

San Cristobal de Las Casas and Acapulco de Juarez: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Acapulco de Juarez?

Both Acapulco de Juarez and San Cristobal de Las Casas have plenty of things to do for travelers. Both provide a wide variety of sights and activities for tourists. San Cristobal de Las Casas is better known for its museums, food, historical sights, shopping, small town charm, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere, while Acapulco de Juarez is more popular for its nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, and beaches. San Cristobal de Las Casas is well known for its historical buildings, local markets, and traditional churches. Acapulco de Juarez is well known for its large hotels, golf courses, and lively bars and clubs.

How is San Cristobal de Las Casas different from Acapulco de Juarez?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Acapulco de Juarez and San Cristobal de Las Casas. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Acapulco de Juarez?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a great destination for its museums and landmarks. However, Acapulco de Juarez is a city with minimal options for its historical sights.

San Cristobal de Las Casas offers many unique museums, sights, and landmarks that will make for a memorable trip. The town is filled with historical churches such as the main Cathedral of San Cristobal. While this is the most notable church, there are also smaller churches worth visiting like the Templo Santo Domingo, Iglesia de Guadalupe, and Iglesia de San Cristobal. For museums, make sure you check out the Centro de Textiles del Mundo Maya, Na Bolom, and Museo de Ambar.

While most people don't head to Acapulco de Juarez specifically for the museums and attractions, it does offer a few options. There are a couple of history and cultural museums in the city that can be a nice way to spend a rainy day.

Is the Food Better in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Acapulco de Juarez? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a great destination for its restaurant scene. Also, Acapulco de Juarez is still popular, but not quite as popular for its local flavors and cuisine.

Dining out in San Cristobal de Las Casas is an experience not to be missed. The cuisine is a mix of Spanish-influenced cured meats such as ham and sausage, as well as indigenous flavors like tamales and burritos. There's also a lot of great pizza around town as well as several Asian restaurants.

There are plenty of up and coming restaurants around Acapulco de Juarez. The local cuisine is influenced by the area's indigenous cultures combined with Hispanic influences. Seafood is common as well.

Is San Cristobal de Las Casas or Acapulco de Juarez Better for Nightlife?

Acapulco de Juarez is very popular for nightlife. Also, San Cristobal de Las Casas is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for nightlife and partying.

Acapulco de Juarez is a party destination, and you'll find plenty of activity all night long. The nightlife scene is part of what originally put this city on the map. Spring break is a prime time for partying and you'll find many bars along Costera Street, with the liveliest around Condesa Beach.

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. There's an active nightlife scene that includes everything from late night clubs to salsa lessons. Most tourists who want to party head to the pedestrian streets around the plaza. There are countless bars where you'll likely find a crowd late into the night. Some clubs have a cover charge on weekends but, in general, drinks are cheap and getting around is easy.

Is San Cristobal de Las Casas or Acapulco de Juarez Better for Resorts?

Acapulco de Juarez is very popular for its luxury resorts. However, San Cristobal de Las Casas is not a resort destination.

For the ultimate resort vacation, Acapulco de Juarez is a great choice. You'll find no shortage of resorts in the city, most with large pools and beachfront views.

San Cristobal de Las Casas is not a resort destination.

Is San Cristobal de Las Casas or Acapulco de Juarez Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Acapulco de Juarez is a very popular place for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, San Cristobal de Las Casas is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Many visitors partake in scuba diving or snorkeing while visiting Acapulco de Juarez. There are plenty of dive shops that offer snorkeling and scuba diving trips to premier spots.

San Cristobal de Las Casas is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is San Cristobal de Las Casas or Acapulco de Juarez Better for Beaches?

Acapulco de Juarez is a very popular place for its beaches. However, San Cristobal de Las Casas is not a beach destination.

Acapulco de Juarez is considered a top beach destination. The beaches are well developed with restaurants, hotels and bars lining the long stretches of sand. You'll find all kinds of water sports and activities nearby and several of the most popular beaches include Condesa Beach, Caleta Beach, and Icacos Beach.

San Cristobal de Las Casas is not a beach destination.

Is San Cristobal de Las Casas or Acapulco de Juarez Better for its Old Town?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a great destination for its historic old town charm. However, Acapulco de Juarez does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors explore the old town while visiting San Cristobal de Las Casas. The town is filled with narrow pedestrian streets, colorful markets, and historic churches.

Acapulco de Juarez does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Acapulco de Juarez?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is an unbeatable place for its shopping areas. Also, Acapulco de Juarez is still popular, but not quite as popular for shopping.

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a world class destination for shoppers. The nearby villages are famous for their weaving, leather, pottery, and embroidery, so many visitors pick up souvenirs at the colorful markets around town. This is one of the best towns in Mexico to purchase local items, and you should definitely set aside time to explore and shop.

Plenty of visitors enjoy shopping while in Acapulco de Juarez. You'll find tons of beachside shops where you can pick up any beach supplies you may need as well as souvenirs from your trip. The city also has retail outlets and shopping centers.

Is San Cristobal de Las Casas or Acapulco de Juarez Better for Families?

Acapulco de Juarez is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, San Cristobal de Las Casas is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Acapulco de Juarez is a very family-friendly destination. It may have been made famous by spring breakers, but families with kids will find plenty to do as well. There are water parks, playgrounds, museums and, of course, the beach.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in San Cristobal de Las Casas. While kids may not appreciate the town's beauty and culture, they will have fun exploring the night market or taking a chocolate-making class. There are pedestrian streets where everyone can explore without fear of traffic and pizza restaurants that appeal to the kids as well.

Is San Cristobal de Las Casas or Acapulco de Juarez Better for Couples?

Acapulco de Juarez is very popular for romance. Also, San Cristobal de Las Casas is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its romantic activities.

Acapulco de Juarez makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. Whether you're looking for an active nightlife scene, or romantic sunset walks, then this city has it all. The beach is active and beautiful, there are also botanical gardens and wonderful restaurants to experience.

Couples visit San Cristobal de Las Casas frequently as it offers plenty of romantic activities. Couples who enjoy culture, markets, traditional cuisines, and new experiences will love their time here. It's a fun place to simply wander. You can explore the markets and then eat at a local restaurant before making your way back to your boutique hotel.

Is San Cristobal de Las Casas or Acapulco de Juarez Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a great destination for backpackers. However, Acapulco de Juarez is a city with minimal options for backpackers and budget travelers.

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a very popular town for backpackers and budget travelers. There are a number of hostels in town as well as budget-friendly hotels. Backpackers love the laid back nature of this town as well as the many markets and nature-oriented activities.

Acapulco de Juarez is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are more hotels and resorts than hostels, so most backpackers head elsewhere. There is a young crowd during the spring break season.

Is San Cristobal de Las Casas or Acapulco de Juarez Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Visitors will find notable public transit in both San Cristobal de Las Casas and Acapulco de Juarez.

San Cristobal de Las Casas has some public transit options. Urbano buses are minibuses that connect the town to the outlying residential areas. There are also colectivos that travel to nearby villages.

You'll find some public transit in Acapulco de Juarez, but it may not be enough to take you everywhere. There's an elaborate and fun bus system that travels around the city.

Is San Cristobal de Las Casas or Acapulco de Juarez a more walkable city?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is an unbeatable place for its ease of walking around. Also, Acapulco de Juarez is still popular, but not quite as popular for its walkability.

Getting around San Cristobal de Las Casas on foot is easy. Walking is the best way to experience the town. Most of the sights can be reached on foot and there are pedestrian-only streets that let you avoid the traffic.

Acapulco de Juarez is somewhat walkable. The downtown and beachfront areas are the most walkable and many sights are within a short distance of each other.

For even more information, also check out Is San Cristobal de Las Casas Worth Visiting? and Is Acapulco de Juarez Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Acapulco de Juarez or San Cristobal de Las Casas?

How long in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Acapulco de Juarez?

In either San Cristobal de Las Casas or Acapulco de Juarez, you'll find plenty of activities to fill your time. Most visitors tend to spend more time in Acapulco de Juarez than San Cristobal de Las Casas because of the overall number of sights and activities. Usually, 2-3 days is a good amount of time for San Cristobal de Las Casas, and 3-5 days is enough time in Acapulco de Juarez.

Families should spend more time in Acapulco de Juarez than San Cristobal de Las Casas. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Acapulco de Juarez, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Acapulco de Juarez than San Cristobal de Las Casas. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Acapulco de Juarez that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in San Cristobal de Las Casas than Acapulco de Juarez if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in San Cristobal de Las Casas.

One day in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Acapulco de Juarez?

San Cristobal de Las Casas might be a small town, but there's plenty to do in the area. This town offers something for everyone. Most people visit for the shopping. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

In Acapulco de Juarez, many people enjoy the shopping and nightlife that this vibrant destination offers. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Lots of people come for the nightlife. Most people come for the beaches. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Acapulco de Juarez?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a popular place to visit. Even though San Cristobal de Las Casas is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. Most people visit for the shopping. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that San Cristobal de Las Casas has to offer.

In Acapulco de Juarez, many people enjoy the nightlife and food that this destination offers. It's also a relaxing resort destination. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything. With so much to do, a weekend is probably not enough time to see everything.

Five days in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Acapulco de Juarez?

Since San Cristobal de Las Casas is a small town, it's easily explored when your time is limited. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people visit for the shopping. Five days is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

In Acapulco de Juarez, many people enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling that this built-up destination offers. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. This is a popular place to visit for five days.Five days is often enough time to do most activities. This city offers something for everyone.

A week in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Acapulco de Juarez?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. Visiting the old town is also a must. It offers something for everyone. One week is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

Travelers enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the city of Acapulco de Juarez. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. It's also a great beach destination, too. Lots of people come for the nightlife. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Mexico City, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen, The Best 2-Week Tours from Cancun, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Mexico.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between San Cristobal de Las Casas and Acapulco de Juarez, we can see that San Cristobal de Las Casas is more expensive. And not only is Acapulco de Juarez much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Acapulco de Juarez would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Acapulco de Juarez and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in San Cristobal de Las Casas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Cristobal de Las Casas than you might in Acapulco de Juarez.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is San Cristobal de Las Casas Expensive? and Is Acapulco de Juarez Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, San Cristobal de Las Casas or Acapulco de Juarez?

Acapulco de Juarez has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of San Cristobal de Las Casas. When comparing the sizes of San Cristobal de Las Casas and Acapulco de Juarez, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.