Experience Comitán de Dominguez

Discover Comitán de Dominguez

Comitan and neighboring San Cristobal de las Casas and Tuxtla Gutierrez are in the state of Chiapas, a region east of Oaxaca and south of Villahermosa and which is, without question, among Mexico’s most stunning scenic areas; mostly wild and rugged, it is rich in indigenous life and culture.

Chiapas’ thickly wooded jungles, mountains and valleys together with its traditional cultures and indigenous roots have kept its look, feel and style very distinct from the rest of Mexico. Although there are some cities, symbols and events here which reveal the area’s colonial heritage, the population remains close to its indigenous roots. Life is still lived according to custom and ritual.

Many argue that the natural beauty of this area has no parallel in Mexico: deep green forested valleys, awesome waterfalls and high mountains with deep canyons and gorges, a colossal wealth of flora and fauna and glorious lakes certainly make this area one of Mexico’s most unspoiled natural paradises.

Away from the larger towns, Spanish is a second language; people here still retain their indigenous culture and tongue. You’ll see a lot of indigenous people going about their everyday life, often wearing their traditional dress. It’s important to remember that the people who live here are extremely sensitive to having their photograph taken, so exercise caution in this respect when you visit. See Practical Information for more details.

Comitan de Dominguez is its full name, although it’s most often referred to as just Comitan (koh-mee-TAN’), was first settled around 1527 by the Spanish, and is still largely undiscovered by most foreign visitors to Mexico’s Chiapas region, who traditionally arrive and explore the region from San Cristobal de las Casas, 88km (55 miles) north of here.

This has been partly due to the lack of road and tourism infrastructure, although in the last few years progress has been made in both areas and today Comitan is a good base to explore some of Chiapas’ most breathtaking natural attractions.

The colonial city is made up of nine neighborhoods; an important reference to the city’s ancient name: Balun Canun, which means place of the nine stars. The houses are simple but picturesque, with their painted wood doors, interior courtyard gardens and colonial balconies. The streets themselves are well kept and immaculately clean, too.

Comitan is the last significant place before Mexico’s southern border gives way to the Usumacinta River and Guatemala just beyond. Comitan offers its visitors a number of attractive sights inside the city itself, including the beautiful neighborhood of San Caralampio. See Key Attractions for more details.

Although San Cristobal de las Casas is still the epicenter of tourist activity in Chiapas, Comitan has evolved and improved its tourism services, now making it an ideal place to spend a couple of days exploring the southern edge of Chiapas as well as the attractions along Mexico’s southern border with Guatemala, most within an hour’s drive from here.

Key Attractions

Colonial Center

Comitan’s main plaza (also known as the Zocalo) is an attractive, multi-level mix of benches, trees and art sculptures; there is also a fountain on west side. Immediately off the main square you’ll find Church of Santo Domingo, the Casa de la Cultura (House of Culture) as well as the city’s main municipal building. It’s worth wandering around here and discovering the small shops and boutiques, many selling locally crafted items.

Iglesia de Santo Domingo

This church, situated on the main plaza, was built during the 16th and 17th centuries; its attractions include a neoclassical facade and block tower that reflect Mudejar art. Inside the church is a single level, with two chapels added during later periods. The main one—made of marble —was installed in 1956 to mark the church’s 400th anniversary.

San Caralampio

The picturesque neighborhood of San Caralampio, three blocks northwest of the main plaza is a true delight. See Photo Gallery.

Just off its central square featuring trees and a bandstand is the Temple of San Caralampio, built in 1852 to commemorate its patron saint following a cholera epidemic that devastated the local population of Comitan during the 19th century.

Museums in Comitan

Museum of Dr. Belisario Dominguez – The former home of the Doctor/Martyr after which the town was named can be found one block southeast of the main plaza. This is a typical 19th century house with delightful balconies and gardens which complement the historic architecture of the building. Dr. Belisario was an outspoken senator during the presidency of Victoriano Huerta. After he spoke out against Huerta’s record of sponsoring political murders, he was himself murdered. The house has six rooms which give an insight into the life and times of Dr Belisario Dominguez.

Casa de la Cultura (House of Culture), on the southeast corner of the main plaza has a small exhibition of local history and culture, and by walking through it you connect to the Museo Arqueológico de Comitan (Archaeology Museum), which keeps artifacts from the area’s local archaeology centers.

To see some paintings created by some of Mexico’s leading artists, including Rufino Tamayo, visit the Museo de Arte Hermila Dominguez Castellanos, two blocks southeast of the main plaza; Admirers of fine art should also visit the nearby Museo Parador de Santa Maria. See Attractions Close by to Comitan, below.

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Attractions Close-by Comitan

Museo Parador de Santa Maria – An ex-hacienda that was built in the 19th century and left empty after the revolution, suffering serious decay. The property was acquired privately and meticulously restored to its early splendor; today it’s a restful hotel/parador, restaurant and museum which keeps some very fine sacred art and sculptures dated between the 16th and 19th centuries (some images of these can be seen in the photo gallery). Just 28km (17 miles) from Comitan, this museum/hotel is surrounded by unspoiled countryside and provides an excellent place to rest, eat and enjoy some fine art. The owners of the property grow their own organic coffee which is served on the premises and can also be purchased to take away.

Archaeological Areas – Tenam Puente and Chinkultic are short drives away – see the respective guides on Mexperience by clicking the green links above.

Lagos de Montebello – a region of lakes in southern Mexico, this natural attraction is just one hour from Comitan. There are over 50 lakes in the area, most of them reflect deep turquoise blue and green. Don’t miss this spectacular area when you visit Comitan. Mexperience has published a Complete Guide to Lagos de Montebello as part of our Mexico’s Great Outdoors Section.

Amatenango del Valle – On the highway between here and San Cristobal de las Casas is Amatenango del Valle: it’s a small hamlet that is famous for its local potters and pottery. The pottery here is still fired in the traditional way: by building a wood fire around the pieces, not in a kiln. Be sure to stop and see the array of pottery, and more recently, “animalitos” (little animals) on offer (although some of the animal pieces can be quite large, too). Prices are very cheap by western standards; some pieces are fragile, but they will wrap them carefully for you. Be sure to stop and buy. See the Picture Gallery for Amatenango del Valle.

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Getting There & Around

By Air – The closest airport to Comitan is at Tuxtla Gutierrez, the state capital. You can fly to Tuxtla Gutierrez from Mexico City. For detailed information about flights and flying, see the Mexperience guide to Air Travel in Mexico.

By Bus – You can travel to Tuxtla Gutierrez on a luxury bus from Mexico City—the trip takes around 10 hours. From there, take a local bus direct to Comitan or to San Cristobal de las Casas and connect from there. The bus you take from Tuxtla Gutierrez may stop at San Cristobal anyway—check locally. For detailed information about bus transportation read the Mexperience guide to Bus Travel in Mexico.

By Car – Driving to Comitan from Tuxtla Gutierrez is pretty efficient now, especially as half the journey (to San Cristobal de las Casas) can be done on a high speed toll road. See additional information about Driving in Mexico and Mexico’s Toll Roads on Mexperience and further advice about driving in Chiapas in the Practical Information, below.

Car Rental – To explore Mexico’s colonial towns and cities, consider renting a car for your visit. Having your own car will give you more flexibility than using public transport options and, in some cases, offer you access to places which are otherwise difficult to visit without the use of a car. Read our guide to Car Rental in Mexico to learn what you need to know about car rental in Mexico and connect to the Mexperience Travel Center to reserve your Rental Car.

Taxis – Taxis are plentiful in Comitan. Taxi travel is very affordable in Mexico in comparison to the USA, Canada and Europe, and so provides a viable means of public transportation in Mexico. Your hotel can arrange taxis for you; some post their rates on a board in the lobby; taxi hotel rates are usually higher than cabs you hail off the street. If you speak Spanish, you will have a distinct advantage in your negotiations with local taxi drivers. For detailed information, read the Mexperience guide to Taxi Travel in Mexico

Comitán Essentials

Telephone: Connect to the guide about Communications in Mexico on Mexperience for detailed information about keeping in touch and the latest table of national dialing codes.

Exchanging Currency: Banks with ATM machines can be found in the downtown area of Comitan, with several banks and ATMs right off the main plaza. For detailed information about exchanging and managing your money, read the Mexperience guide to Money in Mexico.

Travel Insurance: We recommend that you are adequately covered with travel medical insurance and/or travel assistance insurance when you are visiting Mexico. Read the Mexperience guide to Travel Insurance in Mexico for full details and links to specialist insurance suppliers.

Internet Access: Internet cafes can be easily found in towns and cities across Mexico and WiFi is increasingly commonplace–from cafes, shops, hotels, and some cities even offer free WiFi in some defined public spaces.

Driving in Chiapas – Safety Advice

If you are driving independently in this region, using a rental car or your own vehicle, it’s important to follow some special advice.

It’s best to keep off all highways after dark, unless you know them well, have good local knowledge and a good reason to travel at night.

The highway from San Cristobal to Palenque (Highway 199) must NOT be traveled on after dark. This road cuts through some extremely remote territory including, in the latter stages, sweltering jungle.

The above also applies to Highway 307 between Palenque and Bonampak / Yaxchilan. Most travelers join others and see these places as part of an organized tour; however if you drive there yourself, you should consider joining the convoy of tours which leave early in the morning and get back to Palenque before dusk.

Military Checkpoints: Expect to pass through at least one, but probably several of these on your road trip through Chiapas. Don’t be alarmed, the soldiers may or may not check your car’s trunk; they are polite, respectful and can even provide local advice and directions if you need them.
See Also: Military Checkpoints in Mexico

Special Note About Photography: The people in this region do not, as a rule, like photographs taken of them and the things they own. In some of the surrounding villages, it is prohibited to take photographs all together, and those who do not comply can face equipment confiscation, fines and even temporary detention. Ask before you take photographs of people and their possessions; you may be asked to pay a small fee for the privilege. See Also: Photography Etiquette in Mexico.

What to Buy in Comitan de Dominguez

Amatenango del Valle is a small hamlet famous for its local potters and pottery. The pottery here is still fired in the traditional way: by building a wood fire around the pieces and not in a kiln. Make sure you stop and see the array of pottery, and more recently, “animalitos” (little animals) on offer (although some of the animal pieces can be quite large too). Prices are completely affordable by western standards; some pieces are fragile, but they will wrap them carefully for you. Be sure to stop and buy; you’ll pick up some fabulous, unique and hand crafted pottery and make a significant contribution to the local indigenous communities.

Local Climate

At an altitude of nearly 1,670 meters (5,500 feet) above sea level, Comitan enjoys a temperate climate and clean, mountain air. Evenings can be cool, as can winter months (Dec-Feb), so pack some warmer clothes in case the weather turns chilly. Rain can also be a feature, so pack a waterproof overcoat and hat.

Weather & Climates in Mexico

Learn more about the weather and climates through the seasons and regions by connecting to the Mexperience guide about Weather and Climates in Mexico