Two hours east of San Cristóbal, Comitán is an engaging and well-located city that’s often overshadowed by its better-known neighbor. The city bursts with art, from its outstanding modern-art museum to whimsical sculptures dotting the central plaza, and its tidy streets and bright colonial architecture invite you to wander and explore. (All those steep hills are another matter!)

Comitán is ideally located for day trips to Lagunas de Montebello, Cascada El Chiflón, and Chinkultik and Tenam Puente archaeological sites—all within an hour, compared to three-plus hours from San Cristóbal—or for getting an early start to places further afield, like Las Guacamayas and Laguna Miramar.

Getting to Comitán

By Bus: Comitán’s modern bus terminal (Av. Belisario Domínguez near 4a Calle Sur Pte., tel. 963/632-0980) is 11 blocks from the central plaza. Departures include Ocosingo, Palenque, San Cristóbal, Tapachula, and Tuxtla Gutiérrez.

By Car: Just 76 kilometers (47.2 miles) from San Cristóbal, Comitán is an easy drive on Highway 190. Be sure to fill your gas tank before you leave town, though—gas stations are far and few between east of Comitán. In a pinch, some people sell gas from their front door—look for jugs filled with petrol along the highway.