Under US$25

Posada las Flores (1a Av. Pte. Nte. 17, tel. 963/632-3334, US$7/11 s/d with shared bathroom, US$15 s, US$20 d) offers basic but clean rooms situated around a sunny courtyard. Most have wood-beam ceilings and twin beds. Only three have private bathrooms; these have cable TV too. The others share spic-and-span bathrooms located near the reception area. All in all, this is a great deal, especially if you’re traveling solo.

Hotel Delfín (Av. Central Sur 21, tel. 963/632-0013, US$20 s, US$25 d) has wood-paneled rooms with private hot-water bathrooms and cable TV. Rooms are dark and somewhat charmless—bright bedspreads enliven them a bit—but they’re clean and the location on the central plaza can’t be beat. If you’ve got a car, there’s parking too.

US$25–50

The colonial Posada El Castellano (3a Calle Nte. Pte. btwn. Avs. Central and 1a Nte. Pte., tel. 963/632-3347, www.posadaelcastellano.com.mx, US$34 s, US$37 d) is one of the nicest hotels in town. All 22 rooms open onto a bright courtyard complete with potted plants and a gurgling fountain. Rooms are comfortable and appealing, with firm beds, cable TV, and in-room phones. There’s also free Internet access in a private computer room. The on-site restaurant serves reliable and well-priced Mexican dishes.

If you can overlook the garish colors and the strangely lumpy walls (are those marshmallows?), Suites & Hotel Los Faroles (1a Av. Ote. Nte. 16, tel. 963/632-0220, luecama [at] hotmail [dot] com, US$25 s, US$30 d, US$30–34 studio s/d) is a great option. Accommodations are spotless with gleaming tile floors, comfy beds, hot-water bathrooms, and wireless Internet too. Studios are a bit bigger than the hotel rooms and can sleep four (US$46 t/q); they come with fully equipped kitchenettes tucked into a corner of the room (ask for kitchen accoutrements at the front desk). It’s worth requesting a room on the 2nd floor, as they get more light than those on the ground floor. That, and the colors are toned down just a bit.

Over US$50

The fanciest place in town, the Hotel Hacienda de los Ángeles (2a Calle Nte. Pte. 6, tel. 963/632-0074, www.hotelhaciendalosangeles.com.mx, US$75 s/d, US$100–125 s/d suites) is a nouveau-colonial place with 25 elegant rooms and suites. It has all the amenities you’d expect at this rate: cable TV, in-room telephone, safe, coffee maker, and wireless Internet. There’s also air-conditioning and heating—both rarities in this part of the state. Other pluses include an indoor pool with a mosaic-tile floor and an upscale restaurant. Rates include full breakfast—American-style or buffet, depending on the day—and a welcome cocktail.

© Liza Prado and Gary Chandler from Moon Chiapas, 1st Edition