An explosion of color greets you as you enter the Santo Domingo Handicraft Market in San Cristóbal de las Casas. Piled high are rainbow-colored textiles, leather goods and all types of handmade crafts whose traditions date back decades and even centuries. Buy fabulous gifts to take home at this must-see outdoor market.
Artisans come from San Cristóbal de las Casas as well as villages and towns throughout Chiapas to sell their crafts. Look for vendors in traditional dress. This is a great place to meet the locals and find out about the history and ancestry behind the crafts they sell.
The range of goods offered here is vast. Select from clothing and shoes, jewelry, fabrics, baskets and dolls. Walk along the aisles and stop and look at the different items and chat with the vendors. Indigenous crafts include beautiful jewelry made from semi-precious stones or leather, ornately embroidered textiles and leather huarache sandals. While the market is popular with foreign visitors, it also plays an important role in local life. You may see functional items such as saddles on sale too.
Arrive hungry to the handicrafts market, because in addition to the crafts, mouth-watering local foods are offered. Be sure to sample the candy and select a serving from the enticing mounds of cakes.
The market fills the streets around Santo Domingo Church and its chapel, the Templo de la Caridad. Even if you can’t fit anything else into your suitcase, make a visit simply to see the bursts of color and hear the lively chatter. Get a better understanding of the culture of Chiapas by observing the longstanding traditions that have been kept alive through generations of craft-makers.
The Santo Domingo Handicraft Market is located in the heart of the central zone near the Santo Domingo Church. Entrance is free and it is open daily. Visit as part of a walking tour of the sights or head straight here by taxi or public bus.
