The Best Boutique Hotels in Chiapas, Mexico

Step back in time at this lovely nine-room San Cristóbal hotel. The property is listed on the national register of historical monuments and the interiors are decked out with Mexican textiles and upholstery, giving the space a homey flair. Rooms range from twins to master suites and some include fireplaces. The central courtyard atrium is a serene space where a delicious breakfast is served. The pancakes are a must-try. Along with a charming ambience, the friendly service here is another highlight

With seven rooms that have a bit of a regal air to them – think upholstered headboards, plush chairs, and elegant sitting tables – Boutique Amorini is a gem of a place in the heart of the action in San Cristóbal. Each room has its own rich color scheme, and common areas follow the decadent theme with open-beam ceilings, pillars, and antique-style furnishings. The terrace bar, complete with a big fireplace, is a great place to hang out before calling it a night and heading back to your decidedly swanky room.

Coffee aficionados can rejoice. Casa Cafeólogo is a boutique café with four bright and cheery rooms appointed with locally sourced decorations and furniture from Chiapas. All of the rooms have rain showers, and the suites have access to roof terraces. The real treat here is the gourmet coffee, available all day long in a sunny on-site café in the heart of San Cristóbal de las Casas. Sample premium espresso or drip coffee, or else go for the rich hot chocolate to start or end your day right at Casa Cafeólogo.

If you’re looking for something a bit different, this charming hotel offers six creatively decorated rooms. While each space is different, high ceilings run throughout, along with an abundance of wood furnishings. Another highlight is the bricked beer garden courtyard with its handsome fountain. This makes for an ideal spot for sampling local and international craft beers or catching a game on the television. This little hotel stuffs a lot into a boutique San Cristóbal space – including a small spa for facials and massages.

With its old-world feel, San Cristóbal’s Guayaba Inn offers travelers cozy accommodations (some with fireplaces) in a peaceful neighborhood. Big banister beds, dark wood and earth-tone stucco walls add to the colonial character of this delightful property. A delicious breakfast is made to order every morning in the cool gardens, where you can sit and admire the koi pond. It’s in the El Cerrillo barrio, and its grounds and stone patio are full of flowers (bromeliads, orchids, and more), giving this small hotel yet another level of calm.

This boutique hotel, with eight uniquely decorated rooms and stylish suites, which come with dining areas and kitchens, is all about Feng Shui. For instance, you have the water room (agua), which comes complete with a hammock, a blue color scheme, a terrace, a small waterfall, and a designer stream running through it. Moving to the fire (fuego) room, this space features wood floors, reddish hues and a loft space. Other rooms follow different Feng Shui themes such as bamboo, wood, and sky. Magnolias is set in the artsy El Cerrillo neighborhood, and is steps away from the ‘Zocalo’ main square, which makes it a prime spot for your San Cristóbal stay.

It may be a little kitsch for some, but for anyone obsessed with Mayan culture and architecture, this hotel in Palenque will be your favorite spot in Chiapas. Near the Palenque ruins, Boutique Hotel Quinta Chanabnal is designed as a recreated Mayan palace, with traditional building techniques and modern amenities. They offer four categories of suites – junior, deluxe, queen and presidential, with the presidential including a jacuzzi and coffee machine en suite. Take note that the junior suites don’t have internet in the room.

Set in an 18th-century mansion in the heart of San Cristóbal de las Casas, the Grand Guadalupe by Inmense is a collection of 12 suites that circle an inner courtyard. The architecture and interiors play to Mexico’s colonial era. The rooms have a grandiose style of antique furniture and artistic touches, lots of colors and plenty of character. The hotel is in a prime spot right next to the Guadalupe church and is an easy walk to most main attractions in San Cristóbal. For a taste of history and opulence, Grand Guadalupe is perfect.

Another architectural nod to the colonial era comes in the form of Casa Vieja. This property has a slightly more subdued and traditional look than the Grand Guadalupe. The rooms are tucked around verdant patio spaces and there are four categories, varying in size. There are two on-site restaurants, a meeting room, a reading room, and a rustic-chic wine cellar for intimate events.

This luxury boutique hotel in Palenque blends spa-like amenities and traditional Mexican textiles with an outstanding natural environment that you can enjoy from your outdoor bathtub or a hammock on your terrace. There is an on-site restaurant that serves up a delightful breakfast (not included in the rate), a swimming pool, a spa, and another perk is that you are greeted with a welcome cocktail when you walk through the door. Piedra de Agua is close to the Palenque ruins and other local attractions such as the Aluxes zoo and various jungle waterfalls and hiking trails.

With just a handful of rooms, Las Escaleras offers rustic style with pops of color and inspiration — in the form of quotes and phrases that adorn the headboard walls of each room. Nestled on a hillside, there are stairs to be climbed (escaleras means stairs) but there are also fires to be enjoyed and hot drinks to be drunk. Enjoy the morning sunshine out on the patio and then get out and see San Cristóbal – the hotel is just steps away from the center of town and its main attractions.

The Plaza Gallery has a 1980s chic vibe, with art and decorative pieces that keep you guessing around every corner. The hotel is housed in a gorgeous 1940s-era neoclassic monster and its common spaces have a charming and welcoming atmosphere. There are four room categories – deluxe junior, deluxe junior standard, atico, and master – but if you want to push the boat out, opt for the latter, as it comes with six balconies, for a 360-degree view of the city.

Quite possibly the most centrally located San Cristóbal hotel on this list, the Casa del Alma sits just blocks from the city’s main plaza. There are five room categories, with the suites offering separate sitting rooms and kitchenettes, and the master also has a soothing whirlpool tub. Nearly all rooms come with black-out curtains so you can get a good night’s sleep. If you need a little more relaxation, head to the spa, where you’ll find treatment rooms, a steam room, sauna, and jacuzzi.

Hotel Bo is a funky and modern boutique hotel in the heart of San Cristóbal. There are five room categories with some stand-out features: the executive suite has an outdoor tub decked out with Venetian mosaic; the Garden Suite has a private garden and fireplace; while the Bo suite sprawls over two floors. The onsite Lum Restaurant has a menu of local and regional specialties and if you’re traveling with kids and fancy a date night, there is a babysitter readily available.

If you fancy a break from the city, this spot fits the bill. The Hacienda Parador Santa Maria is located in the historic grounds of an ancient hacienda and if features lots of green outdoor spaces. The eight rooms are decorated according to different historical eras and exude an air of romance. There are also swimming pools, lots of grounds to explore, and an on-site restaurant with regional and national cuisine to feast on.