On my last trip through Chiapas and Guatemala, I spent the first two nights and the last two nights of my 2 week journey at the beautiful oasis of Sombra del Agua. This is one of the best designed Chiapas hotels in San Cristobal de las Casas for the thoughtfully curated decor, leafy patios, beautiful furniture, historic building, attentive staff, and unbeatable location.
My four nights at this lovely hotel were beyond enjoyable. And returning at the end of the trip was such a pleasure, it felt like coming home.
Here were some of the highlights of my stay in Sombra del Agua, one of the best hotels in San Cristobal de las Casas.
Disclosure: This post was written in partnership with Sombra del Agua. As always, every thought, opinion, and experience is my own.
Beautifully Curated Decor: Best Designed Chiapas Hotels in San Cristobal de las Casas
By far, the most memorable thing about my stay at Sombra del Agua is the amazing decor. The rooms are beautifully decorated – with sleek wooden furniture, local artisan work that feels both modern and unique to the region, and minimalist but artistic touches in every corner.
Many of the artisan works, like the ceramics and lamps, are for sale if you decide you love it so much you want to take it home. You can find a list of the items available for sale in each room.
All common areas, the restaurant, bar, patios, and hallways all have thoughtfully curated decor as well. I loved the giant ceramic pots with faces, the leafy greens everywhere, and the minimalist furniture.
I really appreciated how this hotel honors the people and history of Chiapas through art installations throughout the space. This makes it one of the best and most beautiful Chiapas hotels in San Cristobal de las Casas.
The Most Beautiful Patio in San Cristobal de las Casas
My second favorite thing about Sombra del Agua is the amazing, leafy, beautiful central patio. It’s full of seating areas with pretty chairs, giant beautiful ceramics, and lush plant life everywhere.
The light here is filtered and lovely at anytime of day, but the evening is a really special time to spend here. That’s because the hotel has several fire pits scattered around the patio. In the chilly night air, it’s so cozy to sit around the fire and sip a glass of wine from the hotel bar. It also makes for a very dreamy atmosphere with the firelight and the pretty strung lights. This is definitely one of the most romantic Chiapas hotels in San Cristobal de las Casas.
Artistic and Cozy Common Spaces
The main central patio is a beautiful and cozy place to spend time, but there are many commons spaces spread out through the historic building of this hotel. You can find small nooks and corners with seating, leafy greens, and beautiful ceramics. There are a couple of other patios full of plants, balconies, and the on-site restaurant and bar (more on that below).
On-site Restaurant and Bar
Sombra del Agua has a great on-site restaurant. The breakfast buffet is a great way to start your day, and full of fresh and varied options. We had breakfast here almost every day, and enjoyed the fresh juice, unlimited coffee, huge variety of salsas, pancakes, eggs, fresh fruit, yogurt, and more.
My favorite part about the breakfast buffet was the omelette station. You can ask for a fresh omelette to be made with the ingredients of your choice. It was always delicious.
And the restaurant itself is beautiful like the rest of the hotel and filled with murals and local art.
The on-site bar, Bar Poxna, was one of my favorite spaces in the hotel. The door leading in is a gorgeous green, and decorated with minimalist, cool drawings. Inside feels a bit like a modern speakeasy with a Chiapas twist. There is a large beautiful mural of a traditional man from the region, the lighting is romantic, and the furniture sleek.
We had the chance to sample some Pox, the liquor from this region, as well as a tasty cocktail made from Pox, peach liqueur, tamarind, chamoy, and tajin around the rim. Yum! You can also order drinks from the bar to enjoy on the leafy patio.
This is one of the best Chiapas hotels in San Cristobal de las Casas for access to delicious food and drink straight from your room or the cozy common spaces.
Modern Bathrooms with Amenities
I was able to stay in two different rooms during my stays and both had roomy modern bathrooms with all the amenities. There was plenty of hot water in the shower, lovely smelling toiletries, big fluffy towels, and hair dryers.
Attentive and Helpful Staff
The staff at Sombra del Agua is attentive and helpful at every turn. There was always someone to help carry luggage in and out when we arrived and left. The front desk was helpful with any questions that we had during our stay. The bartender was knowledgeable and friendly and offered us some pox and explained the history behind it. They even do mini tours of the hotel if you want to learn more about the history, the spaces, and the significance of the local art. The warmth of the people as well as their helpful attitude makes this one of the best Chiapas hotels in San Cristobal de las Casas.
Central Location 2 Blocks from the Zocalo
The location of this hotel in San Cristobal de las Casas can’t be beat. It’s just two block from the Zocalo, which is the central square in the city. It’s one block from one of the main pedestrian tourist streets, and steps from lots of great restaurants, bars, museums, shops, and more.
The First Hotel in San Cristobal de las Casas
One of the most interesting things about Sombra del Agua is their deep history in the city. They were the very first hotel that opened in 1907. The building is impressive and historical, yet has been updated to feel modern and comfortable.
Final Thoughts: Best Designed Chiapas Hotels in San Cristobal de las Casas
The hotel is actually quite large, yet still feels like an intimate boutique hotel. It has the unique advantage of being good for groups or events, yet still feels special and personal.
This is one of the best Chiapas hotels in San Cristobal de las Casas for so many reasons – the amazing design, the connection with the local culture, the convenient location, the great food and drink, the comfortable and stylish rooms, the helpful staff, and it’s really quite affordable. I plan to be back in Chiapas pretty often, and hope to stay at Sombra del Agua every chance I get.
Hotel: Sombra del Agua
Social Media: Instagram, Facebook.
Best For: Designers or creative travelers, couples looking for a romantic stay, groups or events.
Price: 1180 MXN (approx $50 USD) and up, depending on season and room. Check booking link below for current rates.
Includes: Drinking water, toiletries, wifi, heaters in the rooms, on-site restaurant and bar.
Location: Calle 1o. de Marzo 15, Zona Centro
Book Here: Reservations
For other Chiapas travel tips, check out my Chiapas posts here. And if you are headed onwards to Oaxaca city or Oaxaca coast, elsewhere in Mexico, or onward to Guatemala, I have lots more posts to help you with your planning!
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