Chiapas, Mexico: Final Thoughts

Recommended Restaurants

San Cristóbal del las Casas

Anabanana (Av. Miguel Hidalgo between Calles Ninos Héroes and Hermanos Domínguez) - Wonderful lunch spot.
Pizzeria El Punto (Calle Comitán 13-A - across from Plaza El Cerillo) - Delicious pizzas and inventive salads.
TierrAdentro (Calle Real de Gaudalupe 24)
Madre Tierra (An Insurgentes 19)
Eliliano's Moustache (Av. Cresencio Rosas 7)
L'Arrabbiata (84 Real de Guadalupe - one block east from where the walking portion ends.) - Great homemade pasta.
Restaurante Italiano - housed in the Hotel Posada Tepeyac on Calle de Gaudalupe No. 40 - Terrific breakfast.
Via Vai on Av. 20 de Noviembre (near the cathedral) - Gelato and other yummies.

Recommended Reading For Travel to Chiapas

"Moon Chiapas Handbook" - The most region-specific guidebook available. Unfortunately, the last edition was published in 2009. Consequently, many city maps are unreliable; many restuarants and businesses listed had either moved or closed. But it contains great cultural information.
"Lonely Planet's Tabasco & Chiapas Chapters" - Available for download from the Lonely Planet website. No need to get the entire Lonely Planet Mexico Guide. Again, good but dated (2009) information.
"Cadogan's Yucatan & Southern Mexico" by Nick Rider. No longer published. The edition I have is from 1999. Obviously, not reliable for specifics of hotels, restaurants and general prices but one of the best written guides to the area.
"An Archaeological Guide to Central & Southern Mexico" by Joyce Kelly. Though the latest edition was published in 2001, it offers detailed information on the major sites and archaeological museums.
"The Lawless Roads" by Graham Greene. Originally published in 1939. Chronicles his travels through Mexico but with a large and final section on the State of Chiapas. Heavy on Catholocism. And some ingrained British prejudices. But you can forgive him these excesses because the writing is marvelous. Served as the basis for his novel, "The Power and the Glory".
"More Maya Missions" by Richard D. Perry. Narrow in scope but offers an abundance of information (and charming black and white illustrations) on the churches in San Cristobal de las Casas and its surroundings.
"Fodor's Mexico 2010" - Not the Fodor's guides of 20 years ago. Better. Their chapter on Tabasco and Chiapas is concise and more up-to-date than the other guides. Yes, it is aimed at higher-end travelers but the guides have broadened in their focus. They are even useful to middle-range and budget travelers. Really.
"Colonial Mexico" by Chicki and Oz Mallan. Short chapter on San Cristobal de las Casas. Great book to own - again, even though published in 2001 - especially if you plan on visiting other Mexican colonial cities.