Comitán de Domínguez, Chiapas, México

August 2, 2014|Posted in: Pueblo Magico, Town

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Comitán de Domínguez is another Peublo Magico and one of three that we visited in Chiapas, the others being Chiapa de Corzo and San Cristóbal de las Casas. This is a very attractive pueblo with a beautiful central plaza and the town seems to be doing well. From what we could tell, the town is growing and people are enjoying a better quality of life. The central plaza hosts events and public music and dance nights on the weekends. Food around the central plaza was, frankly, not very good, on any account, like, at all. We took to eating at the food court in the Cinépolis Plaza las Flores, the shopping center that houses the Walmart and Cinépolis at the far southern end of the town. You can find Chinese and Mexican and fast food chains Burger King, Subway, Domino’s, and so on. We can unflinchingly refer you to the Cafeteria Los Lagos Colonial. Don’t expect a Michelin-star meal there, but it’s certainly good enough.

Outside of the old town is the main thoroughfare, Hwy 190, which we can only refer to as the strip. Lined with flashing in-road warning lights, the strip is home to the new development of the town. Upon arriving to Comitán along the strip, you have the feeling that you have entered an oasis-type place. It is along this strip that you will find more restaurants, hotels, and businesses, the gas stations, and the box stores, including the shopping center with Walmart, Cinépolis, and the food court. It is also along this strip, again Hwy 190, that you will enter and leave Comitán.

This pueblo is the launching point for trips to Laguna Miramar and Lagos de Montebello. Depending on which direction you’re coming from, you may also pass through here on your way to Palenque, home of Mayan ruins, or to the southern coast of the state of Chiapas. There is a tourism office just off the central plaza, to the northwest along Calle Central Norte (Dr. Belisario Domínguez). Inquire here regarding trips by car or collectivo to other destinations outside of the town, including Laguna Miramar. They know their stuff and can lend a helping hand.

Throughout the town there are a variety of hotels, posadas, and hostels. The Hotel Renacimiento was the best value for the money. Find them on booking.com. We had a nice room, everything seemed newer. Things worked well, more or less. There was no ceiling fan or air conditioning, but nevertheless the room was comfortable. For a room with a double bed for 2 people, we paid $300 MXN. We also stayed at the Hotel Virrey, which you could tell at one time was a classier hotel with an older architectural style which was now very slowly falling apart. Our shower drain didn’t drain, doors didn’t close tightly, things were worn down. The internal courtyard is nice to sit in but really a terrible design for anyone sensitive to noise. And, it was more expensive at $430 MXN per night for a double bed for the two of us. It is within very short walking distance of the town’s central plaza, but that didn’t make it worth the extra cost either. As for the one hostel we stayed in (Hostal el Quijote), we spent one night there and while it was at most $250 MXN for the night (making it the cheapest of these options), it was the most beaten up and worn down, pathetic sagging bed and all. We’re pretty sure this had become one of the town’s sextels, if you know what we mean.

There are museums and the like in town but we never visited them. We just weren’t there for that. What else can we tell you…most services are closed on Sundays, in a big way. Forget about doing laundry, for instance. Yes, you’ll still be able to find food or buy something from a convenience store, and some general shopping may still be available, but best to use your Sunday in town for lounging about or enjoying the central plaza.