A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Fortaleza vs. San Cristobal de Las Casas for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Couples

Should you visit Fortaleza or San Cristobal de Las Casas?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Fortaleza and San Cristobal de Las Casas can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Fortaleza

Fortaleza is a vibrant, cultural, and lively city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. Other reasons to visit include beaches, shopping, and museums. See Fortaleza travel costs.

San Cristobal de Las Casas

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a cultural, charming, and colorful town. With plenty of activities and sights, this is a small town worth visiting. San Cristobal de Las Casas is a beautiful place to visit, too. This destination also has one of those special and quaint feelings. Visitors also love the museums, nightlife, and food. See San Cristobal de Las Casas travel costs.

Fortaleza and San Cristobal de Las Casas: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Fortaleza or San Cristobal de Las Casas?

Tourists will generally find more to do in Fortaleza than San Cristobal de Las Casas. It is bigger and it has more sights, attractions, and activities for travelers. Fortaleza is very popular for its beaches and big city activities, while San Cristobal de Las Casas attracts visitors for its museums and attractions, food, historical sights, shopping, small town charm, impressive beauty, and quaint atmosphere. San Cristobal de Las Casas is more touristy than Fortaleza and is known for its historical buildings, local markets, and traditional churches. Fortaleza is famous for its beaches, nightlife, and local culture. It is also well known for Dragão do Mar Center of Art and Culture.

How is Fortaleza different from San Cristobal de Las Casas?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between San Cristobal de Las Casas and Fortaleza. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Fortaleza or San Cristobal de Las Casas?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a great town for its historical sights. Also, Fortaleza is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its sights and museums.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into San Cristobal de Las Casas. The town is filled with historical churches such as the main Cathedral of San Cristobal. While this is the most notable church, there are also smaller churches worth visiting like the Templo Santo Domingo, Iglesia de Guadalupe, and Iglesia de San Cristobal. For museums, make sure you check out the Centro de Textiles del Mundo Maya, Na Bolom, and Museo de Ambar.

If you're looking for an educational opportunity, there are a decent number of museums and historical sights around Fortaleza. Dragão do Mar is the cultural center in town. There are shows and concerts that highlight the local culture. Also part of the complex are a planetarium and two museums - the Museu de Arte Contemporânea and the Memorial da Cultura Cearense. Also worth seeing the Metropolitan Cathedral of Fortaleza, which is the third largest cathedral in the country.

Is the Food Better in Fortaleza or San Cristobal de Las Casas? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a great town for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Fortaleza is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

San Cristobal de Las Casas has a huge number of terrific restaurants. The cuisine is a mix of Spanish-influenced cured meats such as ham and sausage, as well as indigenous flavors like tamales and burritos. There's also a lot of great pizza around town as well as several Asian restaurants.

There are many up and coming restaurants in the Fortaleza area. The city has a number of great restaurants that range from Brazilian barbecue restaurants to international cuisine. Many dishes are heavy and use a lot of meat. Local favorites include paçoca and escondidinho de carne seca.

Is Fortaleza or San Cristobal de Las Casas Better for Nightlife?

If the nightlife is your priority, you'll find excellent options in both Fortaleza and San Cristobal de Las Casas.

The nightlife in Fortaleza has something for everybody. Like much of Brazil, the city has a vibrant nightlife scene. There are beachfront bars, live music venues, and many places where you can enjoy a good party. You'll find a high concentration of places around Praia de Iracema and the Casario.

San Cristobal de Las Casas offers plenty to do in the evening. There's an active nightlife scene that includes everything from late night clubs to salsa lessons. Most tourists who want to party head to the pedestrian streets around the plaza. There are countless bars where you'll likely find a crowd late into the night. Some clubs have a cover charge on weekends but, in general, drinks are cheap and getting around is easy.

Is Fortaleza or San Cristobal de Las Casas Better for Beaches?

Fortaleza is a very popular place for its beaches. However, San Cristobal de Las Casas is not a beach destination.

Fortaleza is considered a top beach destination. There are 5 kilometers of sandy beach in town and many visitors enjoy taking long walks. While there are technically four beaches in the area, they all kind of merge together and it can be difficult to tell one from the other. The most popular beach is Meireles, which has a boardwalk and is lined by high rise buildings.

San Cristobal de Las Casas is not a beach destination.

Is Fortaleza or San Cristobal de Las Casas Better for its Old Town?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a great town for its old town. However, Fortaleza does not have a historic old town.

San Cristobal de Las Casas is an extremely popular place to visit the historic old town area. The town is filled with narrow pedestrian streets, colorful markets, and historic churches.

Fortaleza does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Fortaleza or San Cristobal de Las Casas?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is renowned for its shopping opportunities. Also, Fortaleza is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its shopping areas.

Known for shopping, San Cristobal de Las Casas draws large crowds to its stores. The nearby villages are famous for their weaving, leather, pottery, and embroidery, so many visitors pick up souvenirs at the colorful markets around town. This is one of the best towns in Mexico to purchase local items, and you should definitely set aside time to explore and shop.

Browsing through shops is a popular activity in Fortaleza. It's a large city with plenty of shopping malls and other local boutiques which are fun to explore.

Is Fortaleza or San Cristobal de Las Casas More Beautiful?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a town with good options for its scenery and beauty. However, Fortaleza is not a destination known for its beauty.

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a beautiful place to visit, too. Set against the backdrop of mountains, this town is colorful and charming.

Fortaleza is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Fortaleza or San Cristobal de Las Casas Better for Families?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a town with good options for its kid-friendly activities. However, Fortaleza is not known for its family-friendly activities.

San Cristobal de Las Casas offers lots of family activities. While kids may not appreciate the town's beauty and culture, they will have fun exploring the night market or taking a chocolate-making class. There are pedestrian streets where everyone can explore without fear of traffic and pizza restaurants that appeal to the kids as well.

Fortaleza is not the most family-friendly destination. There are several beaches and parks where kids will enjoy running around and stretching their legs.

Is Fortaleza or San Cristobal de Las Casas Better for Couples?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a great town for its romantic activities. However, Fortaleza is not known for couples.

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a great town if you're traveling as a couple. Couples who enjoy culture, markets, traditional cuisines, and new experiences will love their time here. It's a fun place to simply wander. You can explore the markets and then eat at a local restaurant before making your way back to your boutique hotel.

Fortaleza is not always the best place to visit for a couple. While it's often overlooked by couples, those who have a few days in town can enjoy the beaches or take a stroll down the beachfront promenade.

Is Fortaleza or San Cristobal de Las Casas Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a great town for backpackers and budget travelers. However, Fortaleza is not known for backpackers.

Many backpackers visit San Cristobal de Las Casas. There are a number of hostels in town as well as budget-friendly hotels. Backpackers love the laid back nature of this town as well as the many markets and nature-oriented activities.

Fortaleza is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a couple of hostels around town, but most backpackers skip this city for the more popular destinations.

Is Fortaleza or San Cristobal de Las Casas Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Fortaleza and San Cristobal de Las Casas both offer nice public transit to get you around.

While Fortaleza offers some public transit options, it might not be your first choice. The Metro system includes a rail and light rail system.

San Cristobal de Las Casas has a few public transit options. Urbano buses are minibuses that connect the town to the outlying residential areas. There are also colectivos that travel to nearby villages.

Is Fortaleza or San Cristobal de Las Casas a more walkable city?

San Cristobal de Las Casas is renowned for its high level of walkability. Also, Fortaleza is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its ease of walking around.

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a very easy town to get around on foot. Walking is the best way to experience the town. Most of the sights can be reached on foot and there are pedestrian-only streets that let you avoid the traffic.

Fortaleza is a somewhat walkable city. It's a relatively walkable city with some neighborhoods easier to explore on foot than others. It's important to understand the area you're in because safety could be a concern.

For even more information, also check out Is Fortaleza Worth Visiting? and Is San Cristobal de Las Casas Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in San Cristobal de Las Casas or Fortaleza?

How long in Fortaleza or San Cristobal de Las Casas?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Fortaleza and San Cristobal de Las Casas. In our opinion, San Cristobal de Las Casas has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in San Cristobal de Las Casas than Fortaleza. However, 2-3 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

Families should spend more time in San Cristobal de Las Casas than Fortaleza. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in San Cristobal de Las Casas, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in San Cristobal de Las Casas than Fortaleza. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in San Cristobal de Las Casas that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in San Cristobal de Las Casas than Fortaleza if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in San Cristobal de Las Casas.

One day in Fortaleza or San Cristobal de Las Casas?

In Fortaleza, many people enjoy the museums and nightlife that this cultural destination offers. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Most people come for the beaches. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

Even though San Cristobal de Las Casas is a small town, it has plenty of activities to choose from. Visiting the old town is also a must. Since there is so much to do in the area, one day is probably not enough for all of it. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

A weekend in Fortaleza or San Cristobal de Las Casas?

In Fortaleza, many people enjoy the nightlife and food that this destination offers. Many visitors spend time at the beach while visiting the area. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything. Many people spend a weekend here. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities.

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a small town where visitors enjoy the museums and nightlife. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. This is a popular place to visit for a weekend.A weekend should give you a good understanding of everything this town has to offer. This town offers a variety of activities to choose from.

Five days in Fortaleza or San Cristobal de Las Casas?

Many people enjoy the food and shopping when visiting Fortaleza. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. This city offers something for everyone.

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a small town, so it's a great destination if you're short on time. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. Most people head to the area for the shopping. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Fortaleza or San Cristobal de Las Casas?

Travelers enjoy the shopping and museums when visiting the city of Fortaleza. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. It's also a great beach destination, too. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

San Cristobal de Las Casas is a popular choice for travelers. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Brazil, The Best Eco Tours in Brazil, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Mexico City, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Playa del Carmen.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Fortaleza and San Cristobal de Las Casas, we can see that San Cristobal de Las Casas is more expensive. And not only is Fortaleza much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Fortaleza is in South America and San Cristobal de Las Casas is in North America, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Fortaleza would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Fortaleza and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in San Cristobal de Las Casas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Cristobal de Las Casas than you might in Fortaleza.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Fortaleza Expensive? and Is San Cristobal de Las Casas Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Fortaleza or San Cristobal de Las Casas?

Fortaleza has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of San Cristobal de Las Casas. When comparing the sizes of Fortaleza and San Cristobal de Las Casas, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.