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Postcard
San Cristobal: Mexico’s Colonial Gem at Bargain Prices
Date: 10/21/2009 Author: Glynna PrenticeMost of us have pretty diverse interests. You can love the great outdoors and the thrill of indigenous cultures, yet still enjoy urban comforts like sidewalk cafés, jazz bars, and perfect al dente pasta. So it’s a red-letter event when you find a place that has it all.
San Cristobal de las Casas, situated in the mountains of Chiapas, is one of those places. There’s just something special about it. Maybe it’s the high-mountain setting, with the crisp, cool air smelling faintly of wood smoke; or the historic center, with street after street of preserved colonial buildings; or the variety of enticing restaurants, bars, and shops. Certainly the indigenous culture plays a part in its appeal—San Cristobal sits at the center of one of the most culturally rich regions of Mexico. And as to the arts—well, it’s nearly impossible to resist snapping up some of the famous local handicrafts.
With all that San Cristobal has to offer, you’d think it would be expensive. But the cost of living here is one of the lowest in Mexico. You can buy a week’s worth of groceries at the market for $5 and eat out for $3.50. You can buy a home in the colonial center, within walking distance of everything, for less than $200,000…or buy one on the outskirts, with dream-worthy mountain views, for less than $150,000.
Right now, there’s a property on offer in central San Cristobal. It includes two houses on a 7,222-square-foot lot: a large main house, plus a separate casita for guests. This property was custom-built by its owners, who added some extra touches—like hardwood floors in some of the rooms.
The main house has two stories, with two bedrooms, 2.5 bathrooms, a two-car garage, and large landscaped and terraced gardens. The house is built to take advantage of the mountain views; it has a wide terrace along the front of the house, and large windows in the main rooms.
The casita next to the main house has one bedroom with an adjoining bathroom and a combined living room/kitchen. It would make excellent guest quarters—or even a small vacation property that you could rent out. Price: $285,000 (for both houses).
Get full details about this property…and my other San Cristobal picks…in the October issue of International Living Magazine.
To read more IL articles about Mexico, see:
Affordable and Exotic Living in San Cristobal, Mexico
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