Casa Na Bolom

Rooms

Casa Na Bolom has 16 guest rooms, which are all named after various towns in the state of Chiapas and decorated accordingly. They’re basic but authentic, with interesting reading material, old photographs, spotless bathrooms, fresh drinking water and antique wooden furniture.

We stayed in a (slightly dark) Standard Room just off one of 2 pretty courtyards filled with flower pots. The wall hangings and bedspreads were made from the typical blue-coloured textiles of the town of Mictonic; beside us was San Bartolme, which had similar woven furnishings in red.

Other rooms are closer to the herb garden (look out for the thatched 'spiritual altar', used for healing ceremonies and purification rituals conducted by Lacandon shamans). The larger Premier Rooms (Amatenango, Huixtan and La Cueva) are brighter, with views over the yellow courtyards.

All rooms have hearty fireplaces - useful, as temperatures can drop suddenly here. We felt a bit nervous about starting a fire, but kindling and pitch sticks are already arranged so they’re easy to light. It made our room beautifully cosy and our nights at Na Bolom far less chilly.

Features include:

• WiFi

Eating

The flavoursome homemade bread, granola and marmalade are the highlights of Na Bolom’s breakfast, served at one of the round tables in the museum’s courtyard. You can also have eggs done a number of ways - try them Frans Blom style, with red and green salsa.

A communal dinner is dished up daily in the vast dining room, which has an extremely long table and various paintings, tapestries and pieces of artwork (including carved wooden jaguars) that have been donated by guests over the years. The furniture, including the locally-made leather-backed wooden chairs, dates from the 60s and you can still see the Bloms’ personal touch around the room - for example in the overhead lamp shades made out of their old hats.

Most of the organic ingredients used in the 3-course meals come straight from the garden (from squash and cabbage to fennel and sage). We started with a tasty carrot soup, then moved on to salad, green rice and chicken brochettes - all placed on the table in healthy-sized platters. We were joined by a lively Danish tour group, who pitched in passing out plentiful second helpings.

Lunch is available at the museum but most guests are out exploring the town during the day. We chanced upon a sweet little place nearby, Dona Chayito, with a lasagne-like dish called Pastel Azteca that was simply delicious. There are also plenty of restaurants, cafés and market stands around San Cristóbal’s Zócalo.

Features include:

• Breakfast
• Communal dining
• Dinner by arrangement
• Lunch by arrangement
• Organic produce
• Restaurants nearby
• Vegetarian options

Activities

• Explore the museum and gain an insight into the Bloms’ work with the Lacandon people
  
  
• Join a tour of one of the conservation projects in the Lacandon Jungle
  
  
• Attend a candle-lit piano recital in the museum’s chapel (held on Wednesday and Friday evenings and Sunday afternoon)
  
  
• Take a guided tour of mountain villages, where you’ll visit indigenous churches and homes
  
  
• Take a walking tour of San Cristóbal and its fascinating markets
  
  
• If they’re in town, join members of the Lacandon people over a communal meal and find out about their history and local conservation issues
  
  
• Arrange a spiritual cleansing with a shaman
  
  
• Buy beautiful handicrafts, including hand-woven blankets and bags, from the smiling village elders in the museum courtyards
  
  
• Visit the stunning Sumidero Canyon nearby. The canyon holds important cultural significance for local people and is home to many species of wildlife, including crocodiles

Activities on site or nearby include:

• Birdwatching
• Hiking
• Historical sites
• Horse riding
• Museums / galleries
• Nightlife
• Plantlife / flora
• Shopping / markets
• Traditional cultures
• Trekking
• Wildlife
• Yoga

Kids

Children over the age of 2 are welcome, and some rooms have space for up to 3 or 4 guests. The hotel has a safe enclosed courtyard, and its own botanical gardens.

Best for:

Children (4-12 years), Teens (over 12)

Family friendly accommodation:

San Bartolome, Mitontic and Zinacantan can sleep 4 in 2 double beds. Most other rooms can sleep 2 adults and 1 child.

Extra Beds Available

For more family-friendly places, see our Kids Collection

Location

Casa Na Bolom is located in the small city of San Cristóbal de las Casas in Mexico's most southerly state, Chiapas.

By Air
Tuxtla Gutierrez Angel Albino Corzo International (99km away) is the nearest airport. It's served by domestic flights from Mexico City, Guadalajara and Huatulco - click on the links below for a list of airlines.

From the Airport
Take a taxi or one of the frequent shuttle vans to San Cristóbal (see Rates for an idea of cost). The journey takes around 2 hours.

By Bus
There are regular buses to San Cristóbal from Tuxtla Gutierrez (a journey of 2 hours) and Palenque (5 hours). Two or more buses also operate daily between San Cristóbal and Mexico City (19 hours), Oaxaca (12 hours), Puerto Escondido (12 hours), Mérida (13 hours), Villahermosa (7 hours), Chetumal (10 hours), Playa del Carmen (13-16 hours), Tulum (12-16 hours) and Cancún (17 hours). See bus schedules.

By Car
Having the use of a car makes exploring further afield easier - see our car rental recommendations.

Detailed directions to Casa Na Bolom will be provided when a booking is confirmed.

More on getting to Mexico and getting around