Fodor's Expert Review Puente San Cristóbal
San Cristobal de las Casas
The 190D toll road between San Cristóbal de las Casas and Tuxtla Gutiérrez takes you across Mexico’s third-highest bridge—and the world’s 46th—a spectacular three-sector girder span, 200 meters (656 feet) above the canyon floor. The bridge gently curves and gradually slopes upward at a 10-percent grade from west to east over its length of 323 meters (1,060 feet). One of the country’s great engineering feats almost didn’t happen, however. The bridge collapsed during its final phase of construction in 2004. Retooling and redesign led to a newer, stronger bridge that opened two years later and completed the new highway between San Cristóbal and Tuxtla. The structure can withstand an earthquake of up to 8.0 magnitude. For obvious reasons, stopping on the bridge is not permitted; you’ll have to take in the views while in motion from the windows of your bus, van, or car.