Mexico’s Colonial Heartland

You will be met at the airport by your driver, they will be waiting outside of baggage claim holding a sign with your name on it. The driver will bring you from the airport to your hotel which is about an hour and a half from the airport.

A haven for artists and art lovers alike, San Miguel de Allende feels as if it was designed to inspire. A twisting maze of red, yellow, and orange colonial buildings made more beautiful by a golden hour that seems to never end, casting a warm glow over the entire city. With beautiful natural surroundings offering gentle day hikes and natural hot-springs this is an excellent city for anyone looking to experience the finer things in life.

Lodging Option: Hotel Matilda

A member of Design Hotels, this beautiful boutique property this sophisticated property feels right at home in the artsy city of San Miguel de Allende. The hotel is home to a private collection of Latin art as well as a state of the art spa and one of the cities most sought after restaurants – Moxi. In the afternoon relax at the rooftop pool while you watch the cities seemingly never ending golden hour, perhaps with a cocktail in hand.

Today you and your English speaking guide will explore the fairytale city of San Miguel de Allende. A city of many superlatives and often touted as the most beautiful city in the country. The city is made up of a distinct color palate of reds, yellows, and orange buildings connected by narrow and windy cobblestoned streets. Today you will visit some of the cities most iconic sites including the church La Parroquia which is famous for its fantastic Neo-Gothic exterior, La Case del Mayorazgo (the cities most extravagant mansion), Casa Allende, and the Templo de la Concepcion.

Today you and your guide will travel outside of the city for a hike in the base of a nearby canyon. The hike will be gentle and will last about two and a half hours, along the way there will be various stops to take in the view. On the way out there will be a few viewpoints from the clifftops that will offer spectacular sweeping vistas of the area around San Miguel de Allende. On the way back to the city you will stop for lunch.

San Miguel de Allende has been a hub for national and international artists since the 1940’s, which shows in its diversity of art styles, techniques and materials, seen on every street corner. During this tour you will visit the best galleries in down town San Miguel, which showcase the kaleidoscope of art that our city has to offer. Many artists work from their studios, so given the day you may have the chance to speak with them and learn a bit about their art and the inspiration behind it.

To end the day, you will pay a visit to Fábrica Aurora, the city’s largest art and design center, once an old factory the space is beautiful and showcases the work of over thirty local artists.

Today you will drive from San Miguel de Allende to the stunning city of Guanajuato. The drive takes approximatly an hour and fifteen minutes.

A fun loving university town, Guanajuato is an excellent option for anyone wanting to experience the vibrancy and hospitality of Mexico. The cities central plaza is almost always alive with the sounds of mariachi bands and the cities labyrinth of pedestrian only streets are easy to explore. The city seems to have been built in layers and taking the cable cars to the highest viewpoint is an excellent way to take in the full panorama of the colorful cityscape.

Lodging Option: Villa Maria Cristina

A Small Luxury Hotel of the World, Villa Maria Cristina offers a charming place to stay while in Guanajuato. Ideally located on the Paseo de la Presa, the hotel offers stunning views of the Cerro de la Bufa. The building itself is a renovated historic mansion from the 1880s, boasting many layered terraces and Spanish tiles patios from which it is easy to enjoy a glass of wine and take in the views. There are also two fabulous onsite restaurants as well as two distinct bars. A spa with indoor heated pool, jacuzzi, sauna, and steam room plus a full gym round out the hotels ample amenities.

Guanajuato climbs out of a rugged ravine and up bald hills that once supplied a quarter of the country’s silver output. Mine owners studded Guanajuato’s narrow twisting streets and charming plazas with stately mansions and imposing churches. A later bonanza added splendid late 19th-century touches, and modern engineers burrowed an ingenious tunnel network under the city to help overcome its crazy geography. The unique result is a center devoid of traffic lights and signs.

Today with your local guide you will visit the Templo de la Compañía – this Jesuit church with a Neo-Classical dome is a city landmark. You will continue to Jardin de la Union – this laurel-shaded plaza designed in 1861 is the heart of the city. You will also visit Teatro Juarez – a lavish theater with Doric columns and giant statures. A final stop will be the Casa Diego Rivera – the house where Rivera was born in 1886, which is now a museum exhibiting over 100 samples of his work.

You will be picked up at your hotel and driven to the airport for your flight (not included). The drive takes about 30 minutes to get to the airport.