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"ONCE A YEAR,
GO SOMEPLACE YOU'VE
NEVER BEEN BEFORE."
Dalai Lama
DISCOVER
3
HRS
HISTORICAL CITY TOUR IN SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE
Available any day of the week
To see how San Miguel has and has not changed over the years. This will be a leisurely tour to orient yourself to the parks, alleys, churches, and important city historic and cultural highlights, including el Chorro, the second settlement of this region to learn more of the early history of San Miguel.
From here, we will visit the famous Instituto Allende, one of the first art schools established in the 1940’s. Finally, you will visit the town center to learn about the Parroquia, Bellas Artes, Convents and Historic Homes and the families who lived in them!
You can start as early as 09:30 hrs.
Length: 3 hrs minimum
Available from Wednesday to Friday
ATOTONILCO & GALERIA ATOTONILCO
6
HRS
A short drive to visit the small, charming town of Atotonilco, the magnificent country church, often dubbed “The Sistine Chapel of Mexico”, and an UNESCO World Heritage Site, because the walls and ceilings are covered with paintings of Bible stories, painted in the 1700's to convert the Otomi Indians living near the area's thermal waters; this is the very place where Father Hidalgo call once again for independence by raising the banner of the Virgen of Guadalupe, the first Mexican Independence flag. It’s also one of the most important pilgrimage sites in Mexico, in pre-Hispanic times, the underground streams that the Sanctuary was built over, were also considered sacred spaces. Today, Mexicans arrive from all over Mexico to pray, for spiritual retreats and to see the recently restored frescoes.
Since San Miguel was designated the capital of art in Latin America we will visit the finest Folk Art Gallery in Mexico: Galeria Atotonilco which is a breathtaking collection of ceramics, wood carvings, papier mache, baskets, textiles, historic photographs, graphics, county antiques and more, located on a gorgeous country property in a much-published architecturally significant building.
To finish this trip, you can have a great lunch at the gorgeous and exquisite restaurant located at a vineyard property that will make you think you have gone to Provence!
You can start as early as 10:00 hrs.
Length: 6 hours minimum
6
HRS
GUANAJUATO
Available from Tuesday to Saturday
You will drive 1.5 hours to visit this very important historic, university and silver mining town. Unlike many other colonial cities, designed by the Spaniards in perfect grids, Guanajuato is a maze of winding streets, alleys and secret pathways. Here, you will stroll and visit the important sites including: The Teatro Juarez, The Alhondiga Museum to learn more about the Heroes of Mexico’s Independence, and The Diego Rivera Museum, the home he was born and grew up in. You will also visit important majolica pottery workshops/galleries, as this region specializes in it.
Before the trip ends you will have lunch at Las Mercedes, a Mexican high cuisine restaurant or right at the main square heart at Casa Valadez international gourmet restaurant.
You can start as early as 09:00 hrs.
Length: 6 hours minimum
Start your day visiting a unique prehispanic ceremonial site while learning how it's ancient astronomers designed the architectonic features in order to follow the cycles of the sun, the moon and Venus. Through the eyes of Dr. Rossana Quiroz, who was part of the excavation team, we will explore the original pilgrimage route, understand how archaeological spaces, materials, burials, carbon dating, DNA and landscapes tell a long untold story, and submerge ourselves under the cosmological spell of Mesoamerican sacred entities and philosophical concepts. We believe that the astronomical features of this temples are best understood when explained by the same researcher that actually discovered such features.
The visit will be folowed by a prehispanic lunch at the Museum of Prehispanic Astronomy, featuring local and seasonal fresh ingredients. Vegan or vegetarian dishes are available under advance notice. The menu is inspired in the Mesoamerican calendar and diet.
After dessert, we will visit the museum and round up basic astronomical cycles and count used by the ancients. There is a 1 mile walking trail to get to the archaeological site. All though the inclination is not very steep, it can turn difficult under a blazing sun. Tune in to the sky!
Length: 4 hours minimum
Available from Tuesday to Sunday
CAÑADA DE LA VIRGEN ARQUEOLOGICAL SITE
4
HRS
4
HRS
DOLORES HIDALGO
Available from Tuesday to Saturday
Get to know this important parish with an eclectic style of architecture that goes from churrigueresque to rococo and the independence museum in the beautiful city of Dolores Hidalgo, cradle of Mexico’s Independence, where you will find the most beautiful ceramic as it’s one of the largest ceramic producing towns in Mexico and known as having the most delicious handmade ice cream in this area.
You can start as early as 10:00 hrs.
Length: 4 hours minimum
4
HRS
QUERÉTARO
Available from Tuesday to Saturday
Queretaro city, just one hour away from San Miguel, the old colonial town is one of the most elegant cities in Mexico, most buildings depict the Baroque style which is particularly representative of the 18th century combining a provincial essence with a cosmopolitan reality. The interior of the Temple of Santa Clara will take your breath away with their exquisite gold altar leaves, housed in a former Augustinian monastery the museum of Art is a must for the impressive architecture.
We will make sure to take a stroll through the alleyways in the city center to enjoy lunch. Before leaving town, we will drive by the 1700’s Querétaro’s impressive 75-arched aqueduct and El Cerro de Las Campanas, famous for being.
You can start as early as 09:30 hrs.
Length: 4 hours minimum
4
HRS
MINERAL DE POZOS
Available any day of the week
Going to Pozos is to travel back in time! Founded in the 16th century, there are about 500 mines all abandoned and open to tourists to enjoy the silent ovens and the 18th century mansions and haciendas in ruins making it great for photo shoots and mine exploring. Foreign and national artists have found here inspiration, they stablished setting up workshops and galleries, gorgeous new boutique hotels and restaurants will welcome you!
The area is ideal for mountain biking, you will also have the opportunity to shop at local collectives that make pre-Hispanic musical instruments.
You can start as early as 09:00 hrs.
Length: 4 hours minimum
10
HRS
MONARCH BUTTERFLIES
Available only on-season from November to February any day of the week
Every autumn millions of butterflies from wide areas of North America find their way back to the rugged forested mountains of Michoacan. Witness this unique Phenomenon, an exceptional experience of nature, a long but well worth it 4 hour drive will take us to the picturesque mining town of Angangeo on our way to the Sierra Chincua, where we will start our hike or horseback riding to reach the sanctuary to admire the bend tree branches by their weight, see the sky fill when take flight and hear the peaceful sound with the beating of the wings.
After a couple of hours of this memorable experience we will walk back to have lunch and head back to San Miguel!
Starting as early as 07:00 hrs.
Length: 10 hours minimum