San Miguel de Allende, Mexico
Culture – History – Gastronomy
A tour created and accompanied by Francine Tellier on one of her land of adoption since 2013. She lived, worked and there and so much more. She is at home there and you discover and experience some aspects of life often difficult to come across during a few weeks trip.
Vibrantly colored buildings line the cobblestone streets of San Miguel de Allende, a romantic city with 16th-century origins nestled among central Mexico’s Sierra Madre Mountains.
Some 170 miles northwest of Mexico City in Guanajuato state lays San Miguel de Al-lende. A place that plays a key role in the dynamic history of the state of Guanajuato and Mexico. Once full of wealth from nearby silver mines, San Miguel was left dilapi-dated after multiple wars (the early 20th century’s Mexican Revolution among them). In 1937, Chicago native Stirling Dickinson stumbled upon the small town, established an artist’s colony and quickly got San Miguel’s renaissance off the ground.
This is an off-the-beaten-path Mexico where you can easily be swoon over the 500-year-old colonial city’s narrow walkways, baroque architecture and artisan shops sel-ling plenty of crafts, jewelry and handmade accessories.
1
OPTIONAL
Balloon flight, private flamenco lessons, shows…
2
AN AUTHENTIC CIRCUIT
At the heart of a past and present history…
3
ARTS
and possible meeting with renown artist of great talent …
Discover a colorful SMA day with its blue sky and, all yellow and romantic at night… take a walking tour of SMA guided by a local guide, a visit to the botanical garden El Charco del Ingenio, taste the authentic life of Rancheros living in the canyon, take a horseback trip and dive into the history of the far west, share a traditional meal, visit the unknown and very well kept pyramid of Cañada de la Virgen on the edge of SMA, spend a pleasant moment of relaxation in a site natural thermal baths, enjoy organic wines at Dos Búhos vineyard, visit the city of Guanajuato and the “ghost town” of Mineral de Pozos. A place that is reborn and where, with luck, we will happily meet my favorite group of pre-Hispanic music and dance.
“A journey through time and history absolutely UNIQUE”
The heart of Guanajuato
The tour is based on the idea that your host Francine Tellier, occupies a small house or appartment where she can invite you to have breakfast and a dinner (comida for Mexicans), while offering you a hands-on cooking workshop approved by the Mexicans who ask for more!!!
- Walk San Miguel de Allende
- Experience the life of the historic center, its “garden”, its street vendors, his music…
- Visit art galleries and admire the multitude of original works from countless local and foreign artists who have taken up residence there.
- Relax while doing some people watching to feel the the pulse of life in one of the charming cafes and bistros.
- Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the markets and learn about traditional food of the region.
- Attend the weekly organic markets and sample some of the best local and typical food.
- Take a leap into the history of the far west by tasting a Tequila or a mezcal with the locals, in one of the historic saloons (cantinas).
- Stroll in town and discover charming hidden places and interior courtyards.
- Savor its cuisine. No, not all Mexican food is spicy!
- Taste excellent high-end organic wines from artisanal micro production.
- Spend a moment in one of the many high-end places where elegance, refinement and the latest trends are featured.
- Walk some of the mountainside streets, some of them are steep and covered with cobblestone. Adequate shoes allow you to appreciate better its rustic charm.
- Appreciate its colonial architecture.
- Relax in thermal waters in a site surrounded by nature.
- Spend a memorable day in the heart of the city of Guanajuato (also name of the state where San Miguel de Allende is located).
- Meet the rancheros (cattle breeders) in the canyon and have a memorable horseback ride. Taste and feel a moment of ancient way of life that might bring you back to memories of western movies seen during your childhood. Yet, this simple life is still resolutely alive.
After a few weeks of immersion in life, rhythm, colors, smells and flavors, of the heart of Guanajuato you are likely to not be in a hurry to go back home.
Inclusions
- Transfer (shuttle) from and to Leon GTO airport to SMA on arrival and departure.
- Accommodation during the stay (double or triple occupancy if required depending on the number of travelers).
Individual occupancy available with a supplement, price to be specified at the time of reservations. - 1 cooking workshop and dinner with your guide, host and chef : Francine (subject to her accommodation available).
- Cantina evening accompanied by Francine (1 shooter inc.).
- Botanical garden (transport + entrance inc.).
- Horseback riding in the canyon (transportation +1 meal at the ranch inc.).
- Visit to the Cañada de la Virgen pyramid (transport + specialist guide inc.)
- SMA walking tour with local guide, walking tours with Francine Tellier as an accompanying guide, including visits to the organic market and Ignacio Ramirez market and craft market.
- Day at the thermal baths (transport + entrance inc.).
- Visit with tasting of organic wines at Dos Búhos vineyard where Francine worked (transportation inc.).
- Guanajuato excursion day (transportation inc.).
- Day trip to Mineral de Pozos (transportation inc.).
Exclusions
- Flights : our partner in Quebec can take care of group reservations
- Visa if required
- Airport taxes if applicable
- Insurance (MENDATORY)
- Meal
- Personal expenses : coffee, soft drinks, alcohol …
- Baggage handlers
- Tips (for any service not included in the package, to the driver / guide, guide, city guide, specialist guide)
- Optional visits or activities not mentioned (suggested or not by Insightful Travel’s team)
- Any additional transport not included in the program, even if applicable to an activity suggested by Insightful Travel according to interests and availability once there.
- Any optional activity suggested and chosen by travelers.
*** Promotion heart of Guanajuato ***
Book before August 15th, 2022!
Contact us to know conditions.
San Miguel de Allende – The heart of Guanajuato
Tour accompanied by a certified tour leader from Quebec who speaks French, English, Spanish and Mandarin
15 days / 14 nights
November 7th to 21st, 2022
Group of 4 travellers: starting from $3,145 USD
Price in double occupancy
Supplement for single occupancy: from $
Reserve before August 15th, 2022
Contact us to know the conditions.
2023
Group of 4 travellers: starting from $
Group of 6 travellers: starting from $
Price in double occupancy
Supplement for single occupancy: from $
Reserve before December 12th, 2022
Contact us to know the conditions.
2024
Group of 4 travellers: price to come
Group of 6 travellers: price to come
Price in double occupancy
Supplement for single occupancy
SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE
Fortified city established in the sixteenth century to protect the royal inner road. It reached its peak in the eighteenth century when many religious and civil buildings were built in the Mexican Baroque style.
In 2013 the magazine Conde Nast Traveler ranked it as the best city known for its cultural contribution, architectural beauty and leisure activities. Since then, she has won all the best titles from different sources: the best city to live in, the safest city, Pueblo Magico and has been declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
Population: 75,772
Altitude: 1910 m.
San Miguel has nothing to do with the all inclusive packages Mexico that is so popular among tourists.
The people you meet there are different.
There is a lot of national tourism in this city. Canadians and Americans who bought homes and live there part of the year or full time, few foreign travelers with a certain cultural and histori-cal interest can be met in SMA. The level of life is high in this city. However there are also people who live modestly.
San Miguel is an old colonial town where you can still ride a horse… where you meet rancheros with boots and cowboy hats… even your guide can show up with such an outfit.
San Miguel is RICH IN CULTURE, ARTS AND HISTORY. GASTRONOMY OCCUPIES A BEAUTIFUL PLACE.
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