San Miguel Allende Tours and Activities

Activities and Tours

Home and Garden Tour

Public Library every Sunday morning
Insurgentes #25
Tel. (415) 152-0293

The high colonial walls and thickset wooden doors which line the San Miguel's cobblestone streets add much charm to the town's appearance, though one is left to wonder what lies beyond their fortress like exteriors. Every Sunday, except National Holidays, a glimpse behind these doors is offered by the volunteer run Home and Garden tour. The public library in San Miguel becomes the starting point for the tours and be sure to get there early as local mariachi bands entertain and the Café Santa Ana serves breakfast in the beautiful courtyard.

There are approximately 300 local residents that are registered to allow the public to view their homes once or twice a year. The tour has been operating since 1957, and attendance has been growing every year since. During high season the tour can accommodate up to 600 people which pack onto buses entertained by guides on their way to each home. Proceeds from the tours contribute to the public libraries many public educational programs and youth scholarships.

El Charco del Ingenio / Nature Reserve & Botanical Garden

Open daily from Sunrise to Sunset
Tel. (515) 154 47 15
Adults $30 pesos, under 10 yrs free, discounts for students.

A couple of kilometers out of town on the road to Queretaro, lays the Charco del Ingenio nature reserve and botanical garden. The 250 acres (100 hectares) reserve is dedicated to protecting an area which holds ecological and historical importance for Central Mexico. Named after a natural pool found within the park, a visit will reveal a collection of cacti and other Mexican plants along with panoramic lookouts, and nature trails perfect for hiking, biking and rock climbing.

The non-profit organization that runs the site encourages visitors to picnic, camp and explore the gardens. At an old hacienda within the grounds, the Botanical Garden hosts a ceremony every month, which uses aromatic herbs and steam to cure and rejuvenate. This process is a traditional ceremony called a temascal and is held on the weekend closest to the full moon.

Bici-Burro biking and Hiking Tours

Hospicio 1
Tel.(415) 152 15 26

Bici-Burro is a bike shop that has operated in San Miguel since 1963. They offer bike rentals and biking or hiking tours with guides that hold an intimate knowledge of the area around San Miguel. You have the choice of seven bike tours and 2 hiking trips which take you amongst natural landmarks and some of the historical ruins of the area. These are of varying degrees of difficulty and range from 5 to 8 hours. The bicycle tours include a 27 speed aluminium mountain bike with helmet, gloves and transportation if needed.