The tourism industry continues to be a vital part of the Mexican economy despite the lack of support from the Mexican government. Although hotel numbers are dropping in key costal markets like Los Cabos, Cancun, and the Riviera Maya, cities in the central-south regions like San Miguel De Allende continue to see growth, especially with Canadians.

This past week TravelPulse had a chance to explore the beautiful cobblestone town of San Miguel de Allende and participate in the destinations first LGBTQ FAM trip ever. The week was spent experiencing all the LGBTQ-friendly products the town had to offer and with so many beautiful hotels, delicious restaurants, and fun adventure activities to partake in there is much to highlight.

Hotel Offerings

The newly opened Live Aqua Urban Resort is certainly the most eye catching, cosmopolitan hotel San Miguel has to offer and is the ideal place for anyone who has an affinity for modern interior design. The hotel has 153 rooms with 10 different configurations to choose from - 7 of which are suites - and start at $700 CAD a night. Each room features state-of-the-art-amenities, feather beds, and a selection of pillows and aromatherapy kits. Live Aqua is not just a hotel… it’s an experience.

Listed amongst Travel + Leisure’s ‘Best Boutique Hotel’ in 2017, San Miguel de Allende’s L’Otel is a luxurious, yet intimate hospitality experience in the heart of town. Located on the top floor of Doce 18 Concept House - a curated collective of design, fashion, art, gastronomy and hospitality offerings - L’Otel is a super boutique property with 10 rooms, all of which are suites, that start at $500 CAD a night. Unlike anything else you will find in San Miguel, L’Otel aims to fuse facets of the property’s iconic history with contemporary design to create a perfect balance between the old world and the new. Eat, shop, drink, and sleep, all in one place at L’Otel in Dôce 18 Concept House.

Ideal for families and small groups, Hotel La Morada is a lovely boutique hotel perfectly located steps away from the city’s main square and famous pink church, Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel. Recently remodelled, La Morada maintains much of its historical charm in what was once a typical colonial house. With only 26 rooms, 6 of which are suites, this hotel is perfect for those who are looking for a more low-key, yet comfortable ‘home away from home’ experience. Rooms start at $170 CAD a night.

A Gastronomy Haven

Tantalize your senses at El Petit Four, a french patisserie and cafe in the heart of San Miguel. In addition to offering wonderful pastries, cakes, and sandwiches the cousin duo also bake beautiful wedding cakes and offer intimate (minimum 4, maximum 10 people) traditional Mexican cooking classes on Mondays. Classes start at $180 USD a person and include a walk through the local market and an introduction to local food vendors followed by a cooking class at Chef Paco’s private residence.

Nestled into the countryside just outside the town of San Miguel de Allende you will find a the small country restaurant El Vergel Bistro and Market. Chef Ari Vasquez uses only the freshest, local ingredients to create delicious and flavourful French dishes. Each dish gives off such wonderful aromas your mouth will be watering before the plate hits the table. A meal at El Vergel would never be complete without a glass of rose, best enjoyed outside on their beautiful patio. Also, before you leave, make sure to stop into their market next door where you will find a selection of deli products, cheeses, wines, personal care items, and their line of homemade foods you can take home with you.

When it comes to fine dining in San Miguel De Allende, Chef Jorge Cocega’s restaurant Ruta de La Milpa is where you want to go. Chef Jorge builds his menu around locally sourced, indigenous ingredients and pays homage to his country’s cuisine and culture by creating an elevated Mexican dining experience. Located on the second floor of San Mike, blocks from the main square of town, Ruta De La Milpa is a fantastic place to treat yourself to some traditional Mexican food and get a REAL taste of Mexico.

Not To Be Missed Activities

San Miguel de Allende reaches new heights with Globo San Miguel Hot Air Balloon Adventures. Enjoy an early morning balloon ride followed by breakfast at the Rosewood Hotel and experience a bird’s-eye-view of San Miguel. Private tours are available for groups and couples with rates starting at $200 CAD per person ($225 CAD per person with breakfast) for the balloon rides. For those looking for a more private ‘proposal experience’, private rides are available for couples starting at $1400 CAD. All bookings can be made directly through Globo San Miguel’s website or through the Rosewood Hotel.

Surrounding the town of San Miguel de Allende you will not only find many organic farms, but also wineries, and what better way to experience their developing wine industry than with a tasting at Toyan Vineyard. This organic winery is located just 10 minutes from the heart of town and offers a tour in La Cava ‘the caves’, a wine cellar 14 meters below ground with stone monk sculptures that light up the pathway. Here in the cellar you will be able to experience an exclusive tasting of a selection of their wines. The tasting room also doubles as an event space and is adjacent to their large amphitheater that can seat up to 1,500 guests!

What was once an old textile factory has turned into a multi-use art space with galleries, antique shops, artist workshops and a cafe. Fabrica La Aurora is a great place to spend an afternoon engaging with local artists and perusing the various shops. Artist-led workshops are available in a variety of mediums and range from a day to a week in length. Since San Miguel de Allende is known for being a haven for artists and for having an amazing art school, La Aurora is a great way to experience San Miguel’s art scene all in one place.

One thing for sure is that San Miguel de Allende is not a destination for those who are looking for a discounted getaway. Since it is a popular spot for weddings (they had a record number of over 800 weddings last year) hotel occupancy is in demand. The closest airport is Leon’s Guanajuato International Airport (BJX) an 90 minutes drive away. Car rentals are available for pick up at the airport and local airline carriers currently flying to Leon include Aero Mexico with a connection through Mexico City, and United with connections through Chicago or Houston.