Things to do in Guanajuato

Rise with the sunrise for an amazing experience on a hot air balloon. Listen to a safety briefing and then set off for a ride you'll never forget. Take in views of the whole area of San Miguel de Allende. Top it all off with an American breakfast. Head early to the meeting point and get ready to watch the landscape unfold in front of and beneath you. Find your captain at the meeting point, where you'll be provided with some safety instructions in order to get you ready to fly. Then, you will be taken from the meeting point to the balloon port. At the port, watch how the experts build the hot air balloons with fire and set them up for your flight. Hop in the nest and get ready to soar. Once in the sky, admire beautiful panoramic views of San Miguel de Allende: the downtown from far off, the Presa Isabel Allende, the open fields, and the other hot air balloons decorating the landscape. Snap unforgettable photos of your surroundings and, of course, some selfies. When the balloon lands, you'll have the chance to share a cheers with the captain and crew with a non-alcoholic cider. You'll then be transferred in a van back to the meeting point for a tasty American breakfast and to receive your flight certificate.

Depart Mexico City in the morning and take in the views of the countryside en route to the colonial city of San Miguel de Allende. Upon arrival, join a 1.5-hour guided tour to see attractions such as the parish church of San Miguel Arcángel and the contemporary art museum of the Chapel of Jimmy Ray Gallery. Admire the typical Spanish-Baroque façade of the San Francisco Church, and see the former home of Ignacio Allende, notable for his role in the Mexican War of Independence. Purchase typical handicrafts at the craft market and learn more about the history of Mexico outside the Municipal Palace, where statues of Miguel Hidalgo and Ignacio Allende are located. Get some free time to stroll the streets at your own pace. Use the time to visit galleries, or find a nice restaurant or local market to eat lunch. Drive back to Mexico City in the afternoon, with an estimated time of arrival at 9:00 PM.

Start the tour off at Baja Fish Taquito. Then, head to the next spot, along the way taking in the beautiful sights of San Miguel. Cultural sites include the Jardin, San Francisco Church, the Plaza Civica, and the Oratorio Church. On this guided food and city walking tour you'll get to try out 5 food-tasting spots carefully chosen to highlight the best regional flavors of San Miguel. Savor local delicacies at off-the-beaten-path eateries with their lively owners and staff.  Enjoy a sampling of mouth-watering food at family-owned restaurants and stands, all the while sipping on refreshing local drinks and picking up some insights into the city's history and culture from your passionate tour guide. You can look forward to San Miguel’s best tacos and delicious cocktails. All the snacking adds up to be enough for a satisfying dinner, and all the food and drinks are included in the tour price. End at the corner of Hidalgo and Insurgentes Street, just two blocks from the main square. You can walk downtown to continue your evening or your guide will help you find a taxi home.

Explore San Miguel's main sights and hidden treasures on a guided walking tour for up to 12 people. Learn about the history of a town founded in 1542, and replenish your energy after with a 3-course Mexican meal in a traditional family-run restaurant. Begin your tour at the Plaza of San Francisco. From here, discover the stories and histories of many different landmarks in San Miguel with a certified local guide. Find out how the city has developed from humble beginnings into a world-class destination. As you walk through the town, visit a range of sights like markets, schools, and churches. Learn about local merchants who breathe life into San Miguel and make some new friends along the way. To finish your tour, savor some fantastic food, including an appetizer, main course, dessert, and a drink.

Walk through the most interesting and beautiful streets of the downtown of San Miguel De Allende along with a local tour guide, who will help you discover the most emblematic monuments of the city, such as the Parish of San Miguel Arcangel, and the house of Captain Ignacio Allende. Then, visit the famous Temple of the Immaculate Conception and its old cloister which today is the school of fine arts. Explore the Angela Peralta Theater, the historic Plaza de la Soledad, and the Paso del Camino Real. Discover the Franciscan Monastic Complex where you will learn about the tireless work of the religious people in the old town area of San Miguel El Grande. Your guide will also share important facts about the Independence of Mexico and how it's related to the "House of the Conspiracy". Stroll through the colorful and charming streets and gain a deeper understanding of the town's importance in the context of Mexican history throughout the centuries.

Get your adrenaline pumping on a seven-zipline adventure above the Cañon Aguila Cola Roja — the Red-Tailed Eagle Canyon. Enjoy a different perspective on the canyon, tiptoe across an extreme suspension bridge, and take memorable photos with your family and friends. Make your own way to the park where your hosts will welcome you. Receive the safety equipment and instructions you need for a safe adventure, then hop in a van to the canyon and take in the panoramic views once you arrive. Before riding the first zipline, get more safety instructions and tips on how to get the most out of your zipline rides. Then, start your tour on the 7 ziplines, beginning with the longest 300-meter zipline. While on the ziplines, marvel at the magnificent views of nature and a unique perspective on the canyon. Test your nerve on a 110-meter-long suspension bridge — don't look down. During the whole experience, have your photos taken by your guide on your own cellphone. Once you finish the activity, the van will take you back to the main entrance of the park where the experience ends.

Discover 2 of the best local vineyards in the San Miguel de Allende area. Wander around the vines, learn about the winemaking process, and taste the wines with delightful food pairings of local cheeses and other organic products. After pickup from your accommodation in San Miguel de Allende, leave the downtown area to visit the first vineyard. Explore the family-owned vineyard, and learn about its distinctive personality, decoration, and small production of different types of grapes. Next, head underground to the wine cellar where the wine is aged, and find out the winemaking process while enjoying the delicious smells of the wine. After visiting the cellar, savor some of the wines with a delicious food pairing in a medieval-style room, also underground. A visit to the second vineyard, which has a very different concept but also has a small and exclusive production, follows. See the labs and shops where wine, as well as olive and lavender oil, are processed at this vineyard. Take a walk around the beautiful gardens and plots before sampling the wines with an expert oenologist, who will explain the different properties of each wine and how to better appreciate them. Enjoy this incredible learning experience surrounded by picturesque landscapes, and awaken your senses as you taste and smell the wines.

Discover the incredible city of Guanajuato, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, on a full-day tour from San Miguel de Allende. Explore the history of the city, visit wonderful churches and the Diego Rivera Museum, and savor lunch at a local restaurant. After pickup from your accommodation in San Miguel de Allende, drive toward Guanajuato and make your first stop at Pípila Monument. Delight in views of the city from above from the lookout as your private guide introduces you to Guanajuato's history. Then, ride a cable car to the downtown area and visit the first church built in the city. Next-door, marvel at the Juarez Theater, one of the most emblematic buildings of Mexico's Porfirian era. Go inside to see its unique architecture, and learn about the history of both buildings with your certified guide. After exploring the Juarez Theater, walk the colorful streets of Guanajuato to the Church of Jesus' Company to see its beautiful facade and unique style. Enter the temple to discover paintings from the 17th century, then make your way to the university, another unique architectural landmark, and learn about its history. A visit to the Diego Rivera museum comes next. View the art show that always has Mexican artists on display, and explore Diego's life, murals, portraits, and cubist paintings. From there, head to the Plaza de la Paz, the aristocratic center of the city to admire its architecture. Marvel at the Basílica of Our Lady of Guanajuato, where you'll find the oldest statue of the Virgin Mary in the Americas, which dates from the year 714. Lunch at a local restaurant follows. Enjoy great regional food with high-quality options for everyone. After lunch, take the cable car back up to begin your return journey to San Miguel de Allende. On your way back to San Miguel, you can stop at the San Cayetano church, one of the most adorned and beautiful churches that represents the golden age of the city of Guanajuato.

Begin down in the mouth of the canyon along the edge of the river as you start to explore the landscape around you on horseback. Receive instructions on riding and an overview of your adventure. Have the opportunity to cross the river and gallop through traditional cattle ranches. Take a short rest on the top of dramatic cliffs, and admire the views as you snap some great pictures. Continue over the plains and amongst the cattle, reaching a further edge of the canyon and begin a 40-minute descent back down to find the winding river. Choose to add on either a hot springs or rappelling experience, for a touch of relaxation or some extra adrenaline. Opt for a soothing soak in some healing pools to reward yourself after your adventure. Select the rappelling experience to finish your adventure with a kick as you descend down 150 feet cliffs.  For the grand finale, when you get back to the ranch, you will have an organic ranch-style meal, freshly prepared for your arrival. This authentic meal includes freshly hand-made tortillas, organic cheese, beans, quesadillas among other traditional dishes.

The archaeological site of Cañada de la Virgen is located just 25 kilometers west of San Miguel de Allende. Occupied between 540 and 1050 A.D., it is perched upon a small mesa surrounded by canyons. The site is made up of four patio/pyramid complexes, an ancient, artificial pond and a ceremonial causeway covering the 16 hectares. Your highly specialized guide will share their knowledge of the Otomi people and of other cultures of the Bajio region, as well as the Mesoamerican cultures in general.  After the tour, you will head to a small village located just 10 minutes away to enjoy a real ranch-style meal prepared by the ladies of the community. The meal consists of fresh ranch style cheese prepared on site daily, fresh tortillas al comal, organic cheese, rice, beans, fresh salsas, and guacamole. Also on the menu are quesadillas, nopales (cactus), salad, potato patties and fresh fruit.