Savor the Culture and Magic of San Miguel de Allende on a Historic Walking Tour

The nearly 500-year-old colonial village of San Miguel de Allende boasts cobblestone streets, stunning Colonial and neo-Gothic architecture, fine dining and an artisan-friendly community. The laid-back pace of San Miguel de Allende is about savoring the society and culture and slowing down to experience the magic.

Get to know the history of San Miguel de Allende with the aptly named Historic Walking Tour of San Miguel. The casual yet informative walk through the city offers an overview of the city’s architecture, churches and influential people.

English-speaking tour highlights include the iconic Parroquia Church with insights to lesser-known saints and history. A statue of Peruvian born Martin de Porres stands inside the church, the patron saint of people of mixed race, and innkeepers, barbers, public health workers and more. Other stops during the tour include the birthplace of Ignacio Allende, a hero of the Mexican Independence.

Tour guides are highly knowledgeable of the area and are often retired Americans who relocated to the city. Along the way, our guide mentioned the authentic vanilla hailing from Veracruz and said a vendor in all white walks around selling it. “Oh, there he is!,” he pointed out, and chatted with him briefly before we went on our way. Tour guides feel right at home in San Miguel, and guests were free to ask questions about the area, the best places to go and share thoughts on the architecture and their own historical knowledge of the area.

San Miguel Historical Walking Tour is an engaging, fascinating way to get to know the area before settling into the rest of your vacation. Unlike other tours, the excursion is run by volunteers, and the 300 pesos fee goes toward Patronato Pro Niños to assist low-income children with health care-related needs, including dental work.

Tours take place every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 9:45 a.m. and leave by 10:00 a.m.