The best day trips from San Miguel de Allende

Given that San Miguel de Allende is an extremely popular vacation destination, you’re likely to want to spend at least a few days exploring the city and an evening or two sampling the excellent nightlife there but I can’t stress enough how incredible the day trip options are from SMdA so please do ensure you leave at least 2-3 days for exploring the area.

Close to San Miguel de Allende

These next options are for activities near town. While each one could be a full day activity in its own right, they’re great half day activities too.

Explore the thermal pools around San Miguel 

💦 There are quite a few thermal pools (aguas termales) and hot springs in the area thanks to the Taxco.-San Miguel de Allende fault system that heats up the hot springs to up to 40℃ (100℉). Not all of the hot springs are open to the public (there are around 130 known) but some have.

The most visited are:

Escondido Place – around 20 mins from town, despite the name this is in no way, a ‘hidden gem’. It’s a family friendly, busy, popular site with locals. You’ll find a hotel, a spa, restaurant and some gorgeous areas to relax but it’s important to be aware that the water isn’t as hot here as at other sites.

La Gruta – 20 mins outside SMdA, this is a family friendly pool complex with a collection of different temperature pools as well as the cave pool.

The Mayan Baths – this is the truly exclusive, adult only experience you may be looking for. Unlike the 2 sites above, you must pre-book to visit. There are 2 outdoor pools, a cave pool and gorgeous looking underground pools that connect a pool with the hot tub area.

Xote Water Park – this is a small but fun water park that the whole family will enjoy. My kids had hoped we’d have time to get here but sadly, we didn’t.

MexicoCassie recommended tours

🐴 Trail riding & thermal pools small group tour – spend the day exploring the countryside on horseback before heading to one of the local hot springs to chill out. Includes lunch, ranch fees and guide.

→ Read more / reserve now

💦 Visit the Grutas de Tolantongo – just over 3 hrs from San Miguel de Allende are the most famous of all the hot springs in Mexico. This incredible, full day tour includes breakfast, entry fees, transport and a bag of water fun goodies.

→ Read more / reserve now

El Charco del Ingenio (Botanical Gardens) 

🌵Just outside of San Miguel de Allende are the Botanical Gardens and I can not stress enough how incredibly wonderful they are. We fell in love with this place and I highly recommend you visit.

This nature preserve is huge (70 hectares) and you can have a real adventure here. It runs alongside the reservoir, Presa Las Colonias, which makes for spectacular views. The collection of cacti and other succulents is wonderful and if you like insects then you’ll be fascinated.

Absolutely don’t forget to stop at the cafe/shop because it has a lovely selection of items and the cafe has AMAZING ice cream.

Art galleries

🎨 San Miguel de Allende has a reputation for having a big artistic community so when you’re in town why not support local artisans and check out:

Fábrica La Aurora – this is a renovated textile mill where you’ll find local artists’ galleries, cafes and shops. It’s a perfect place for anyone interested in the local art scene.

Chapel of Jimmy Ray (Casa de las Ranas) – “founded in 2012 as a vehicle to present the work of Anado McLauchlin along with select artists that Anado has bonded with on a visual and oftentimes emotional level. This is an artist friendly gallery dedicated to the “road less travelled”.” (from the website) – I really wanted to visit here but didn’t make it, sadly.

Ranchito Cascabel – this is a super weirdly cool surrealist park just 30 mins outside of San Miguel de Allende.

Bazar Mexico Lindo – sadly in early 2024 this coolest of all places closed its doors for good. My heart hurt when I realised because it was one of the most interesting galleries I’ve ever visited.

Towns & cities to visit from San Miguel de Allende

Mineral de Pozos 

Like so many of Mexico’s cute little towns, Mineral de Pozos is a pueblo magico (a ‘magical town’) so named by the government to attract visitors). This town began life as a nomadic station for Indigenous groups. Once the Spanish arrived they founded a fort there to try and protect the silver of Zacatecas. They apparently didn’t realise what was available right under the ground here until later. At its height, over 70,000 people lived in town working in the mines but it was eventually abandoned in the 1920s.

Today it’s a small town, almost a ghost town, in fact, with a  small population that is trying to attract visitors. 

⭐️ Once I stumbled across a mention of it on the internet I was obsessed. Truly. We planned our whole trip to the San Miguel area based on the fact that I HAD to go to Mineral de Pozos. (My family is apparently very accommodating of my travel needs, they sigh, laugh at me and then let me have my way more or less). 

What to do in Mineral de Pozos

The town, as I said, is tiny but its town square is gorgeous and there are many cute shops that are well worth checking out. Every year there is a Mariachi Festival during the last week of April. 

Visit the lavender fields of Mineral de Pozos

The lavender fields are just outside of Mineral de Pozos and can be visited as part of a tour from San Miguel or alone if you’re visiting with your own transport. It’s a really relaxing, fun thing to do and everyone will love trying the various homemade lavender-flavoured foods and beer they sell on site here. 

🏨 You can actually stay on the farm, which I wish I’d known in advance as it looks gorgeous. 

Visit the abandoned mines of Mineral de Pozos

There are many abandoned mines around town and you essentially have three options for visiting them:  

1. Take a tour from San Miguel de Allende. 
2. Drive yourself to Mineral de Pozos and pick up the town’s tour bus. 
3. Take your chances on what’s open and drive yourself around (we chose this option).

Ex-hacienda Santa Brigida – If you’re feeling short on cash you can see the famous pyramid-shaped Jesuit ovens from outside but it is well worth paying the small entrance fee each to exploe the whole site – there’s a lot to see. 

We went for the ovens but stayed for the Arcos Magicos and you must too. It took us a while to find them but once we did we spent ages wandering around, grinning inanely.

Cinco Señores – This ex-hacienda/mine says it’s open on Google but when we got there was absolutely closed and from what I hear, we aren’t the only people to experience this. We were extremely lucky though as while we were standing outside the gate pondering our options (you know what we were thinking, don’t pretend you don’t) the tour bus drove up and a  guide unlocked the gate. I had a quick chat with the guides and they kindly let us inside too.

➕ Also around Cinco Señores are other mines and a field full of old train carriages that you can’t visit but can admire from outside. The views are stunning in this area. 

El Triangulo – We also didn’t manage to get in here but we wandered around outside hoping someone would come and let us in. They did not. 

Mine Tours –  We’d hoped to do an actual mine tour at Cinco Señores but since we were kind of clandestinely in, we didn’t have that option. Instead, we found an open mine in town that was offering tours. People appear to have mines in their gardens. The tour itself was on a pay-as-you-please basis. After a chat about minerals with the store owner, we headed into the back with tools in hand.

📚 Read more about spending time in Mineral de Pozos.

How to get to Mineral de Pozos

🚗 1 hr drive along route 1.

🚌 No easy public transport options and you either need a tour or your own transport to explore properly.

Dolores Hidalgo

The city’s official name is Dolores de Hidalgo Cuna de la Independencia Nacional. You can see why it isn’t used so much, right?  

Dolores Hidalgo is the official birthplace of Mexican independence. The town was known just as Dolores until the priest, Hidalgo, uttered his famous ‘Grito de Dolores’ (cry for independence) from here. After independence was won, the city changed its name to honour him. The full name, in English, means Dolores of Hidalgo, Cradle of National Independence.

What to do in Dolores Hidalgo

As you might imagine, most of the activities in Dolores de Hidalgo focus around Mexico’s independence (Independence Day, by the way, is 16th September, not 5th May. Cinco de Mayo is a celebration of the Battle of Puebla and is really only celebrated in Puebla and the USA) since it holds an extremely important place in Mexican history and Mexican culture.

Explore the town

Be sure to talk a walk around town as the plazas are lovely. Check out the decorated lamp posts! Stop and admire the Jardín del Gran de Hidalgo. This is the main square. There are many ice cream stands on the plaza, definitely try some cool flavors.

Visit museums

Casa de la Visitas – This is a house linked to the insurgents and Dolores. Today it is used to house dignitaries who come to town to hear the Grito on 16th September.

Casa Hidalgo Museum – learn about Hidalgo and his philosophies in this small museum located in his former home.

National Independence Museum – learn about the Mexican War of Independence here.

Visit the colourful tomb of José Alfredo Jiminez – a famous Mexican singer buried just outside town.

Visit the Wine Museum (Museo de Vino de Guanajuato) – a small museum in a former mansion where you can learn about the region’s wine and even taste some local wines

Go shopping

Stop in the Mercado de Artesanías, souvenir and artisan shops and markets to buy local products that included fabulous ceramics (my favorite coffee mug comes from here).

Eat ice cream

The second most famous thing about Dolores Hidalgo is its dedication to ice cream and weird ice cream at that.

Los Garcas – here we tried:  lavender, bubble gum, borracha (a type of cactus ice cream) and dulce de leche with nuts. We found ourselves in conversation with the owner who then brought out a very strong mezcal ice cream for us to try. 

Helados el More on the plaza to try: prawn and octopus, avocado, more lavender and strawberry. We would have added red wine and carrot had we had more space (we had a taste of the carrot and it was amazing).  

I highly recommend trying out the wild flavours as some of them you’ll never see anywhere else. 

➕ don’t miss visiting Cuna de Tierra  – an excellent winery that is well worth visiting if you’re interested in the region’s viticulture.

📚 Read more about visiting Dolores Hidalgo

How to get to Dolores Hidalgo

🚗 1 hr on route 51.

🚌 I’ve been unable to verify online but I am pretty certain there are buses to/from the SMdeA bus station.

Atotonilco

⭐️ This tiny town is famous for being a pilgrimage town and the church has incredible biblical paintings all over it. Apparently it’s often referred to as the Sistine Chapel of Mexico Sadly, the church was closed.

Atotonilco means, “Place of the Hot Waters”

Today the Sanctuary of Atotonilco retains an importance in the religious life of central Mexico. Thousands of Christians visit this pilgrimage site every year to flagellate themselves, crawl around the perimeter of the shrine on bare knees etc. They do this believing it will help them experience some of the pain they assume Jesus will have felt on his way to Golgatha.  

How to get to Atotonilco

🚗 20 minutes on route 51.

🚌 I believe there is a bus from the Calzada de la Luz but do confirm this.

Guanajuato

⭐️ With its incredibly colorful buildings, hilly, steep roads, and twisting tunnels, Guanajauto is like nowhere you’ve ever visited before. Everywhere you look there are perfect plazas, ornate churches, sculptures and museums. Guanauato is a feast for the eyes and the brain. If you can’t get there under your own steam, there are many tours from San Miguel de Allende available. 

Guanajuato, of course, is better visited over a few days if possible because there is just so much to see and do in this gorgeous city. If you do have time, why not find a hotel and stay a day or two?

What to do in Guanajuato

​Wander around the colorful streets, drink coffee on Plaza de la Paz.

El Pípila – don’t miss a trip up to visit El Pípila Monument – up above the town stands the enormous monument to Pípila, the hero of Guanajuato. You can either ride the funicular or walk up the hundreds of steps. I walked because I love a challenge. The views and the street art made it well worth walkin in my opinion. 

Callejon del Beso – this landmark point is a favourite with the Instagrammers. Join the lines and get your photo taken here. 

Museums in Guanajuato

Museo de las Momias (Mummy Museum) – this fascinatingly strange museum is home to modern(ish) mummies. The oldest body was dug up in 1865 and the newest is from the 1960s. It’s an interesting place and definitely deserves a moment of your time.

Museo de la Alhóndiga de Granaditas – This is my favourite museum in Guanajuato by far. It was originally a granary but a year after its completion in 1809, this incredible building became a landmark of the War of Independence. If you look up when walking around the building, you’ll see the names of the leaders of the revolution high up on top.

Teatro Juarez – Built by Antonio Rivas Mercado and was inaugurated by Porfirio Dias in 1903. From the columned facade to the stained glass window bar to the intricate red and gold theatre, everything will have you exclaiming in wonder.

Museo Casa Diego Rivera –  this is the Diego Rivera house museum in which the famous muralist was born. It’s pretty interesting.

Museo Iconografico del Quijote – Guanajuato has a fascinating relationship with Don Quixote. This museum is dedicated to art inspired by the fictional character.  

📚 Read more about when to visit Guanajuato & about what to do & see in Guanajuato

How to get to Guanajuato

🚗 1 hr on route 67.

🚌 There are regular buses between the 2 cities. It takes around 90 minutes by bus and timetables / ticket prices can be checked on Busbud.

Querétaro

A short drive from San Miguel de Allende is Querétaro, a quieter and less visited city that is slowly becoming more popular with visitors to central Mexico. Don’t miss out on a visit to this UNESCO World Heritage town. 

If you don’t have a car, never fear for there are many tours from San Miguel going to Querétaro. And, again, if you can, stay overnight but if you can’t, a day trip to Querétaro will be just fine. 

What to do in Querétaro

Visit El Cerrito Archaeological site – this Toltec site dates from 300 BCE and there is a pretty impressive pyramid and museum to peruse. 

View the aqueduct – this is obviously one of Querétaro’s most famous landmarks. Head to the mirador for the best views but it’s also fun to drive around an find it right next to you. 

Explore Queretaro’s Centro – it’s a UNESCO World Heritage Site Monumental Zone. You will not manage to see all 1400 monuments but take a walk around Jardín Zenea as a good starting point. 

Templo de San Francisco de Asis – this striking red church is one of the most beautiful churches in Queretaro and with the statue of the Dancing Chimicheca next to it, makes for a great photo (see above). 

Plaza de los Fundadores and Templo y Convento de la Santa Cruz – when the Spanish arrived in the area (early 1500s) the Otomis sided with them in the hopes of getting rid of the Aztecs. While the two sides were battling there was a solar eclipse, which was interpreted as a sign of the Christian god’s power by the Aztecs who promptly surrendered. The temple was erected on the site of the battle and the city (Santiago de Queretaro) was established there in 1531. 

📚 Read more about exploring around Querétaro

How to get to Queretaro

🚗 2 hrs on routes 111 and 57.

🚌 There are regular buses between the 2 cities. It takes around 90 minutes by bus and timetables / ticket prices can be checked on Busbud.

Activity/adventure day trips from San Miguel de Allende

🔎 Visit La Cañada de la Virgen Pyramid on an archaeologist-led tour. Your guide took part in the site’s 2004 excavation, giving him a unique insight into the relatively-recently uncovered Mesoamerican complex.

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🐴 Explore Coyote Canyon on horseback – Cross La Virgen river and explore Coyote Canyon on this half-day guided horseback riding tour. Admire the stunning cliffs, stop for a hike and relax along the river. It’s possible to add on a visit to hot springs, or to go rappelling too. After your adventure, return to the ranch and settle in for a hearty, organic lunch of Mexican cuisine.

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or, take a hiking tour in the same area if you’re not into horse riding

🎈 Take a sunrise hot air balloon ride – one of the most spectacular ways to see San Miguel de Allende is from a balloon as it sails over the gorgeous city.

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🍷 Vineyard tour with wine pairing – learn about the region’s wine region at one of the best vineyards in the area – Tres Raics. Sample between 3 -5 wines and matched foods (depending on the tour you choose) as you learn more about the culture & cuisine of this region. Includes the local Cabernet Sauvignon and more.

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