Oh Guanajuato, how I adore you. One of the great things about being based in Guadalajara for most of the past year is that I have been able to take lots of Mexico road trips. Including several road trips in . On my last trip to Guanajuato, I was on a mission to visit all of the Pueblos Magicos Guanajuato to see all of these magical towns for myself.
In this blog post, I have listed all of the Guanajuato pueblos magicos and included all of the important information about how to get there, where to stay, and of course what to do while you are there.
Did You Get Travel Insurance Yet?
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Read my full travel insurance post here, where I go into detail about all companies.
What Is a Pueblo Magico?
The pueblos magicos award is an initiative spearheaded by Mexico‘s Secretariat of Tourism. It is a status given to towns with historical significance. It could be because of the food, the architecture, the festivals, traditions, etc. each pueblo Magico has its own special something.
In Guanajuato what is significant in many of the pueblos is their importance during the Mexican revolution.
How Many Pueblo Magicos Are There in the State of Guanajuato?
As of writing this post in May 2022 there are currently 132 Pueblos Magicos across the whole of Mexico. Guanajuato boasts 6 Pueblos Magicos and they are:
- Dolores Hidalgo
- Jalpa de Cánovas
- Comonfort
- Mineral de Pozos
- Salvatierra
- Yuriria
Now I must admit having visited all of them, I do have my favorites. Some of the Pueblos Magicos Guanajato you can see in a few hours, others need a day or 2. In some, I found it hard to find accommodation (especially as I was traveling with my dog), so it’s possible to base yourself in one of the bigger cities like Guanajuato City or San Miguel de Allende and visit the Guanajuato Pueblos Magicos as day trips.
Map of the Guanajuato Pueblos Magicos
Click on the map and save it to get driving directions between each Pueblo Magico in Guanajuato.
1. Dolores Hidalgo
I really enjoyed my visit to Dolores Hidalgo, and I especially liked shopping for pottery there! Next time I set up house in Mexico I’ll be getting everything I need for my kitchen shipped directly from a shop here. So if you don’t have the space to carry everything you want home, just ask them about international shipping because it’s easily done, and not too expensive when you consider how much you will save buying direct.
But anyway, there is a lot more to this Guanajuato Pueblo Magico than shopping, like the exotic ice cream flavors, and the small fact that it happens to be the birthplace of Mexican independence.
Yup, that’s right! It all started in this small town in Guanajuato.
So if you have any interest in Mexican history, do not skip Dolores Hidalgo.
Things to Do in Dolores Hidalgo
- Shop for pottery
- Eat an exotic flavored Ice cream from La Flor de Dolores (Tequila flavored ice cream anyone?)
- Visit the Museo de la independencia
- Explore the house of Hidalgo
- Pay your respects to the famous Mexican singer ‘El Ray’ (José Alfredo Jiménez) by visiting his grave.
- Marvel at the Iglesia de Dolores (which took a whopping 70 years to build)
- Do the independence tour to learn about the significant role the town played in the battle for independence.
Where to Stay in Dolores Hidalgo
There is plenty to do in Dolores Hidalgo and I would recommend spending the night here if you have time. Here are a few places I recommend:
Budget Option: Hotel Posada de la Conspiración, Casa en Dolores Hidalgo, Gto.
Mid Priced Option: Hotel CasaMia
Luxury Option: La Capilla Hotel
How to Get to Dolores Hidalgo
Dolores Hidalgo is in the middle of Guanajuato City and San Miguel de Allende and can easily be reached by car or public bus from either city. If you plan on driving then click one of the links below for driving directions.
Directions to Dolores Hidalgo from San Miguel De Allende
Directions to Dolores Hidalgo from Guanajuato City
If you are planning a road trip to see all of the magic towns click the links above for directions.
2. Jalpa de Cánovas
If you are short on time, then you might need to skip Jalpa as it is a little further away from the others. Although it is pretty close to Leon, so if Leon is on your Guanajuato Itinerary then it’s worth a visit as it’s an easy day trip.
There is plenty to fill your day in Jalpa, but to be honest it’s nice just wandering the colorful streets and taking pictures. It’s a small town that appears frozen in time with just 800 people living here. It really does have a lot of charm.
Things to Do in Jalpa
- Pay a visit to the Templo de la Misericordia
- Explore the former Hacienda of Cañada de Negros
- Wander around the gardens
- Visit the Santa Eduviges dam
- Go wine tasting at Bodegas del Lobo (located in San Francisco del Rincón 20 kilometers from Jalpa)
Where to Stay?
As Jalpa is such a small town, you might be pushed to find somewhere to stay here, your best option is to stay in Leon or if you do want to go wine tasting there are some nice cabanas to rent close by.
But here are a few places I recommend in both Leon and Jalpa:
Budget Option: HOTEL AZUL AGAVE, Hotel La Torre San Francisco
Mid Priced Option: Casa Arandas Hotel – Suits
Luxury Option: Hotel Hacienda San Cristóbal
How to Get To Jalpa de Cánovas:
The best way to get here is on a day trip from Leon. It’s just 20 minutes outside the city so if you don’t want to deal with public transportation then you can take a taxi or Uber. If you decide to take a taxi do make sure to negotiate the price first and if you get a good driver ask if he can pick you up on the way back if you don’t want to spend the night.
Alternatively, you can rent a car and drive yourself. The roads in Guanajuato are very safe and Jalpa is well signed. For directions to Jalpa click on one of the links below.
Directions to Jalpa de Carnoves from San Miguel De Allende
Directions to Jalpa from Guanajuato City
If you are planning a road trip to see all of the magic towns click the links above for directions.
3. Comonfort
Of all of the Magic Towns in Guanajuato, Comonfort was my least favorite. Sorry, Comonfort. Maybe we visited on a bad day but the town was pretty hectic and it was impossible to park anywhere. The architecture wasn’t as nice as the other pueblos Magicos in Guanajuato. However, the reason to visit Comonfort is the food, not the architecture!
Comonfort is the home of the Molcajete, a prehispanic pestle and mortar type kitchen utensil. It’s mostly used for grinding chili, and making guacamole, and is often used in restaurants to serve food. One of the top things to do here is to seek out where they are made by local artisans.
Comonfort is also known for printing beautiful designs on its tortillas. Something I’ve never seen anywhere else in Mexico and worth the trip just to see them!
Things to Do in Comonfort:
- Eat some beautifully decorated Tortillas
- Visit one of the Vineyards just outside the town
- Check out the old railway station
- See how the Molcajete is made by local artisans
Where to Stay In Comonfort
Comonfort is so close to Guanajuato City if you prefer not to spend the night here you can stay there. However, if you decide to do a wine tour and are driving then you will need to stay close by until you are safe to drive again!
Here are a few places I recommend:
Budget Option: Hotel Posada Chamacuero
Mid Priced Option: View Hotel Boutique in San Miguel de Allende
Luxury Option: Aparthotel San Miguel de Allende in San Miguel de Allende
How to Get To Comonfort
It’s a 1-2 hour bus ride from Guanajuato City, or you can rent a car and drive yourself.
Directions to Comonfort from San Miguel De Allende
Directions to Comonfort from Guanajuato City
If you are planning a road trip to see all of the magic towns click the links above for directions.
4. Mineral de Pozos
I loved this little mining town in the north of Guanajuato and there is so much to do here you will need to spend at least 1 night.
Mineral de Pozos is an old mining town known locally as something of a Ghost town, it’s not difficult to see why as the whole town seems abandoned. But the empty streets do add to its charm.
Around every corner are a beautiful building and another Instagramable doorway. There is a beautiful church (of course), a rooftop bar with a killer view, a cute boutique store I spent a fortune in, and if you are into wellness they even have a beer spa and a local temazcal!
Things to Do in Mineral de Pozos:
- Pamper yourself in the Beer spa
- Drink a lavender lemonade on the rooftop of De Pozos Restaurant bar
- Shop in Galeria 6 for artisan clothing made on site (15 local women make the clothing available in the store)
- Wander around the Church
- Visit the lavender fields
- Explore the mines
- Visit Cinco Señores minas
- Take lots of beautiful photos for the gram
- Sweat it out in the prehispanic Temazcal
Where to Stay in Mineral de Pozos
Here are a few places I recommend:
Budget Option: Posada Casa del Minero
Mid Priced Option: Hotel Colibri
Luxury Option: Mineral del Cielo
How to Get to Mineral de Pozos
Mineral de Pozos is about 1.5 hours drive from San Miguel de Allende, which is its closest city. We drove here from Puebla and it took us just over 4 hours. So if your visit to Guanajuato is part of a larger Mexico itinerary then Mineral de Pozos is a great Guanajuato starting point.
If you want to take public transport to Mineral de Pozos then the best place to come from is San Miguel de Allende, however, the buses aren’t so reliable, or frequent so bear that in mind when planning how long you want to come for and check the latest bus times the day before.
In my opinion, the best way to get to Mineral de Pozos is by renting a car and driving yourself. The roads are very good and it is very safe.
Directions to Mineral de Pozos from San Miguel De Allende
Directions to Mineral de Pozos from Guanajuato City
If you are planning a road trip to see all of the magic towns click the links above for directions.
5. Salvatierra
I wasn’t expecting so much from Salvatierra, however, I was very pleasantly surprised with just how much I liked it here! The whole town is full of beautiful haciendas, so be sure to wander through the open doorways (of businesses of course, please don’t go walking into private houses haha).
There are some beautiful churches to marvel at, a market to shop in, and plenty of healthy food options if you need a break from all the tacos!
If you have a car and feel like going on an adventure in search of wellness activities in Guanajuato, then there are lots of underdeveloped hot springs outside of the town. They can be a little tricky to find (don’t expect any signposts) but it’s a fun adventure to be had.
Things to Do in Salvatierra
- Peek inside the Haciendas
- Visit the town’s temples and convents
- Try the eggnog drink rompope made by the local nuns
- Shop for beautiful embroidered Tablecloths and napkins in Mercado Hidalgo
- Cross over the Lerma River on the 200 meter Puente de Batanes (Batanes Bridge)
- Eat some of the local dishes such as largas- giant stuffed tortillas, gorditas de nopal and volovanes
- Visit the waterfalls in El Sabinal
- Go hunting for the hot springs Las albercas chamacuaro
Where to Stay In Salvatierra
Although there is plenty to do in Salvatierra to warrant spending the night, as Yuriria is very close you should try and visit both towns in the day and then depending on which direction you are traveling in would decide on which town to spend the night.
As we were traveling on to Morelia before returning home to Guadalajara we decided to spend the night in Morelia as there were more options for pet-friendly hotels. However, if you are visiting Yuriria first and then Salvatierra then it’s worth spending the night here.
Here are a few places I recommend:
Budget Option: Hotel Casa Garatusa in Yuriria
Mid Priced Option: HOTEL CANDELERO in Yuriria
Luxury Option: Hotel De La Soledad in Morelia
How to Get To Salvatierra
We drove from Guanajuato City to Salvatierra, spent a few hours here, and then drove on to Yuriria and then spent the night in Morelia (in Michoacan). It was an easy driving day with just over 4 hours in total driving time between all 4 places.
It is possible to take a bus from Guanajuato, but the buses are infrequent so I’d recommend visiting the bus station the day before to get the correct times. On public transport, it would be difficult to visit both Guanajuato pueblos Magicos in a day.
Directions to Salvatierra from San Miguel De Allende
Directions to Salvatierra from Guanajuato City
Directions from Salvatierra to Yuriria
If you are planning a road trip to see all of the magic towns click the links above for directions.
6. Yuriria
Yuriria was the last Guanajuato Pueblo Magic we visited and It felt like we had saved the best for last. It was easy to park and the perfect town to explore on foot, we were even able to use the pushchair for the baby as the sidewalks were so wide.
What I loved the most about Yuriria was all of the grass surrounding the cathedral. We headed straight for it, kicked off our shoes, and ate all the street food the local sellers were selling. Not going to lie, I ate the best churros I’ve ever tasted in that park!
Once you have finished exploring the center (and shopping for all the local crafts) it’s time to get active. There is a huge lake to explore as well as La Joya crater park. You could easily fill a day or 2 in Yuriria.
Things to Do in Yuriria
- Go fishing on the lake with locals
- Get adventurous doing outdoor activities – horse riding, hiking, etc
- Eat carnitas
- Stock up on Mexican Rebozos (a Mexican shawl)
- Marvel at the hand calved leatherwork
- Visit La Joya crater park to see over 15 volcanic craters
- Chill out in the park surrounding the cathedral
- Visit the cathedral
Where to Stay In Yuriria
We wanted to spend the night in Yuriria, but accommodation here is limited and we couldn’t find anything dog friendly, so for that reason, we ended up staying in Morelia which is across the border in Michoacan and a 1.5-hour drive away. If you can spend the night here though I would recommend it.
Here are a few places I recommend:
Budget Option: Hotel Casa Garatusa in Yuriria
Mid Priced Option: HOTEL CANDELERO in Yuriria
Luxury Option: Hotel De La Soledad in Morelia
How to Get To Yuriria
It is possible to take a bus from Guanajuato city, however, the buses are infrequent so it’s best to go to the bus station and check the times the day before to avoid disappointment. Of course, the best way to visit Yuriria is by renting a car and driving yourself. The roads are safe and it’s very easy to get to.
Directions to Yuriria from San Miguel De Allende
Directions to Yuriria from Guanajuato City
Directions from Yuriria to Salvatierra
If you are planning a road trip to see all of the magic towns click the links above for directions.