5 fun things to do in San Miguel de Allende.

# 1 of 5 fun things to do in San Miguel.

Of all the things to do in San Miguel de Allende, also know as San Miguel or SMA, our number one of 5 fun things to do in San Miguel is people watching. The best “people watching” place, is sitting on one of the shaded park benches in El Jardin, or from one of the many restaurants that border the town square. From there, you’ll see a never-ending parade of visitors, expats, locals, shop owners, hawkers, and more.

Not surprisingly, photo ops are endless in El Jardin. For example, there is a mariachi group, dressed to kill in embroidered pale blue or white pants & short-waisted jackets topped by wide-brimmed sombreros. Then, there is the “Pancho Villa” knockoff with two bandoliers of ammo crisscrossing his chest, his “supply” burro in tow.

4 more things to do in SMA.

When you’re ready for more action, here are 4 fun things to do and one fun thing to drink. We try each of these experiences and have a great time with each one.

#1. Archaeologist-led Cañada de La Virgen Pyramid Tour.

Who knew there is a pyramid just outside SMA? We certainly didn’t! This tour is one of the more educational things to do in San Miguel and it is so much fun. Once again, our minds are blown as Albert, our guide, explains how the pyramid is actually a calendar with a 52-year repeating cycle. The thought process involved in the construction is truly unbelievable.

As a participant in the 2004 excavation field season, Albert Coffee’s information is truly first hand which makes him the best guide ever! The tour lasts about 5 hours, with 2 hours of it spent at the site, so wear comfortable, sturdy shoes. Albert provides the water.

The site is actually on private property, which is used as an animal rescue sanctuary. Because of this, you will undoubtedly see wild horses and other animals on your way in. Such fun! Only $55 and it can be booked on TripAdvisor.

#2. Walk up or down from El Mirador!

This fun thing to do in SMA is a double whammy. Not only do you get your daily dose of exercise on this uphill trek, but you also end up with possibly the best view in San Miguel. The official location is Salida Real a Querétaro 92, Centro, but just mention “the mirador” and you’ll end up at the right place. If uphill walking is not your style, just call Uber, then walk down.

In addition to endless view, there are also several kiosks with souvenirs and food, benches to sit on and once again, posers aplenty! You’ll probably see several people eating orange-colored ice cream freshly scooped from one of the kiosks. Make sure you have some! It is delicious, although I’m still not sure what flavor it is. This ice cream alone could almost qualify as one of the 5 fun things to do in San Miguel!

#3. A Leisurely Country Horseback Ride in San Miguel.

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If you love horses, go. Or, if you have always been afraid to ride or horses intimidate you, this is a must go! Why? Because Leisurely Country Horseback riding is just the place for you.

Beth, the owner, is an ex-pat who has been on a ride or two, and decided to provide horseback rides in SMA that are all-inclusive. This means, no more going too fast or too slow because everyone else wants to do it. On these rides, there are enough “cowboys” so you can gallop off (with your cowboy) while the rest stay behind at a walk or trot.

I have the pleasure of riding her golden Palomino stallion. He takes off on a nice canter when I ask, but also responds quickly to a “slow down” request. He goes as good as he looks, and he is a beauty.

We do a full day ride to the town of La Huerta to see the 450-500 year old Sabino tree: a bald Cypress. This ride involves traveling across high desert, crossing a river and going through several small farming communities, where the “real” Mexico is alive and well.

After a stop at La Huerta to enjoy the tree, we ride back to the ranch where we are treated to a traditional Mexican lunch. There are also sunset and other rides. and any of them will demonstrate why this is one of the best of 5 fun things to do in San Miguel. Don’t miss out!

#4. We have fun at Tai Chi Mambo in SMA.

We stumble across this fun class while viewing “Experiences” in SMA on AirBnB. Since we are active in the class, we can’t take pictures but Lydia is kind enough to provide a couple for us.

Tai Chi Mambo is an hour of fun and fresh air, held in the beautiful Juarez Park, which is another place to visit in its own right. Lydia, who has over 25 years of teaching and is skilled in Tai Chi, meditation, Qui Gong and much more, leads the group through an hour of movement.

The first half-hour is mambo like dancing to get your body and blood moving while the second half is more traditional Tai Chi. We are warmly greeted and cheered on throughout the class, and leave feeling refreshed and invigorated. You can read about Lydia’s class on her AirBnB posting here. The class is held three times a week at 9:30. Go and enjoy.

#5. Fun at Cafe Hojas de Te at Patio Relox, Casa Relox.

Now that you have taken advantage of some of what SMA offers, skip Starbuck (no offense to Starbucks but let’s try someplace “local”) and head on over to Patio Relox for your afternoon coffee. Located at Relox 23, just one block North of El Jardin,  you’ll find Cafe Hojas de Te’ tucked in the corner on the left side of yet another beautiful courtyard. The coffee, whether caliente or fria, is the best. Plus, the courtyard is filled with clothing, jewelry, honey, a restaurant and other shops, designed to test your willpower. Enjoy it all!

That’s it for our quick rundown on some things to do in SMA. We are there for 12 days. During that time, we drink numerous cappuccinos/frappucinos, shop, walk everywhere, enjoy all the people, look at real estate and sample SMA life. We enjoy it and we hope you will, too! If you like the price of things in SMA, and the weather, you may want to consider a visit to Belize.

Accommodations in San Miguel de Allende.

As for accommodations, if you want to see how we manage to travel for months on end, click here for our YouTube post. This video explains the criteria we use to pick our lodging. It also showcases our AirBnB rental in SMA at $328 for 12 days.

A final note on San Miguel.

One final thing before we go. Please, go back and look closely at the featured picture at the start of the blog, the one overlooking the town. Look on the right-hand side, slightly past halfway between up and down, you should see a very large —–. To keep you guessing, we’re not going to tell you what it is. Instead, go look for yourself. As our realtor says, there’s room for everyone and everything in SMA!

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For more SWL fun, check out our FB page and group along with our Instagram account. There, you will find more pics of Mexico and our other travels. Until then, Adios!