SEMANA SANTA IN GUANAJUATO &
SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE
MARCH 29 – APRIL 9, 2012

Join me in the central highlands of Mexico to visit two Spanish Colonial gems, Guanajuato and San Miguel de Allende, during one of the most festive times of the year. Nestled in the rich mining hills of the Sierra Madre Occidental, these two historically important and visually exciting towns share a rich history of conquest and revolution, yet today each has its own unique identity and dynamic personality.

These very distinct locales—one a bustling capital city filled with European-style architecture and important historical museums, monuments, mines, and haciendas, the other a small yet cosmopolitan town brimming with art galleries, sidewalk cafes, and shops—allow us a well-rounded experience of Mexico’s past, present, and future.

These two towns are my Mexican homes-away-from-home, and my friends in both towns will welcome us with open arms to visit their private homes and art collections, kitchens and gardens, elegant restaurants and funky roadside taquerias.

The area is also known for its rich history of ceramics, and our trip will include visits to the workshops of some of Mexico’s masters—Gorky Gonzales and Capelo both call Guanajuato home—as well as some lesser-known but equally wonderful ceramic artists in and around Guanajuato. Midway between the two towns lies the pottery-producing town of Dolores Hidalgo, and after a visit to my favorite shops we’ll enjoy the real reason to visit Dolores—carnitas to die for, ice creams worth an hour at the gym, and the tomb of Mexico's Elvis, local homeboy José Alfredo Jimenez.

And as if all that weren’t enough to keep us happy, our visit coincides with the spectacular non-stop celebrations of Semana Santa, or Holy Week. While you might think that Christmas would be the most impressive holiday in this very Catholic country, the nonstop processions and celebrations for Easter are actually more public and therefore available to us. We’ll start in Guanajuato, where the Virgin of Sorrows, patroness of the miners, is honored with altars and flowers throughout the city on the Friday before Palm Sunday. San Miguel, a pretty town any old day, is perhaps never more beautiful than this time of year, adorned as it is with altars, ribbons, and festive, friendly people. After days of solemn and silent parades and processions, things wind up on Easter Sunday with the blowing up of papier-mâché Judas figures on the town square. It's all pretty wonderful, and so very, very Mexican.

NOTE: this isn’t a religious tour; it is a cultural tour with Mexico’s rich and colorful religious pageantry providing a magnificent backdrop for our adventures.



SIERRA GORDA TOUR EXTENSION, APRIL 9-11, 2012

On the three-day extension to this tour we will drive through the rolling mountains of the Sierra Gorda, visiting the 18th century folk-baroque painted missions that dot the countryside en route to Xilitla, home of Edward James' surrealistic sculpture garden, Las Pozas. We'll spend our last day in Querétaro, yet another stunning colonial city.

SEMANA SANTA IN GUANAJUATO & SAN MIGUEL DE ALLENDE


March 29 – April 9, 2012
The cost for this trip is $2400 per person, double occupancy. Single occupancy supplement is $600. Price for extension is $650 double occupancy, single supplement is $200. Prices include lodging, two meals daily, ground transportation, bilingual guides, and entry fees to all sites. Prices do not include international airfare, airport transfer, other meals, gratuities, and personal expenses.

To register for this tour please download a registration form below and send it, along with a deposit of $500 to
My Mexico Tours, Box 2457, Santa Cruz, CA 95063.
Balance is due 30 days before departure, February 29, 2012.

Deposits are fully refundable in full up to 30 days before the tour begins, February 29, 2012. Cancellations made after February 29 are non-refundable but may be applied to another tour, less a $100 service charge. Cancellations or transfers must be made in writing.

If you prefer to pay by credit card please let me know and I will send you an invoice from PayPal.
There is a 3% service charge on credit card payments.

Download PDF registration form here
Read Preliminary Information here

When you travel with MY MEXICO TOURS the hands-on care begins before you leave home. I’ll help you find the best flight, send you interesting background information on the area and events we’ll be seeing, and about three weeks before the tour you’ll receive a detailed information booklet with your daily itinerary, travel notes, packing list, suggested reading, and more.

For more information or to register for this tour, please contact me directly by phone or email. I'll confirm availability, send you all the necessary paperwork, and you'll be on your way.