San Miguel de Allende

Cooking and Cultural Tour: ITINERARY

A personal driver will meet your flight at the small, comfortable Leon Airport. The trip to San Miguel de Allende lasts approximately 1 1/2 hours through lovely, rugged countryside that is typical of Mexico's central highlands. After arrival, take time to settle into your luxury accommodations, relax, or begin to explore the marvels of San Miguel, a city so beautiful and historically important that it is protected by the Mexican government as a National Historic Landmark. At sunset we'll gather for a cocktail reception to get acquainted and discuss our plans for the week. Our first dinner will be at one of San Miguel's oldest and most famous restaurants.

After breakfast, we'll enjoy a guided walking tour of the city. San Miguel is known as "The Forge of Independence" for the important role it played in gaining Mexico's independence from Spain. We'll visit exquisite colonial churches and a museum of local archaeological finds, see 400-year-old restored homes and get a feel for how San Miguel manages to be both a vibrant contemporary Mexican city and a true colonial gem.

After the tour, we'll break for Churros and Chocolate before heading to the local market where we will peruse stalls piled high with tropical fruits, fresh vegetables, chiles, herbs and flowers. We'll buy the ingredients for making salsas and head back to the house to learn the techniques of making fresh salsas and designing menus around them. Lunch will feature pork loin with mango salsa, green enchiladas, beef tips in Pasilla salsa and raspberry chipotle brownies.

Free evening.

We'll spend the morning shopping at the ceramic factories of Dolores Hidalgo, see a demonstration of how Mexico's famed talavera pottery is made and hand-painted, before returning to San Miguel for a class on the art of making Chiles Rellenos by preparing traditional cheese-stuffed Poblano peppers, as well as Chiles en Nogada and Ancho chiles stuffed with refried beans.

Free evening.

Day trip to Pozos with a hike through with deserted ruins of the once famous silver mining town. Picnic lunch among the ruins and a demonstration and tasting at Los Famosos de Pozos restaurant featuring their Huitlacoche crepes.

Free evening.

The afternoon features a class on Moles. Free morning to schedule a massage or explore the town. We will learn how to make the traditional black mole, as well as green mole, and then incorporate them into a fabulous meal, starting with tortilla soup.

After breakfast, we are off to Guanajuato, a jewel of a city one hour from San Miguel. Modeled after its sister of Toledo, Spain, this colonial town features underground streets, colorful shops, and houses climbing up the steep hillsides. We will have lunch at the famous Count of Valenciana Restaurant, situated in an 18th-century hacienda. After returning to San Miguel, the evening is free to explore the town's varied restaurants and night clubs.

We will start the morning with a guided shopping trip by touring local artisan workshops. San Miguel is famous for its artisans specializing in tin ware, paper mache, wrought iron and silver jewelry. After shopping, we will have a cooking class and lunch featuring a Mexican Fusion menu. Learn how to take the best of traditional Mexican cuisine and transform it into new, inspiring dishes. Our farewell evening ends with dinner on a colonial patio with margaritas at a local restaurant.

After breakfast, your morning is free. A driver will be at your disposal for the return trip to the Leon airport.
Buen Viaje!

top of this page