Mexico Travel Information and Travel Tips

San Miguel de Allende is located in the mountainous region of central Mexico, built in the colonial Spanish style. The majority of the most important business are concentrated in the historic center, within fifteen minutes casual walk from one another.

The roads are mostly paved with rough-hewn and uneven flagstones and cobblestones. As such, visitors should be prepared for their stay in San Miguel with a pair (or two!) of good, comfortable walking shoes.

Though most everyday items can be purchased fairly easily in Mexico, something that is difficult to attain are shoes in larger sizes. Women's size 9 (US) or larger and Men's size 9 1/2 (US) or larger may be extremely difficult to find here (or most anywhere in Mexico.)

Taxis in San Miguel charge a flat rate fee of 15 pesos for the first 1 1/2 kilometers of your trip. If you call to request a taxi pick-up, you will have to pay double the rate, (a "to and from" fare). It is usually a good idea to make sure that taxi driver knows that you know the correct charge should be. In general, don't expect the drivers to have change. A savvy cab rider will soon learn to always have 15 pesos before getting into the taxi. If you hand the driver a large bill it is more likely that you will be charged 20 pesos or more. Also, after 9 PM, expect the taxi fares to be increased to 20 pesos.

Local buses (called 'urbanos') run from points in the town center to a wide variety of neighborhoods and common destinations such as the Plaza Real del Conde shopping mall (where a 'Gigante' chain grocery store is located) at the eastern entrance to San Miguel. The fare for the buses is currently $4 pesos, and are usually available at regular intervals from 6 AM to 10 PM. Look for your neighborhood or destination posted on the windshield.

Public Safety in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico

San Miguel de Allende is classified as a safe city, but like any city, anywhere in the world, crime does occur in San Miguel. Luckily, however, these crimes (mostly pick pocketing, breaking and entering and vandalism) occur infrequently and are definitely the exception, not the rule.

One should always have "street smarts" here or, frankly, in any city on earth. Below are some tips that the editors have learned while traveling across the world:

  • Avoid revealing large sums of cash in public places. Carry minimal amounts of cash whenever possible.
  • Do not wear flashy, expensive looking jewelry, or clothing that draws attention to yourself, makes you appear rich, or makes you appear to be a tourist.
  • Use small bills whenever possible when paying for purchases, especially with street vendors. Please note that the official minimum wage in the state of Guanajuato is currently approximately $45 pesos per day, less than $5 US dollars. Therefore paying for an inexpensive $5 peso souvenir with a $500 peso note, is literally the same as paying for a penny candy in the US with a $100 dollar bill, simply put, not good manners.
  • Leave unneeded credit cards, travelers checks, and cash in the hotel safe whenever possible.
  • When in a crowd, pay attention to the people around you. People who seem to jostle you or purposely step into your personal space may be trying to pickpocket you. Also remember that pickpockets often work in pairs, so while one is distracting you, a partner may well be stealing your luggage, your purse or your wallet.
  • Copy of all your travel documents, (i.e. passport, drivers license, travel visas, etc.), carry the copies, and store the originals in a separate, safe place (like the hotel safe).

    • TIP: if you have access to a scanner, you may also want to make digital copies of these documents and store them online, for instance, email them to a free yahoo mail account. That way you can retrieve copy from anywhere in the world with internet access and a printer.

  • Secure valuables in your hotel room if unattended. If the hotel cannot provide you with a lock box or safe, be sure to lock valuables in your suitcase. Unsecured cameras, jewelry, etc. are often tempting objects for thieves because of their ease of concealment.
  • Report crimes when they occur. The police cannot act to improve public safety if they do not know that the crimes are occurring. The police in San Miguel de Allende are especially concerned with the safety of tourists of the city. The administration knows full well how important you are.
  • Don't leave belongings like backpacks, purses, laptop cases, shopping bags, etc. hanging on the back of your chair in public places and restaurants. Place these items on an unoccupied chair that is against a wall, or consider passing the handle/strap through the legs of the chair you are sitting on, and take it with you if you leave your table.

The Climate of San Miguel de Allende

Even in the warmest months (March through May) when the afternoons can reach 90° F (33° C), the evenings can drop to 50° F (15° C). It is advisable to bring at least a light sweater or jacket for this time of year.

The rainy season, which begins around the first week of June, generally lasts through mid October. When the rain falls, it can rain quite heavily, but don't let this discourage you -- not only are the days pleasantly cool, but by August the desert, which previously only yielded cactus and thorn bushes, are now covered with wild flowers and grass. It is truly a wondrous sight.

More information about the San Miguel Allende's current weather conditions can be found on our weather of San Miguel de Allende page.

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