We don’t typically like van life in the city, but we REALLY loved Guanajuato City! This colorful town has so much character, charm, and history surrounding its winding streets and beautiful architecture. It is a mecca for art, food, and culture - minus the touristy feel and prices of San Miguel.

From Don Quixote to the unforgettable Basilica of the Museo de las Momia (mummy museum), there are so many great activities to do. We also recommend the Diego Rivera Museum and don’t forget to find yourself a balcony or viewpoint above the town to soak in the gorgeous views at sunset.

There is a great campground for small RVs or Vans (Morrill RV Park - find it on iOverlander) within a short walking distance to town. It is nestled up high above the town so you get a fabulous view of the city and escape a lot of the noise from the daily hustle and bustle. But if you need even more quiet, Guanajuato is surrounded by peaceful forests you can escape to.

We began our van life adventures with a street food tour that included a walking tour of the city and multiple food stops to taste our way through the city of Guanajuato. Guanajuato is VERY walkable and the tour was an amazing way to get a lay of the land and learn a lot of interesting facts about the place.

Book your own tour here: [ Ссылка ]

Some of our favorite things we learned along the way include the rich history. In the early 16th century, the Spanish came to Guanajuato and established it as a mining town. By the 18th century, the town had become the world leader in silver extraction, making it very wealthy.

Guanajuato’s city center used to be full of large haciendas (colonial era mansions). However, not all of its citizens were enjoying the splendors of the mines and a war for independence broke out.

After Mexico declared independence from the Spanish, the walled-off haciendas were opened up to create a city. This is why you can find so many beautiful courtyards, fountains, and churches throughout the town. And this city today still maintains the same vibe of inviting openness and community.

Walking around Guanajuato, it is easy to get lost in the sites and in the streets. That’s because the city was built along a river, so the streets are windy and don’t follow a straight path or much logic. Alleys stretch on for blocks and there are more than 8 kilometers of underground tunnels you can navigate to get around.

Some fun activities and destinations to check out include the Jardin de la Union. This beautiful plaza is where young men and women used to get dressed up and court each other. The men would prove a rose to the women they were interested in, and the women then got to decide which suitor they preferred - sort of like Tinder from the past!

Also, take time to view the beautiful architecture of the Templo de la Compania, the Basilica of the War of Independence, and the Juarez Theater.

Guanajuato is one of the thirty-five UNESCO world heritage sites in Mexico and is a popular destination for many local travelers. You still don’t see many “gringos” or Europeans around town, but our guess is that will change soon.

Each year the city hosts a festival in October (Cervantes International Arts Festival or “Cervantino”) and includes a different countries from around the world to share their culture. In 2021 and 2022 they hosted Canada and South Korea. In 2023, they plan to host the United States for their international Cervantino.

It’s also only a short driving distance from multiple Pueblo Magicos in the state of Guanajuato that are worth checking out, including Dolores Hidalgo, Mineral de Pozos, and the popular San Miguel de Allende.

It truly is one of the best city destinations for van life travel in Central Mexico!

Follow along as we live in our van and continue the drive down south, all the way to Patagonia! We post a new video each week detailing our adventures.

🤟STAY IN TOUCH
►Instagram: @jakeandemmie
►Email: jakeandemmies@gmail.com

SUPPORT OUR CHANNEL: We make $ when you sign up for this free newsletter (bonus, you also get access to a great unbiased news source)
➡️Get the newsletter - [ Ссылка ]

All the music we used in this van tour video is from:
Music by David Vito Gregoli - Buena Vista - [ Ссылка ]
Music by Amory Reel - LIMBO - [ Ссылка ]

Music: Creepy Music Box
Musician: SoundGalleryByDmitryTaras
URL: [ Ссылка ]

#guanajuato #travelvlog #vanlifevlog

свернуть