A weekend in Guanajuato
Article updated on 01.26.23
Guanajuato is an old mining city located at an altitude of over 2000 meters on hills. The city is full of tunnels that can be reached on foot or by car, allowing you to move from one point to another quickly.
Small tip if you are in a van
Campground in Guanajuato
Thanks to the iOverlander app, we found a nice place to stay next to downtown (15 minutes walk from the center), Morrill RV Park.
It’s a large fenced parking lot with a beautiful view of the city. It costs about 10 dollars per night with toilets, cold showers, water, electricity and a place to dump (full hookup).
What to taste in Guanajuato?
The street food
The streets are full of small Bui-bui with Mexican specialties. In general, it’s excellent and not expensive.
We often ate the steamed tacos (tacos al vapor) which are filled with meat or red beans or potatoes for vegetarians. It costs about 50 cents per taco.
Cafe Tal
Coffee is part of the Mexican culture. We recommend that you enjoy a coffee to go in one of the many Cafe Tal in the city.
The Pulque
A typical alcoholic drink from Mexico. Its taste is a mixture between a kombucha and a cider. There are often the natural taste or different fruit flavors. The drink is served in clay pots.
Food trucks
Every Saturday afternoon in the Parque de Las Acacias, there are several food trucks. The atmosphere is really nice and the view is beautiful from there.
Where to buy souvenirs?
Mercado Hidalgo
Of course, the market of Guanajuato is a “must see”. You will find everything from souvenirs to food and gadgets.
Escarola
This place is a vegetarian restaurant open during the day and has a small store with local products. The shop is not very big but is full of little treasures between cheese, chocolate, postcards, zero waste products, kitchen utensils, etc. There is something for everyone.
Location on Google Maps : see here
Solara Concept Store
What free activities are there in Guanajuato?
Parque de Las Acacias
Every Saturday, food trucks settle in this square during the afternoon until nightfall. If you don’t want to spend money, no problem; the view of the city and the water basins is worth it. We advise you to go at the end of the day to admire the sunset over the city. For the more athletic, you can go up to the lighthouse to admire the city from above with its “golden hours”. Be careful, the walk is quite steep.
Location on Google Maps : see here
Pipila
You can’t leave Guanajuato without visiting the famous giant Pipila statue. You can either take a funicular or use your hamstrings and walk up through the small streets of the city. The view is worth it. We advise you to go up at the end of the day to see the beautiful colors of the end of the day. The view on the city is impressive.
Location on Google Maps : see here
Plaza de Mexiamora
Downtown
Of course, we advise you to walk in the alleys of the old city. Each one has its own charm with buildings of all colors and street art.
You can also walk in the tunnels of the city, it’s quite an experience.
Picture of Gerardo Martin Fernandez Vallejo on Unsplash
Picture of Gerardo Martin Fernandez Vallejo
Picture of Gerardo Martin Fernandez Vallejo
La Bufa
If you’re staying in Guanajuato for several days and you miss nature, you can start walking from downtown and hike to the top of La Bufa. A few kilometers and a few hills later, you will be immersed in nature with a breathtaking view of the city. This walk takes about 2-3 hours depending on where you start.
Location on Google Maps : see here
Our suggested itinerary for two days in Guanajuato
Here is the itinerary that we suggest to discover the city of Guanajuato during two days.
Day 1
For this first day, we suggest you try a good coffee in the chain Cafe Tal. With your coffee in hand, you are ready to walk through the streets of the city.
We suggest you walk in the direction of the market and get lost between the different stands. You can sit down in one of the stalls and enjoy a Mexican dish.
Then, take the time to get lost in the alleys of the old city. You will see street art and discover beautiful buildings without spending a cent. Don’t hesitate to explore the city’s underground tunnels to get the real Guanajuato experience ;).
In the late afternoon, climb up to Pipila and enjoy the view of the city with the beautiful colors of the end of the day.
To finish this beautiful day, look for a small bar to taste the famous Pulque drink.
Day 2
For this second day, we advise you to start it with the locals by tasting good tacos al vapor on the Explanada de la Alhondiga square.
For the rest of the day, head to La Bufa hike for a breath of fresh air in the nature. Don’t forget your walking shoes as the climb is quite challenging.
On your way back to the center, make a small detour to the Parque de Las Acacias to taste a good dish from a food truck. You will be able to admire the beautiful lights of the end of the day with the view on the water basins and the city.
If you still have some strength, find a small bar on a rooftop of the city.
Did you like the article?
Pin it !
This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.
Leave a Reply