The State Of Guanajuato Continues In Condé Nast Traveler Readers’ Choice Awards As One Of The Best Cities In The World

The Mexican state of Guanajuato has been included in one of the tourism world’s most prestigious recognitions, the Condé Nast Traveler’s Reader’s Choice Awards 2023, where San Miguel de Allende once again place as one of the best cities in the world, the only Mexican city on the list. In addition, three hotels in Guanajuato made the “Top Hotels in Mexico” list: Rosewood San Miguel de Allende No. 8, Belmond Casa de Sierra Nevada No. 2 and topping the list as the Best Hotel, is Hotel Matilda.

San Miguel de Allende has appeared on this prestigious list since 2013, over the course of these years, it has been recognized as “Best Small City in the World” among others. Known as the “Heart of Mexico”, the city is known for its architecture, traditions, and art scene, but some may find it surprising that its natural light and beauty is also favored by winemakers. The region around San Miguel de Allende is one of the world’s newest places for viniculture.

Part of Guanajuato’s La Ruta del Vino Valle de la Independencia (The Wine Route). Wine country here is located right in the center of Mexico, in the Bajío area, known for its year-round spring-like weather and majestic backdrops of evergreens, cacti, farms and haciendas.

Visitors to the area will experience Mexican rural living while tasting fine wines and food pairings. Find out how to pair local wines with international cuisines and learn about the winemaking production process and Mexico’s rich history of winemaking at different winery tours and events held throughout the year. It’s a fantastic destination for friends’ getaways, corporate functions, and weddings and honeymoons.

Guanajuato’s wine region has four paths that depart from the city in the direction of either Guanajuato City, Queretaro, Celaya or Dolores Hidalgo. The following are some highlights along each route.

Towards Queretaro

Traveling towards Queretaro, visitors will find the natural, organic, and sustainable space known as Toyan Vineyard, a place full of mysticism and energy that offers exquisite artisanal wines surrounded by unique medieval architecture. This site boasts mysterious experiences in its underground cellar and lounge with tours in three modalities — diamond, gold, and silver — accompanied by a “pet-friendly” mode. www.vinicolatoyan.com

This tour ends with San Lucas and San Francisco wineries, sister properties just 15 minutes away from SMA’s historic center. Among lavender crops, olive trees and grapevines, visitors can enjoy the magic of oenology through sensory experiences — tasting tours of the properties accompanied by lavender workshops. It is worth mentioning that this development also has two hotels, a spa, a pool and two restaurants serving Mediterranean, Mexican, and international cuisine of the best quality. Also available are polo, biking, yoga, horseback riding, grape crushing, and swimming with the day pass service. www.vinedossanlucas.com

Towards Celaya

Heading out on the San Miguel de Allende Highway towards the city of Celaya, visitors will find the 400-year-old San Miguel vineyard, run by the Cuadra family. Its 60 hectares (148 acres) of vineyard are full of 13 varieties of grapes, including three popular in the region: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot and Chardonnay. The Bodega San Miguel cellar, measuring 10,000 square meters (108,000 square feet), is one of the largest in the state. This agricultural landscape of great history and beauty is considered a “must” in the destination. www.vinedosanmiguel.com.mx

Towards Guanajuato city and Dolores Hidalgo

On the way to Guanajuato City, on a hill overlooking the lights of the Heart of Mexico, lies the San José la Vista Vineyard, characterized by many as the most exclusive and beautiful place to celebrate a dream wedding. The property boasts a restaurant, wine cellar, gardens, terraces, a hotel and the place where magic happens — the winery. This is an artisanal concept, with first-rate, modern facilities offering Malbec, Syrah, Sauvignon Blanc and Merlot, as well as four tasting options and wine pairing accompanied by a guided tour. www.haciendasanjoselavista.com

Continuing the way to the “Pueblo Magico” of Dolores Hidalgo, at Km 73 on the highway, is Tres Raices. This grand complex features enormous sculptures and artworks inspired by Mexican culture, a series of lakes and multiple spaces to escape. A complete concept, it offers local cuisine, tastings, wine tours and an underground cellar wrapped in 60 hectares (148 acres). Unique experiences include guests doing tastings while blindfolded to enhance the smell and taste; bottling one’s very own wine; and delighting in a five-course tasting menu. Tours of the property and open-air tastings are also available. www.viñedotresraices.com

Guanajuato’s main airport is the Bajio International Airport (BJX) in Silao, which provides connectivity to the main destinations in Mexico and the United States.

Americans Can Visit State Of Guanajuato In Mexico With Few Travel Restrictions

As destinations worldwide continue to open to U.S. and Canadian passport holders this summer, the Mexican state of Guanajuato remains on guard with various sanitary protocols, prioritizing the health and safety of both residents and domestic and international visitors. Restrictions, however, are minimal, as Mexico does not require proof of vaccination, a negative Covid-19 test or quarantine upon arrival for travelers coming from abroad.

Guanajuato has been proactive in the vaccination of locals, almost 50% of whom have been fully vaccinated. The state has also continued its “Distintivo Guanajuato Sano,” a certificate endorsed by the “Safe Travels” seal of the World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC), which considers the standards of the World Health Organization (WHO) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and has the support of the World Tourism Organization (UNWTO). The certification had been obtained by more than 3,000 Guanajuato businesses.

Visitors have started to fly into the state again. Guanajuato’s airport (BJX), located in the city of León, has reactivated 87% of its normal flight operations, connecting U.S. and Canadian travelers with daily, nonstop flights — including three from Dallas, one from Los Angeles, seven from Houston, five from Chicago and two from Oakland/San Francisco. Airlines serving BJX include American Airlines, Viva Aerobus, Volaris and United Airlines.

According to airport management company Grupo Aeroportuario del Pacífico (GAP), BJX is Mexico’s sixth-most-frequented airport and has received 1.1 million passengers from January to July of this year. Of those, 329,400 were international passengers, mainly from the U.S.

Committed to the health of both domestic and international travelers, Guanajuato has maintained constant collaboration since the beginning of the pandemic with destinations and tourism companies in global protocols in order to continue being a safe destination, mitigate the contagion and provide confidence to visitors during their stay in the state.

In order to facilitate testing for visitors returning home, temporary modules were installed at the international airport in late January to administer Covid-19 tests. Antigen tests cost 450 pesos (about $22 U.S.) and PCR tests cost 1,450 pesos ($72 U.S.), according to GAP. These special prices are available only to passengers boarding international flights.

Complementing the airport testing program, the state tourism board (SECTUR) has established communication with hoteliers in main tourist destinations Guanajuato city, San Miguel de Allende and León, so that they, too, include Covid-19 testing in their services. Guanajuato’s hotel infrastructure is currently operating at a 78% occupancy.