Colonial and silver towns holidays
Colonial and silver towns holidays at a glance
North-west of Mexico City lie ranges of gnarled, starkly beautiful hills. Here, and in the fertile valleys of the Bajío, Spanish colonists built fortunes from the mining of precious metals, particularly silver, and the prosperous towns that sprang up still share a heritage of baroque churches, leafy squares and pastel-washed houses.
Each has its own character. Guanajuato, built into a narrow gorge at 2,000m, is a university city and a centre for music, theatre and dance, while San Miguel de Allende, at 1,900m, remains a magnet for artists from around the world. Morelia, at 1,920m, shows off some of the region’s grandest monumental colonial architecture, and Querétaro, at 1,820m, is renowned for its impressive colonial aqueduct.
Puebla, just an hour’s drive south of Mexico City and sitting at 2,135m, offers another perspective entirely. Once an important trading centre during the era of the Spanish Empire, it remains one of the country’s most impressive colonial cities and makes a great base for visits to the nearby indigenous towns of Cholula and Tlaxcala.
Why choose Journey Latin America for your holiday to Colonial and silver towns
We’ve been planning trips to Central and South America for over 45 years, longer than any other UK specialist. Every holiday is built around you by a Travel Expert who has been to the places they recommend, with support from your first enquiry to the day you fly home.
The colonial and silver towns reveal a side of Mexico defined by elegant architecture, artistic traditions and centuries of fascinating history.
When to visit Colonial and silver towns
The region enjoys a pleasant highland climate throughout the year, with the most rainfall typically arriving between June and September.
Independence Day celebrations run through September, the Festival Internacional Cervantes brings two weeks of cultural events to Guanajuato in October, and Day of the Dead is marked nationwide on 1 and 2 November.
These are the driest months of the year, with pleasant sunny weather. On 12 December, Mexico’s biggest religious festival Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (Our Lady of Guadalupe) takes place, and coincides with a two-week fair in Querétaro with fair rides and cultural events.
Day of the Dead, when the spirits of loved ones return to earth, is also celebrated throughout the country on 1-2 November with skeletal costumes and parades.
This is the wet season, with the most rain falling from June – September, although you will still find plenty of warm, sunny weather in the highlands. On 16 September, San Miguel celebrates Independence Day with spectacular fireworks and exuberant parades. There is also a huge cultural festival held over two weeks in October, the Festival Internacional Cervantes in Guanajuato, with many activities and presentations across the whole range of performing arts.
Top Things to do in Colonial and silver towns
The Colonial & Silver Towns region offers a rich blend of architectural exploration, artistic culture and historical discovery. Each destination contributes something different to the experience.
Explore Edward James’ mind-blowing surrealist sculpture park, swaddled in Mexican rainforest.
Explore the colonial baroque churches and lively food markets in Puebla.
Stroll around the cobbled streets of colonial San Miguel de Allende, Mexico’s capital of art, and explore the dozens of museums, galleries, studios, workshops which are open to the public.
Combine two beautiful colonial towns on an enchanting day trip.
Take a day trip to a charming colonial treasure built on silver wealth.
Explore the colourful streets of a unique and historic city.
Enjoy a guided stroll around one of Mexico’s loveliest colonial cities.
Accommodation in Colonial and silver towns
Accommodation throughout the region focuses on historic character, colonial architecture and central locations within these beautiful towns.
Many visitors choose to stay in converted colonial buildings, allowing them to experience the atmosphere of Mexico’s historic heartlands while remaining close to major attractions.
An opulent, romantic Spanish-colonial property in Mexico’s charming arty town San Miguel de Allende.
Beautifully restored convent, now luxury hotel. The tone is set by rich hues and antique details, and two elegant courtyards provide light and space.
A former Journey Latin America tour leader, Sally spent 7 years working, travelling and living throughout Latin America before returning to the UK to help people arrange their own adventures to this wonderful destination.
Tailor-Made Colonial and silver towns Tours
Prefer to travel on your own terms? We’ll build a trip around your dates, your pace and the things you most want to see – whether that’s a first run at Machu Picchu, a family adventure mixing history and wildlife, or a food-focused journey through Lima and the Sacred Valley. Our Travel Experts can help shape it with you.
Discover Mexico: Oaxaca’s culture and coastline
Places visited: Mexico City · Colonial and silver towns · Oaxaca · Southern Pacific Coast
13 days from £3,500
Explore and Relax Mexico: Silver cities to Pacific coast
Places visited: Mexico City · Colonial and silver towns · Southern Pacific Coast
12 days from £3,800
Mexican street food
Places visited: Mexico City · Colonial and silver towns · Oaxaca
10 days from £2,550
Treasures of Central America: Heritage of the Aztec and Mayan Empires
Places visited: Mexico City · Colonial and silver towns · Oaxaca · Chiapas, San Cristobal and Palenque · Mérida, Chichén Itzá and the Yucatan · Copan · Antigua and the highlands
19 days from £6,000
FAQs about visiting Colonial and silver towns
Colonial and silver towns is one of the most popular destinations, and there’s plenty to think about before you go. Here, our specialists share their best advice.
- When is the best time to visit the Colonial silver towns?
The highland colonial silver towns have a pleasant sunny climate year round; most rain falls from Jun-Sep.
For more detailed information visit our When To Go section.
- What language is spoken in the Colonial silver towns?
The main language spoken in the Colonial silver towns is Spanish.
- What currency do I need in the Colonial silver towns?
The Mexican peso is the main currency used in the Colonial silver towns. Notes can be withdrawn from the many ATMs using a UK credit or debit card. You may have ask your bank to authorise withdrawals before you leave the UK, and amounts may be lower than permitted in the UK.
- How do I get to the Colonial silver towns?
There are flights to León-Guanajuato from the UK via various cities in the USA including Houston and Los Angeles. Flights to León-Guanajuato operate from Mexico City. You can travel to the colonial towns by public coach or self-drive hire car on a good network of roads.
- What does a visit to the Colonial silver towns combine well with?
The resorts and hotels of the Pacific coast; Guadalajara, one of Mexico’s most important cities (flights from León); Oaxaca, Mexico’s artistic centre and preserver of the country’s indigenous heritage, fly from León via Mexico City, 3.5hrs.
- What key events are there in the Colonial silver towns?
Independence Day, 16 Sept. Celebrations throughout the country, fireworks and parades in San Miguel.
Festival Internacional Cervantes, Guanajuato, 2 weeks in Oct annually (dates vary). Huge cultural festival with many activities and presentations across the whole range of performing arts.
Day of the Dead, 1-2 Nov. Celebrated throughout the country.
Nuestra Señora de Guadalupe (Our Lady of Guadalupe), 12 Dec. Not a public holiday, but it is Mexico’s biggest religious festival of the year. In Querétaro it coincides with a two week fair with rides and many other events.
Ready to start planning?
Tell us where you want to go, and we’ll take it from there. No obligation, no sales pitch – just a conversation with someone who knows the region inside out.