Visiting San Miguel de Allende is one of the most stunning trips you can take. It was voted The Best City in the World twice in a row in the last decade, and the beating heart of the city is the Jardin Principal. Almost everyone in SMA passes through the Jardin regularly, which is no accident. Between the breathtaking preserved architecture and manicured trees, children playing, lovers strolling, outstanding food, and shopping there’s a lot to enjoy there. Before you arrive, I’ll walk you through the most popular options so you’ll know what to do first and what to skip. Everyone has their own favorite activities, but there’s a little bit of everything in the Jardin Principal, and visiting is the best place to start any San Miguel de Allende adventure. Plus, it’s also a great return destination at the end of a long and fantastic day.
What can you do in the Jardin Principal in San Miguel de Allende? You can do everything a tourist could wish for in the Jardin Principal while also being a part of the heart of a beautiful community. Not only do the best cultural events happen in the Jardin, but some of the best shopping and entertainment do as well. Plus, it’s a great place to rest and relax when you just want to wind down in gorgeous surroundings.
Current State of the Jardin Principal
As we all know, things have changed a lot in the last year, which may leave you questioning what, if anything, you can still do at the Jardin Principal
. The good news is that things haven’t changed as much as you think. There have been some adjustments to keep everyone safe.
A great example of the significant differences are the archways. If you wanted to walk into Jardin right now, you’d need to pass through the inflatable archway, which sprays disinfectant. As large-scale problem-solving goes, this is a superbly innovative idea that helps keep everything, and everyone, a little bit cleaner.
To prevent disease transmission, the crowds are thinner these days, and the benches aren’t available for people to sit as they could before the pandemic. However, that doesn’t mean you should avoid visiting. Shops are all open with reasonable precautions and adaptations. With luck, and some practical science, the benches will be available again soon, and things will return to the way they were in time.
For now, you can still enjoy almost everything you did before the pandemic. People aren’t loitering as long as they did before, but they turn out in droves each day to see the heart of the city.
Jardin Principal Activities in San Miguel de Allende
Merely walking into a place as lovely as the Jardin Principal is a riot of color, sights, and choices. Before you take the first option that looks nice, here are some of the best and most delightful activities for every taste. Whether you want to throw yourself into the thick of things, browse, or just watch everything, this is the ideal place.
The following list has choices, from mundane to unique and wild to mild. The appeal of the Jardin is in its versatility.
- Tourist Busses- If there’s a trip you really want to take, then why not start or end in the heart of San Miguel de Allende? Tours leave and arrive all day for numerous exotic and entertaining destinations.
- Music- Take in some of the local culture and music just by being in the Jardin Principal. Local musicians play most evenings. While the music is likely more limited right now during the pandemic, it’s such a part of life there it will never be entirely gone.
- Stroll- Sometimes, just getting a little exercise and being where the people are hustling, and bustling is a pleasure on its own. You can walk around and see the temple and trees, watch the crowds, or window shop to your heart’s content.
- Take Photos- As the most beautiful city in Mexico, there are many great spots for taking photos. However, the preserved Spanish colonial architecture, manicured and sculpted trees, and impressive temple all make exceptional backdrops for pictures.
- Shop- Window shopping is always fun, but if you want to see some of the most delightful businesses in the city, you can find them around the Jardin. For practical reasons, the shops are limiting the number of customers in and out at one time, but you can still find the perfect souvenir or artwork to take home with you.
- Visit the Temple- The soaring church in the Jardin is one of the most well known and recognizable parts of San Miguel de Allende. It is open to the public most days, and you are welcome to go inside, pray, take pictures, or merely appreciate the art and architecture.
- See the “Jardin”- The incredible geometrically sculptured trees in the garden park
that gives this area its name is always worth a visit. Strolling in the dappled sunlight and appreciating a little shade at mid-day is popular with people of all ages. - Get a Balloon- If you plan to visit with your family, then you’ll be happy to know that the Jardin is also a fantastic place to grab a balloon. The sheer joy of something so simple should never be underestimated or passed over.
- Vendor Snacks- Mango on a stick, ice cream cones in summer, churros, or any other street food you can imagine will show up in the Jardin at some point in the year. Grab a snack or a refreshing beverage to bolster you on your exploration of the city.
- Starbucks- Starbucks is an old familiar standby. If you need a caffeine boost, but you also want to watch the crowds, then head to this internationally recognized chain right in the Jardin.
- Get a Shoe Shine- When you’ve walked around all day and seen what there is to see, sometimes your shoes are a little worse for the wear. Support a hard-working local by getting a classic shoe shine.
- Visit the Holiday Celebrations- From Cinco de Mayo to Christmas, all the major holiday milestones happen in the Jardin Principal. Depending on when you visit, you can see the tree lighting, get your sugar skulls, or do other uniquely festive activities.
- Parades- There won’t be a parade every day, but you can bet that when there are, they’ll pass through the Jardin Principal. Both Pride Week and Dia de Los Muertos are known for their raucous parades.
- Walking Tours- Learn about the history of San Miguel and see the sights on a casual, guided walking tour.
Is the Jardin Principal Safe
Before visiting the Jardin Principal and enjoying everything there is to do there, you probably have safety concerns. There are two primary concerns. The first is that people always worry about safety in Mexico due to the biased media we get here in the USA. Secondly, the current pandemic conditions make any public space more alarming than before.
While there’s no need to harp on media bias, it bears repeating that San Miguel de Allende is as safe or safer than most American cities. You may notice a police presence while walking around. This is not a sign of problems, but rather a concerted effort to help enforce safety in a visible and comforting way.
As a public and often tourist-filled area, there are some practical concerns. Anywhere you find large crowds, there will be pickpockets. It’s important to remember that you need to maintain basic situational awareness over your surroundings. Additionally, it’s important to remember to take common-sense precautions, like not carrying a wallet where common thieves can snatch it.
Meanwhile, the problems of the pandemic are far less biased. We all want to stay safe in public spaces like the Jardin Principal. Keep your hands off of things you don’t need to touch, and your face.
More than just the disinfectant spray, you need to carry hand sanitizer and use it. Likewise, you have to wear your mask. Follow all safety precautions that are posted as directed, and be patient. It will take longer to get in and out of places because businesses limit the number of patrons allowed in.
Allow yourself more time to explore than usual. You may need to wait for an opening in Starbucks or anywhere you want to shop or eat. Still, it’s worth the wait to stay safe and healthy.
As part of Mexico’s Pueblos Magicos program, San Miguel de Allende and about a hundred other cities have undergone some upgrades. Among these are increased safety, both for ‘normal’ issues like crime, and naturally, some unique to controlling the spread of COVID19. Ultimately, walking in the Jardin Principal is as safe as any other public space.
Final Thoughts
If you only stop and have a cup of coffee in the Jardin Principal in San Miguel de Allende, you will miss out on a lot of the action, but it is still scenic enough to be worth the visit. From cultural events like celebrating Cinco de Mayo and Dia de Los Muertos to seeing a concert in the evening, there is always something happening in the heart of the city. Even during the pandemic, shops and restaurants remain open.
The stunning garden and all the gorgeous Spanish colonial architecture make the Jardin a great place to stop and appreciate the view. Moreover, there are superb shopping opportunities and plenty of lovely places to take photos. Like most Mexican cities, the central area is truly the heart of the town, and most people pass through at least daily or weekly to enjoy the social atmosphere. Most Mexican cities have central squares (normally called Zocalos), but few are as beautiful as the differently named Jardin Principal in San Miguel de Allende.
The Jardin Principal has reopened slowly and sensibly in the current crisis, but it is open. Walking through a disinfecting archway helps cut the spread of disease and germs, so you’re safer walking around there than many public places in the US thanks to the unique precautions.