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Mexico is a quick and easily affordable getaway for those of us living in the United States and Canada. While I enjoy cruising in the Caribbean, which takes you to many Mexican ports, off-the-beaten-path destinations such as Mahahual, Guanajuato, and others are growing in popularity. This guest post will tell you all about the best places to visit in Guanajuato, Mexico!
Guest Post by Mark Bennett of Outdoorily
It doesn’t always grab the attention of the press and media outlets, but the Mexican city of Guanajuato is a great choice for those who want to spend some time with their families and get away for a vacation. It is a popular choice for non-Mexicans from all over the world.
Guanajuato tourism relies on people learning as much about this area as they can, and if you are considering some Mexico travel, then you will definitely want to know about the best places to visit in Guanajuato. You also need to be informed about safety in Guanajuato.
Some of the sights in the Guanajuato area that you need to keep an eye out for include the beautiful green and pink sandstone churches, the UNESCO World Heritage site, and a bounty of museums and art galleries to check out. There is really something for everyone in Guanajuato. Now, we will detail some of the best places to visit in Guanajuato today.
Guanajuato Tunnels
It might sound creepy to visit tunnels, but not the ones in Guanajuato. They are a beautiful way to spend some of your days in the city. These tunnels are actually a necessity for the city as the nearby river frequently floods. The network of tunnels helps to maintain Guanajuato as a place where people can live, work, and play.
The tunnels themselves are not just utilitarian though. They are also very beautiful and often feature cobblestone paths for people to enjoy walking through. You can save serious amounts of time when you use these tunnels to get where you need to go.
Juarez Theater
The city center has a beautiful theater that has Doric columns that stand out and help this theater draw even more attention than it would otherwise get. It is a place that was originally opened in 1930 after 30 years of construction. A lot of attention and special care went into making sure that this theater would be a world-class beauty. It may have come out just in 1930.
The whole theater remains a wonder to look at to this day despite first opening nearly 100 years ago. There are still performances put on periodically in the theater, so make sure you schedule a time to go and see a show if you are capable of doing so.
The Basilica Of Our Lady Of Guanajuato
When it comes to Mexico travel you will quickly notice that most of the country is Catholic. The same is true for the people of Guanajuato. They have built amazing structures to help celebrate their faith. One of the ways that they have done this is to build the massive Basilica of Our Lady Of Guanajuato.
This is a massive structure that is the home of one of the world’s most cherished relics of the faith. The relic is the seventh-century statue of the Virgin of Guanajuato. Catholics and non-Catholics alike come to check out this relic, and many state that they feel a particular religious draw to the thing.
The building is easily the largest in the city so it is hard to miss. The building was put up by area miners back in the day, and they still get their much-deserved respect for the work that they did by a day of celebration of their efforts that is held in the city once per year.
Mummies Of Guanajuato
Your Guanajuato tourism simply wouldn’t be complete if you didn’t take the opportunity to check out the mummies of Guanajuato. This is a wildly popular tourist attraction even though some people might consider it to be too scary to check out.
The mummies are of the deceased from the period of time around the mid-19th century when there was a cholera outbreak that took the lives of many. The purpose of bringing about the mummy exhibit was honestly a money-making operation dreamed up by local cemeteries. They decided that they could draw out some of the bodies of the deceased and make mummies out of them. They would then charge a fee for curious souls to come and check them out. It was something that proved lucrative, and the practice of going to see the mummies is still carried on to this day.
The University Of Guanajuato
You are probably wondering to yourself what could be so special about a university that you absolutely had to see it. That is a fair thought to have, but what you need to realize is just how special this restaurant really is. It is the oldest university in Latin America since it has been around since 1828.
The university was built by Jesuits, and they don’t build anything unless it is going to be grand and spectacular. Thus, the University of Guanajuato is exactly what you would expect. The staircase is what makes this one so famous.
It is a 113-step climb to get from the bottom to the top, but a lot of people make a special trip to the University just to check out that staircase. If you are physically able to get up that many stairs, you should definitely give it a try.
The International Cervantino Festival
Finally, you should consider checking out the International Cervantino Festival as it has a lot of the elements of Guanajuato that make it so special. You will have to plan your trip correctly with the calendar to make this one as it happens only in the Fall.
This is a major event that sees as many as 200,000 people come to check out the art, music, and theater productions. Those people are all there to soak up the festival atmosphere that Guanajuato has to offer. You will get caught up in the midst of it and have a wonderful time taking part in all that the city has to offer.
Do not delay your journey to this magical city. It has so much to offer even if people do not necessarily hear about it. It could be your secret gem that makes for a wonderful vacation spot.
Mark Bennett is an American writer and traveler, whose major inspiration has been camping with his father ever since his childhood. He aims to visit 75 countries before he’s 30. You can also follow his adventures on his site Outdoorily.
Considering other Mexican destinations? Read more here:
- 16 Amazing Destinations in Mexico
- 12 Best Things to do in Merida
- Fun Things to do in Mahahual
- Review of Mayan Beach Garden Hotel
Happy travels!
Annick, The Common Traveler
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Raised as a third culture kid living in South America and Europe, Annick caught the travel bug early. As an empty-nester, Annick enjoys sharing her tips for traveling for those with champagne taste and beer budgets.