The Makers of San Miguel

This walking tour is focused on the creative world that continues to define UNESCO-listed San Miguel de Allende today. Over three and a half hours, you visit places where art is made, exhibited, and exchanged across the city. You begin at one of San Miguel’s most iconic art spaces — a former textile factory built in 1902 and now transformed into a vibrant complex of galleries and artist studios. Here you explore the space and enjoy a private meeting with a local artist. At the Mercado de Artesanías, the focus shifts to traditional craft. In this maze of stalls dedicated to handmade work, you meet an artisan whose techniques have been passed down through generations. The experience closes with a curated visit to a contemporary gallery in Centro, where a gallery owner and art historian offers insight into the city’s evolving art scene and why San Miguel continues to attract creatives from around the world.

San Miguel de Allende is widely known for its artistic spirit. The wealth generated from the region’s mining and agriculture helped fund generations of builders, artisans, and artists whose work shaped the city’s architecture and cultural life. As you walk through the various spaces that Martha takes you to, the coexistence of colonial history, craft traditions, and international art culture becomes evident. This experience offers direct access to that living creative ecosystem. Rather than simply visiting galleries or markets, your host introduces you to the people — artists, artisans, and a curator who share their work and perspectives firsthand. These conversations reveal the creative process behind the objects you see — the materials used, the traditions they draw upon, and the ways contemporary artists reinterpret them today. You will also stop for a non-alcoholic drink at a place chosen by your host - a great opportunity for conversation and reflection.

Martha Fernanda (Champi) is a trilingual Mexican photographer, travel creator, and local guide born and raised in San Miguel de Allende. She studied film and visual storytelling at the Vancouver Film School and later returned to her hometown, where she now shares the city through photography and cultural experiences. San Miguel holds a particular balance for Martha: deeply local and rooted in tradition, yet cosmopolitan, creative, and constantly evolving. She introduces visitors to her town through an approach grounded in slow travel, cultural respect, and meaningful connection. Martha believes travel is about more than seeing beautiful places — it’s about understanding their layers, rhythms, and stories. Through her experiences, she encourages travelers to explore San Miguel’s history, arts scene, cultural traditions, and quieter corners of the city.

Comfortable footwear. Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen. Bottle of water.