Winter here is two seasons in one day. You'll walk to the Jardín in shirtsleeves at noon and want a sweater by the time you're looking for dinner. Our guests booking for December, January and February ask us about it often, so here is what we tell them.
How cold does San Miguel de Allende get in winter?
Not very cold by day, properly cold at night. January is the coldest month of the year, with an average high of about 72°F (22°C) and an average low of about 42°F (6°C), according to Weather Spark. Timeanddate's January averages land in the same place: 74°F by day, 41°F at night. Across the whole year the temperature is rarely below 36°F (2°C), so frost is unusual, but a 30-degree swing between lunch and midnight is normal.
What that means in practice: you won't need a winter coat, and you will need more than a linen shirt. We'd rather you arrive with one layer too many than spend your first evening cold.
Why the nights drop so far
Altitude. San Miguel sits at roughly 1,900 meters, about 6,200 feet, in the highlands of Guanajuato. The air is thin and dry, so it warms quickly under the sun and gives the heat back just as quickly after dark. That's also why the sun feels stronger than the thermometer suggests. Bring sunscreen and a hat even in January.
If you're flying in from sea level, take your first afternoon slowly. Our streets in Zona Centro climb, and the hills feel steeper on day one than on day three. Take your time, there's no rush here.
What the winter days are like
Dry, bright and short. December is the driest month of the year here and February the clearest, per Weather Spark, and timeanddate puts January's average rainfall at just 0.16 inches. Rain belongs to summer: July is the wettest month. So winter is the season for long walks through the historic center, lunch outdoors, and evenings that start early, since the shortest day, December 21, has about 10 hours and 52 minutes of daylight.
We like to plan winter days around the sun. Go out mid-morning once it's warm, stay out through the afternoon, and come home to the courtyard before the light goes and the cold comes in.
What to pack for San Miguel in winter
Layers, and good shoes. Here's the list we'd give a friend:
- For the day: T-shirts or light shirts, sunglasses, a hat and sunscreen. Midday in January can feel like a mild summer afternoon.
- For the evening: a warm sweater, a light jacket or a wool wrap, and long trousers. Dinner on a patio after sunset is lovely and chilly.
- For the streets: flat, comfortable shoes with some grip. The historic center is colonial and hilly, with steps and stone pathways throughout, and that includes the way in and out of our own house, which has no elevators.
- For the room: nothing special. The electricity here is 115V 60Hz with the same plugs as the US and Canada, so your chargers work as they are.
- For paying: a credit or debit card. We're a cash-free hotel, so you can't settle your bill in cash at check-out.
How we keep winter evenings warm
With fires, mostly. Three of our six suites have a fireplace: the Master Suite, with its corner fireplace under a vaulted brick ceiling; the Alma Suite, where the fireplace is crowned by Pedro Friedeberg's monkey reliefs; and the Cóatl Suite. If you're coming between December and February and you love a fire, ask for one of those three when you book. Every suite also has 24-hour air conditioning.
The rest of our winter is about slowing down. Breakfast is included every morning, and on a sunny January day that first coffee outside is the best hour of the day. Our Courtyard Garden & Living Room, with its lemon trees, gives you somewhere to read in the afternoon without going back to your room. We don't have a spa, but we can arrange a massage or a facial in your suite, which is a very good way to end a day of walking hills. Let's arrange that for you when you arrive.
Day trips in winter
Winter's dry roads and clear skies make it the easy season for day trips. Dolores Hidalgo is about 30 minutes from us and Guanajuato Capital about an hour. Leave after breakfast, go while it's warm, and be back before the evening cold. Our concierge can help you plan either, along with anything from our experiences program, The Voyage Within.
Getting here in winter
Three airports serve San Miguel, and we can meet you at any of them with our SUV transfer partner: Querétaro (QRO) is about 1 hour 20 minutes away, Bajío (BJX) about 1 hour 40 minutes, and Mexico City (MEX) about 3 hours 30 minutes. If your flight lands in the late afternoon, keep that sweater in your carry-on. You'll want it by the time you reach our door on Jesús.