Christmas in San Miguel de Allende runs on lights, flowers and fireworks, and almost all of it happens within walking distance of our moon door. We're at Jesús 17, on a private cobblestone street in Zona Centro, so December here is something you stroll into after dinner rather than something you drive to.
Here's how the season goes, what we'd tell a friend, and how we set up our six suites for it.
The season at a glance
| When | What | Where |
|---|---|---|
| All of December | Lights, ornaments and nochebuenas (poinsettias) | Jardín Principal and the surrounding streets |
| December, dates vary by year | Christmas market | Mercado de San Juan de Dios |
| December 31, at midnight | Fireworks | The Jardín, in front of the Parroquia |
| December 26 to January 1 | The quiet week between, and the big night | The whole centro |
December in the Jardín
The Jardín Principal is where December lives. All month the main square and the streets around it are dressed with lights, ornaments and great banks of nochebuenas, the red poinsettias Mexico grew long before the rest of the world put them on a mantel. The Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel stands over the square, and the decorations are built around it.
Our advice: go after dark. The lights are the point, and the square in daylight is just a pretty square with flowers in it. Take the walk slowly, sit on a bench, and let the evening decide how long you stay. Take your time, there's no rush here.
The Christmas market at San Juan de Dios
In recent Decembers a Christmas market has set up at the Mercado de San Juan de Dios. One San Miguel writer compared it to sifting through the holiday boxes in grandma's attic, which is the best description we've read: ornaments, odds and ends, and things you didn't know you wanted. Go with time to browse and a little room in your suitcase.
The dates move from year to year, so ask us before you go and we'll check this season's schedule for you.
New Year's Eve in the Jardín
New Year's Eve in San Miguel ends in fireworks over the Jardín, and they start right at midnight. They go on for a long time, lit from several angles around the square, and the Jardín gets extremely crowded. If you want to stand in the square itself, walk over well before midnight, keep your bag in front of you and agree on a meeting point with whoever you came with.
If a crowd isn't your idea of a celebration, plan a long dinner instead. We don't have a restaurant in the house, but our concierge keeps a handpicked list of partner restaurants in San Miguel, and December 24 and December 31 are the two nights we'd book first. Tell us how you like to eat and we'll match you to a table. Consider it done.
How we set up our six suites for December
We're a house of six suites, which means the holidays here stay small. A few things matter more in winter than the rest of the year:
- Fireplaces: the Master, Alma and Cóatl suites each have one, for San Miguel's cool evenings. In the Alma Suite it's crowned with Pedro Friedeberg's monkey reliefs. If a fire is part of your picture of Christmas, ask for one of these three when you book.
- Climate: all six suites have 24-hour air conditioning.
- Breakfast: complimentary continental breakfast is part of every stay, so the morning after the fireworks takes care of itself.
- The courtyard: our pools and jacuzzi sit beneath the double Chichimeca staircase among lemon trees. You're always welcome in the courtyard.
- Slow days: we arrange in-room massages and facials on request, and our experiences program, The Voyage Within, runs in five streams: Nurture, Explore, Create, Connect and Savor.
The house is designed for guests 12 and over, and we ask everyone to keep phones on silent. It's a quieter way to spend the holidays than most, and that's on purpose.
Getting here for the holidays
The easiest way in is with our SUV transfer partner. From Querétaro (QRO) it's about 1 hour 20 minutes, from Bajío (BJX) about 1 hour 40, and from Mexico City (MEX) about 3 hours 30. Call our concierge on +52 415 188 7134 or write to sma@lavalise.com and we'll have a car waiting.
Before you book holiday dates
A few things to know before you commit to December dates with us:
- Rates are in U.S. dollars, plus a 21% hospitality tax and a destination fee of 40 USD per night.
- Our cancellation policy is strict, and non-refundable rates are charged in full at booking. If you leave early, the whole stay is charged.
- Stay dates can't be changed after booking, so settle your plans first.
- Four rooms or more falls under our group policy, and all six is a full buyout with its own contract. A family Christmas with the whole house to yourselves is something we'd love to arrange.