Thanks for this. It's been on my list for a couple years now, and I do hope to get there in the next year or two. It does look pretty special.

Guanajuato is a favorite of ours, too!

Patzcuaro followed closely by Morelia always was my favorite inland city. Now Guanajuato is far & away my number 1 choice.
My preferences
1. Guanajuato
2. Patzcuaro
3. Morelia
4. Mexico City
5. Guadalajara
6. Toluca
7. San Miguel
8. Taxco
9. Uruapan
10. Colima

Also a huge fan. So beautiful.

Great post. Fabulous list. When do I get to retire so I can start exploring more of Mexico??? That's what I want to know!! I can't say why but Guanajuato always caught my attention from guidebooks, forums, photos, etc. Thanks stewbear, you're the best!!

Hi, thanks for posting while on your trip! I love Gaunajuato also. I need to get back there soon.

Stewbear, where are you staying in Gaunajuato?

My list (also heavy on the colonial towns and cities):
1) Patzcuaro
2) Tlaxcala
3) Puebla
4) Oaxaca
5) Queretaro
6) Guanajuato
7) Merida
8) Morelia
10) San Miguel
11) Mexico City
12) Taxco
13) Coyacan (a borough of the DF, but a world away)
13) Cuernavaca
14) Guadalajara

I have not been to Chiapas, but am planning a trip there now. I have a feeling that San Cristobal will get onto my list.

Interesting that you have Colima on your list. I have not been, but recently looked into going there (travelzoo has a deal at a little resort there).

suze, I often think, when I am reading your posts on PV (being able to stroll the town, shopping, etc), that you would like the colonial towns. If you can ever tear yourself away from PV and go to Cancun to go to PDC, look into direct flights on the budget MX airlines ($80 or so) from Cancun to Guadalajara (where you can bus easily to Morelia and Patzcuaro)and Puebla (where you can easily also bus to Tlaxcala). You can add a few days in colonial towns on to a beach trip cheaply and easily that way, then fly home from Morelia or the DF.

Oh I KNOW I would like the colonial towns. My issue isn't so much addiction to Puerto Vallarta specifically, it's that I love love LOVE the ocean/beach. It's hard for me to picture a trip that doesn't involve one. I just need more time to travel, so I can do both as you suggest! Thanks for thinking of me.

Playa del Carmen, then flying from Cancun as bove is very easy. I do it in a one week trip. 3-4 days at the beach in PDC, then a few days in a colonial town. Also, don't forget that you can get to Merida very easily from PDC by bus.

I hope Stewbear comes back and tell us abot his hotel (or apartment?) in Guanajuato.

I stayed at Meson Cuevano who's location was excellent. The price at about $43 US including a Continental breakfast was reasonable. The staff was very friendly & helpful. My single room was adequate, clean & well maintained. No TV or phone but so-so WiFi connection.
On the minus side no wall coverings such as paintings, art worketct in the small room, only one pillow on the single bed & no water glasses were provided. The breakfast had no hot dishes only yogurt, 2 cereals, excellent fresh juice,pastries, coffee & milk. The real downer for me was they did not serve until 9:00 AM, a hour late IMO.
Would I stay again? Possibly but I would look around more next time to see what else is available.

I have to ask. Did you see the mummies in their new museum? I saw them years ago when they were propped up in an otherwise empty case in a pretty dank hallway in some bldg.

Hi all,

Am so glad to read these accolades. Planning a trip for November to San Miguel and Guanajuato. I was hoping Day of the Dead would be celebrated but haven't read anything about that. Will be posting a few question about the trip so as not to interfere with this thread. Thanks.

I did not visit the Mummies. I guess I've seen enough dead bodies in my life so had no desire.
PS Sorry about the long delay in replying.

PS I have booked a house for the month of February about a 20 minute walk from The Town's main Square. My wife & grandson will be joining me for the last 2 weeks.

To whet your appetite:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mksfca/sets/72157623007139404/show/

Great photos Michael!

Thanks. The city does impose itself.

Could my husband and I spend a couple weeks here over the New Year's period? We want to rent an apartment and settle in to visit colorful local markets (to look, not shop) and interesting historical sites, eat in authentic and interesting small restaurants and stands, spend a lot of time wallking around soaking up the ambience etc. WE could also so some daytrips. Or, would we be better off splitting our time between here and one other place in the area? We don't need or want to frantically rush around like idiots doing nothing but sight-seeing, and if we had a nice place to stay in a nice location would be happy with perhaps a 4 or 5 hour activity each day and then the rest of the day settling in our place. Thanks.

My plans have change slightly now spending the month of January at the house I have rented.
I love to spend some time in a location getting to experience as much as possible as a resident rather than a tourist.
I found my rental here. http://www.gtolist.com/forum/mybb1/forumdisplay.php?fid=4
It is an excellent web site.
PS Now we intend to also visit SMdA a day or so & of course leather/shoe shopping in Leon is a must for my wife when she arrives.

Stewbear--

Have you been in Guanajuato before in winter? We're Minnesotans so anything will be better than home, but it is my understanding that most of the houses don't have heat, and I know how cold an unheated house can feel when the overnight temperature outside falls to 30 or 40. And, I am questioning whether the weather will be conducive to anything outdoors once the sun has set.

We too are interested in staying in places and settling in like people who live there (slow travel) and have done it many places around the globe, and that is why I am wondering about this particular locale. And, I am wondering if we'd be better off waiting for a different trip when we could visit at a different time of year than the coldest months of the year for the area. Thanks for the reply and the link.

Here you go
http://www.weather.com/weather/wxclimatology/monthly/graph/MXGO0033
As you can see even in the heart of Winter it normal high is in the 70's seldom below mid 40's at night. It's a bit lower than say Patzcuaro which can be rather cold.
While I have only been there one week so far, that in early March I found a medium weight sweatshirt was more than adequate early mornings. I'd shed it usually by 10:00 AM

PS I meant Guanajuato is at lower elevation than Patzcuaro so not as cold. I always get a room with a fireplace in Patz but never felt the need in Guanajuato.

Thanks much. I'll be doing some more checking around to see what I can find for rentals. I just didn't know if we need a heat source at that time of year.

I was there in late february and the weather was just about perfect. Mostly sunny, 70 during the day, cooler but not cold at night.

For a first timer I suggest a hotel rather than an apartment. Your hotel people can be very helpful with answering questions, arranging a side trip, etc. In an apartment you are totally on your own.

I liked the Hotel Luna, right on the Jardin. But there is a small hotel tucked into a beighborhood just northeast of the Jardin that might suit your desire for something that feels really local. Is it the Casa Azul?