A survey of 2000 visitors in Guanajuato, Mexico shows that only 1.4% of people surveyed reported not being satisfied with their stay, and of those people, only .05% reported feeling uncomfortable or unsafe in Guanajuato. The Secretary of Tourism has reported that from July to August 2024, the state of Guanajuato expects 2.4 million visitors and an economic impact of more than 5.6 billion pesos.
Guanajuato is known for its long history of silver mining and its beautiful colonial architecture, boasting some of Mexico’s most picturesque streets and alleyways, including the famous “Callejón del Beso,” roughly translated as the Kissing Alley — so named because the alleyway is so narrow that a couple standing on opposite balconies would be able to reach for a kiss!
It is also home to the Alhóndiga de Granaditas, a hugely important site in Mexico’s fight for independence in the 19th century. This old grain storehouse was the setting of one of the most important battles in the Independence War, and is now home to a regional history museum.
One of the city’s most famous attractions is the Guanajuato Mummies museum, which is home to over 100 mummies that were exhumed from the city’s Santa Paula cemetery from 1865 to 2002. These naturally mummified bodies have been preserved by the peculiar conditions of Guanajuato’s soil, in particular the presence of nitrates and alum, and were first exhumed because of a local tax that was in place, requiring a fee to be paid for ongoing burial.
Guanajuato is a city of contrasts and rich cultural heritage, and a destination that more international travellers are discovering every day!