Magical Mexico – When Wine Meets Art with Denver Botanic Gardens

In the Mexican cities of Querétaro and San Miguel de Allende, wine and art converge in August – the time when the annual harvest in one of Mexico’s most exciting wine regions coincides with San Miguel de Allende’s Arts Festival. Join Denver Botanic Gardens and Host Yvonne Garcia Bardwell for a sensory experience that combines the flavors of fine wine with the visual beauty of art in a region rich in history and culture.

 

Collaboration trip with Denver Botanic Gardens hosted by Yvonne Garcia Bardwell, Associate Director of Community Relations.

About Your Host: Born and raised in South Texas, with a bilingual-bicultural background, Yvonne Garcia Bardwell brings a great mixture of experiences and knowledge to the tour. As the Associate Director of Community Relations at Denver Botanic Gardens, she is responsible for diversifying the Gardens’ constituency by establishing and strengthening relationships with community organizations across the Denver metro area. Since 2011, she has orchestrated Denver Botanic Gardens’ observance of Día de los Muertos – a celebration that has grown into a vibrant annual event celebrating one of Mexico’s greatest cultural legacies. Her multicultural orientation has developed through not only extensive world travel but also significant work and volunteer experiences as well as an academic focus on international and Spanish-language marketing. This tour offers an opportunity to educate and inspire, to create a connection to our past, and to learn about the cultural traditions of Mexico.

ITINERARY

Day 1 (Sat, Aug 10): Arrival to Querétaro ~ Upon arrival to Querétaro, we’ll be met for our transfer to our hotel conveniently located in the beautiful historic city center. There’s time to stroll colorful colonial streets before our Welcome Dinner this evening.

Accommodations: Doña Urraca Hotel & Spa

Meals: Dinner

Plan to arrive to Querétaro Intercontinental Airport (QRO) by 2 pm today.

Day 2 (Sun, Aug 11): Querétaro & Bernal ~ Today we’ll discover the charm of Querétaro’s vineyards during harvest season, a celebration of wine, culture, and tradition. While local wineries aren’t well-known internationally yet, the region boasts several top-notch vineyards. Querétaro is also known as Mexico’s cradle of cheese-making. We’ll visit two local wineries for tours and tastings. We’ll also stop in the small town of Bernal, one of Mexico’s Pueblos Magicos (“Magical Towns”) located along the wine and cheese route. Bernal is known for its enormous Peña de Bernal, one of the world’s largest monoliths and a sacred place among local indigenous communities. There’s time to explore Bernal’s cobblestone streets before returning to Querétaro this evening.

Accommodations: Doña Urraca Hotel & Spa

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 3 (Mon, Aug 12): Querétaro to San Miguel de Allende ~ Morning departure to San Miguel de Allende arriving in time for brunch showcasing local culinary specialties. We’ll then embark on an engaging walking city tour through enchanting streets where art and history seamlessly intertwine. Our journey unfolds amidst the echoes of centuries past, with our knowledgeable guide narrating the city’s rich history, from its role in Mexico’s fight for independence to its transformation into a haven for artists. This immersive walking tour promises a fascinating blend of the city’s cultural tapestry, offering a deep appreciation for the artistic and historical treasures that make San Miguel de Allende truly extraordinary.

Accommodations: Doña Urraca San Miguel de Allende

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 4 (Tues, Aug 13): San Miguel de Allende ~ Today brings more discoveries of San Miguel de Allende’s cultural and culinary delights. We’ll visit Cuna de Tierra Winery, nestled in the picturesque countryside, where sprawling vineyards yield exquisite Mexican wines. Cuna de Tierra is famous for its high altitude vineyards, its multiple awards, and its history of friendship and passion for wine. We’ll enjoy lunch at the vineyard before continuing to the historic town of Dolores Hidalgo, the birthplace of Mexico’s independence. Here, there’s time to wander through local artisan workshops, renowned for exquisite talavera ceramics and other specialties before visiting the Sanctuary of Atotonilco, a masterpiece of Mexican Baroque architecture. Marvel at the intricate frescoes and religious art that adorn this spiritual site, offering a serene and contemplative end to a day filled with wine, history, art and culture.

Accommodations: Doña Urraca San Miguel de Allende

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 5 (Wed, Aug 14): San Miguel de Allende ~ Located a few minutes from San Miguel de Allende, El Charco del Ingenio is an extraordinary Botanical Garden and Nature Reserve. Spread across 170 acres of undulating terrain, the reserve offers picturesque walking trails leading visitors through various ecosystems from arid landscapes to lush meadows. The varied topography also offers refuge for a variety of local fauna. After touring the reserve, we’ll head downtown for a visit to a local market to sample local dishes showcasing cactus species we saw at the gardens. We’ll continue to Parque Juarez and Chorro to tour public and private gardens.

Accommodations: Doña Urraca San Miguel de Allende

Meals: Breakfast and Lunch

Day 6 (Thurs, Aug 15): San Miguel de Allende ~ Our last full day in San Miguel de Allende continues to highlight wine and art with a visit to Tres Raices Winery. The word Tres refers to “three” children and the word Raices to the concept of putting down “roots”, a foundation for the plants and for family. The vineyard is located in the Bajio region, one of the first places where wine grapes were grown in Mexico, history dating back 400 years. As we tour the vineyard, we’ll be rewarded with beautiful views of both the growing fields and countryside. After Tres Raices, we’ll venture to Atotonilco Gallery, a haven for contemporary art. Here, modern works of art complement the historical richness of the region. Our journey concludes at La Aurora Factory, a vibrant arts and crafts complex housed in a former textile factory showcasing everything from ceramics to textiles. Relive trip highlights this evening during our Farewell Dinner.

Accommodations: Doña Urraca San Miguel de Allende

Meals: Breakfast, Lunch, and Dinner

Day 7 (Fri, Aug 16): San Miguel de Allende to Querétaro & Departure ~ Enjoy a leisurely morning in San Miguel de Allende before our transfer back to Querétaro in time to connect to flights home.

Meals: Breakfast

Plan to depart Querétaro Intercontinental Airport (QRO) after 2 pm today.

DETAILS

Price: $4725* per person based on two people sharing double occupancy accommodations. If you prefer private, single occupancy accommodations, add $875*.

Includes: accommodations, meals as listed, airport transfers on arrival and departure days, trip leader, host from Denver Botanic Gardens, activities and entrance fees as listed, and basic travel insurance. Pre-departure cancellation benefits can be added to the insurance policy for an additional cost.

Excludes: flights, passport fees, room upgrades, 3 dinners, upgraded travel insurance policy with pre-trip cancellation and interruption benefits, optional activities, taxis, and personal expenses.

*Reflects payment by check or ACH. Credit card fees, if applicable will be assessed at time of booking based on payment method.

**If you are a solo traveler that prefers to share a double occupancy room, but we aren’t able to find a suitable roommate for you, the private room surcharge will apply.

Group Size: 6-10 participants + Lead Guide & DBG Host

A Note About Gratuities – Your trip cost includes gratuities for local guides and drivers, as well as at restaurants. This allows us to reliably and equitably compensate everyone working so hard to keep you happy, healthy, and safe during your trip.

A Note About Minimum Group Size: If fewer than the minimum number of participants register, we may still be able to run the trip by adding a group supplement fee per person based on the number of people registered. That fee will be subject to approval by the registered participants.

Important Information: Itinerary has been built to allow flexibility to accommodate activities and sightseeing. Every effort will be made to carry out all activities as planned and advertised, however, trip leaders reserve the right to make alterations, deletions, or modifications to the itinerary deemed necessary due to circumstances beyond their control.

 

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