By Alix Nicoll
Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday morning dozens of eager visitors and residents of San Miguel approach our volunteer greeters asking the question, “Are these the tours that benefit the children?” And those volunteers respond with a resounding, “Yes, They Are!” Donations from these top-rated tours go to fund the customized medical/dental units that go out into the countryside surrounding San Miguel de Allende every weekday at 7:30am, and don’t finish at a village until every child and family has been checked out. That is how we offer medical, dental, and psychological care to the children of families who could not otherwise afford it. These checkups are lifelines for disadvantaged families without which their children might never get a small complaint checked out before it becomes a serious condition. Care is diagnostic and preventative: toothbrushes and toothpaste are given out and always received with wide smiles.
Patronato Pro Niños has enlisted the services of four exceptional guides who are all state certified and bilingual. Dali Amaro is our longest serving guide, has over 20 years of guiding experience, and is a native son of San Miguel. Marimar González has her own tour company and is a passionate advocate for charitable giving. In her words: “One of the reasons I love to give back to the community is to teach my son that it is our responsibility to do so if given the opportunity.” Tenshi Israel Arteaga, born and raised here, is a trained cultural interpreter and has nine years of experience in guiding. He is adventurous, a lover of nature, fine arts, mezcal, and Mexican history. Completing the team is Alejandro Gutiérrez, a proud Sanmiguelense and prouder still of its history and culture. He has seven years of guiding experience and says, “Because I like what I do, I do it well.”
Regular tours are given in English, take around 2.5 hours, are primarily outdoors on a mostly flat walk, and cover all of the important landmarks which make the history of San Miguel so interesting. These tours are offered on a “drop in” basis, so your donation of 400 pesos will gratefully be taken onsite. We also offer prepaid private tours which are booked online and arranged at your convenience. We have reintroduced two special tours: an Architectural Tour which covers 400 years of fascinating architectural styles, as well as a Churches Tour which goes in-depth into the art and artifacts of key churches. All special and private tours can be pre-booked and paid for online (most major credit cards accepted).
For over 50 years, Patronato Pro Niños, a Mexican non profit organization, has relied upon the generous support of residents and visitors to help us offer essential medical, dental, and psychological care to the children of families who cannot afford to provide it for them. For more information on the regular tours and/or how to pre-arrange your Private, Architectural or Churches tour, visit
historicwt@patronatoproninos.org. Or call 415 152 7796.
Event
“The Historical Walking Tours from Patronato Pro Niños”
These are the Tours that Benefit the Children of San Miguel!
Mon., Wed., and Fri., 10am. Please arrive by 9:30am
Meet in the Jardin, in front of the Parroquia
400 pesos per person
