By Cheryl Young
When the pandemic struck San Miguel de Allende, one of the popular tourist activities that was forced to close were the Historical Walking Tours from Patronato Pro Niños. Pre-COVID-19, visitors to San Miguel could feel good knowing that their donations were going to a local children’s medical and dental charity and that they were getting a top-rated tour of our beautiful city and its glorious past.
Now that the city has cautiously reopened, we are incredibly fortunate to have Dali Amaro, a bilingual, certified tour guide with 20 years of guiding experience, who has been keeping the tradition of the Walking Tours alive. Amaro says, “The reason why I decided to volunteer is because Patronato Pro Nińos has given medical assistance for over eight years to Jacob Guerrero, my friend’s child with a motor disability. Despite his disability, Jacob has a special, joyful personality that touches your heart. So becoming a volunteer is my way to thank all the great work Patronato Pro Niños has been doing for over 50 years with our kids in San Miguel de Allende. I have been volunteering with Pro Niños since the summer of 2019.”
Amaro owns his own company, Discovery Tours; he is married and has earned his Mexican Federal Tourism Secretary (Sectur) Guide status. Amaro cannot say enough about Pro Niños: “I feel privileged to be part of this great organization! I have seen all the wonderful things that Patronato Pro Niños does on behalf of San Miguel de Allende. This outstanding work is also the result of all the volunteers that happily donate their time, energies, and hearts to Patronato Pro Niños. I’m deeply touched by this group of foreigners, who I consider true Sanmiguelenses and who are genuinely interested in the welfare of our local kids.”
Every Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, starting at 10am, Amaro and the greeters gather in the Jardin in front of the Parroquia at around 9:30am. The tours are given in English only, take about 2.5 hours, primarily outdoors in central San Miguel. Masking is still required. We do referrals to other certified guides for longer tours and those days that we do not offer tours. As Amaro is limited in the size of the group, the tours are on a first-come, first-served basis, but we hope to accommodate any extras at another time or date. Your donation of 300 pesos will gratefully be taken onsite.
Learn more about our tours by visiting www.Historicalwalkingtour.org. For over 50 years, Patronato Pro Niños, a Mexican nonprofit organization, has been providing necessary medical, dental, and psychological care to the children of families who cannot afford to provide it for them. Even during the pandemic, in 2020, we provided services to 4,200 children or 8,108 consultations.
Go to www.patronatoproninos.org for more information or to donate. For private tours, arranged at your convenience, including choice of day and time, please contact the private tour coordinator at historicwt@patronatoproninos.org or call (415) 152 7796.
