Breaking Travel News

Guanajuato Spotlights “La Senda del Arriero” at FITUR: An Immersive Journey into Mexico’s History

Guanajuato Spotlights “La Senda del Arriero” at FITUR: An Immersive Journey into Mexico’s History

The Mexican state of Guanajuato spotlighted its latest travel experience at the International Tourism Fair (FITUR) in Madrid, Spain: “La Senda del Arriero”, a remarkable model of sustainable tourism that allows visitors to immerse themselves in the life of colonial muleteers, learning the culture and gastronomy from past to present with breathtaking landscapes.

The setting is the Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, the Royal Inland Road, also known as the Silver Route, which was declared a World Heritage Site by UNESCO in 2010. For 300 years, during the colonial period, it was used by muleteers from Mexico and the United States to transport mineral wealth, mainly silver.

“You will live a day as an ‘arriero’, riding horses and mules along the old trails, dressing in their style - with gabanes, hats and guajes - and taking traditional cooking classes with the local community. All this in the peaceful landscapes of the Gran Tunal region of Mexico,” said Eduardo Yarto, Deputy Secretary of Tourism Promotion at the Secretariat of Tourism and Identity of the State of Guanajuato. At night, travellers can enjoy an evening of music under the warmth of an arriero-style bonfire and taste mezcal distillates served in xoconostle shells, known as Coporitos. There is also a wide range of accommodations, from luxury cabins to camping or community hostels.

“This is definitely for the traveller who wants to experience life. For those who no longer want to just contemplate the landscape, but want to interact, taste and immerse themselves in it,” said Yarto.

Yarto explained that the trip is not just about history or reliving life from the mid-16th to 19th centuries. It’s also about adventure and nature, with a variety of outdoor activities such as hiking, kayaking and sport fishing. Moreover, the project follows a model designed to stimulate the local economy by engaging and training the community to provide key services and activities. “We work closely with the community, with local entrepreneurs, with farmers, with training programmes and coaching,” he said.

ADVERTISEMENT

The project also aims to promote Guanajuato as an international destination, in line with the 2024 trend. According to the Tourism Observatory (OTEG), the state received about 18% more international travellers last year compared to arrivals in 2021.

Although the state is located in the centre of Mexico, northwest of Mexico City, and doesn’t have any beaches, Yarto says it is well connected, with direct flights from many other major Mexican destinations, such as Cancún, Puerto Vallarta or Los Cabos. That’s why it’s a good option for a cultural and nature getaway “at the beginning, middle or end of a trip,” he suggested.

Guanajuato is the cradle of national independence, where Mexico began to be constituted as a nation, and also has two cities that attract visitors from overseas, said the deputy secretary. The region’s first major city is the capital, ideal for strolling around and getting lost in its beautiful squares and alleys (such as the Callejón del Beso, or Kissing Alley) and enjoying a calendar full of events and festivals. Then there is the city of San Miguel de Allende. “We have probably one of the best restaurants in the country, one of the best hotels in the country. It is luxury tourism, but also tourism with a lot of access to culture, art and wine,” he said.

Guanajuato also boasts six picturesque Pueblos Magicos, or Magic Towns, a designation that recognises “the preservation of their traditions, their gastronomy and, above all, their architecture - the preservation of their heritage”.