San Miguel de Allende travel guide

Bus

The bus station is on the outskirts, regular bus to the centre US$0.20, returns from the market or outside Posada San Francisco on the Jardín. A taxi costs about US$1.75 to the centre. Buses to the centre leave from in front of the terminal.

To Aguascalientes, 1235 and 1435, 2 hrs, US$11. To Celaya, every 15 mins, 1 hr, US$2.80. If there are no buses leaving for Guadalajara from San Miguel at the time you want to go, it’s best to go to Celaya and catch a bus from there. To Guadalajara, 0730, 0930 and 1730, 5 hrs, US$28. To Guanajuato, 0745, 0945, 1245 and 1700, US$8. To León, 0730, 0930 and 1730, US$10. To Mexico City (northern terminal), 0940 and 1600, US$16.50, cheaper services every 40 mins 0520-2000, US$15. To Querétaro, every 40 mins 0520-2000, US$6.10. To San Luis Potosí, 7 a day, US$10.

International

Daily buses to Laredo, Texas, US$42, San Antonio and on to Dallas, US$80, at 1800. Also daily buses to Houston at 1800. And every Wed at 1800 to Chicago, US$131. All buses headed to the USA require a mandatory 2-hr wait for processing (sometimes longer) at border crossings.

Banks

Casa de Cambio Deal, on Correo, opposite post office, and on Juárez.

Embassies and consulates

US Consular Agent, Plaza Golondrinas arcade, Hernández Macías, interior 111, T415-152 2357, Mon-Fri 0900-1300.

Immigration

2nd floor Plaza Real del Conde, T415-152 2542, daily 0900-1300. For tourist card extensions, etc, take 2 copies of passport, tourist card and credit card or TCs.

Internet

Border Crossings, Correo 19, phone, fax, and email service. Café etc, Reloj 37, Mon-Sat 0800-2100, Sun 1000-1800. Good machines and so much more than an internet café with excellent music and coffee. Estación Internet, Recreo 11. La Conexión, Aldama 1, T/F415- 152 1599.

Laundry

On Pasaje de Allende, same-day service; unnamed laundry at Correo 42, good.

Libraries

English- language library Biblioteca Pública on Insurgentes has an excellent selection on Mexico; very extensive bilingual library, with computer centre and English-speaking staff. Distributes the weekly Atención San Miguel, which has listings of Spanish classes, tutors and local events.

Telephone

There is a long-distance phone service at Diez de Sollano 4, just off the plaza.