San Juan de los Lagos

San Juan de los Lagos is an enchanting small town, good for a day trip from Guadalajara, León, or Guanajuato.

• 🌍 Cathedral of the Blessed Virgin of San Juan de los Lagos, Calle Diana No. 5 (Next to Plaza de Armas). Pilgrims from all over Mexico journey on foot or bicycle, sometimes for weeks on end to pay a debt promised to the Virgin for a prayer answered. Most do this in groups organized by a priest, with a truck or two holding bedding and food. Other people walk from the furthest parts of Mexico to pay their debt to the Virgin of San Juan. Some walk alone with a bedroll, maybe with a friend or two, sleeping on the side of the road. This takes place all through the month of January. For that reason January is not a good time to visit. (updated Jul 2017)

• Plaster objects The town is blessed with hundreds of shops dedicated to plaster, among other materials, saints of all types, sizes and colors. These are bought mainly by priests for their churches, devout Catholics for their homes and small altars in every factory, restaurant, and business in Mexico. Near the Christmas season you may also find literally thousands of choices of Nativity scenes, from very economical to fine china, whimsical to life-like, even life sized!
• Cloth Also for sale are absolutely gorgeous hand-made crocheted and knit little dresses, sets for newborns, and table linens. Many of these are not expensive.

• 🌍 Hotel Rincon del Cielo, Calle Independencia 46, ☏ +52 395 785 5770. (updated Jul 2017)
• Hotel Camino Nuevo Inn, Camino Nuevo 4, Centro, ☏ +52 395 725 7772. (updated Jan 2019)

If you didn't come from Guadalajara, León, or Guanajuato, these would be good places to go to next.