Charco del Ingenio

I was pleasantly surprised! I was expecting a small park, but this place is big with many different trials to hike and places to see. I spent about 90 minutes here, but could easily have spent double that. The entrance fee is only 100 pesos, and they offer a discount for teachers and students with valid IDs. There is a huge dam, waterfalls, rivers, plants, observatories, and much more. They have a gift shop with handmade goodies to help support their conservation efforts. It is well-kept, and the variety of plants and small insects is fascinating. Come prepared with hiking shoes, water, sunscreen and a hat because you can spend half a day here. I took an Uber there and back, or you can drive because there is plenty of parking. They also have clean restrooms and a small cafe selling drinks. The views are amazing, and it's perfect for a quiet getaway in nature.

Today, we explored the stunning Charco del Ingenio, a protected natural area and botanical garden located in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico. While walking through 500 species of cactus and other native plants under the blazing desert sun wasn’t everyone’s favorite activity—especially for the kids—it definitely built some character! 🌵☀️ Did you know that cacti are some of the most resilient plants in the world? They’ve adapted to survive in some of the harshest environments, storing water in their thick, fleshy stems to endure long periods of drought. Charco del Ingenio is home to many rare and endangered species, making it an important conservation site. The area also has a fascinating history; it was once part of a larger volcanic region, which contributed to the unique mineral-rich soil that supports such diverse plant life. Plus, it’s a vital water source for the local community, with natural springs feeding into the area. Despite the heat and the challenge, it was a valuable experience for the kids—building character, awareness, and appreciation for nature’s resilience. Sometimes, the toughest journeys lead to the most rewarding discoveries! 🌱✨

Wonderful grouping of native plants! Lots of birds and the cactuses are blooming right now so it’s extra awesome! Be sure to support them further by picking up acute little cactus at the gift shop on your way out. They also had many regional handicrafts at very good prices

This is a great place to get away and enjoy some nature time. The trails are well marked and there are some interesting features and landmarks to see. There is a nice little cafe and a very well executed interpretation center as well as a craft/gift shop as you enter. It is a center for conservation and restoration that works to preserve and protect endangered species. I would highly recommend a visit here.

The valley views were shockingly beautiful and not was I was anticipating. I was surprised by the beauty as well as intrigued by all of the different plant species. I loved the conservatory and views of SMA. The entire loop took me an hour, but I walk fast. I would recommend 1.5 to 2 hours to really enjoy everything and take pictures.

I’ve been going for many years now - still the best place to stroll around close to town. Go in the morning before for the heat comes up, fabulous views over the city. Great vistas at any season. I finally decided to join the botanical garden as I really like all the new construction they have done architecturally the new rooms are excellent the vaulted curved brick work is amazing.

Fun place to walk and explore away from the bustle of the city. A ten minute taxi ride from town. Would be an unpleasant walk to get there. The gardens were larger than we expected with a lot of different types of terrain and landscapes. Also some amazing views of SMA at the far reaches of the park. Some cool sculptures. Poor internet signal in some parts. But the woman at the front desk can call you a taxi home. Really enjoyed.

The place is great! Too bad my phone died and I didn’t get more pictures The place is nice, at the beginning your can go through a little place with lots of information I guess I would like to have more signs with info along the walk, history, plant or fauna info would be great

Fans of botanical gardens will likely enjoy El Charco del Ingenio, a 170+ acre garden/ecological reserve in San Miguel de Allende. It's a serene, safe place to wander pathways and explore, even if it lacks anything as colorful, vibrant, or artful as (my favorite), the U.K.'s Kew Gardens. Between the attractive gift shop one enters through, the building that functions as a museum for what you'll see here, and the al fresco cafe where fresh-squeezed juices are well-priced and delicious, you might mistakenly think you're in the Bay Area, with far cheaper prices. It's very aesthetically pleasing. The actual botanic gardens are somewhat less so. A map of the grounds will show you the trails and the layout but it's easy enough to just wander. There's some art (very little), some created habitats (e.g. medicinal plants), a greenhouse, and a lake/pond to cross and see some historic relics. Whether any of this appeals to you really depends on your mood. If you decide to come here I'd recommend you walk from wherever you are. The hilly walk here from central SMA takes you through a really lovely neighborhood of high end homes before suddenly navigating a dirt path with tumbleweeds and cacti. All of this nicely satisfies the desire you have to see things because, once on site here, what you'll see is - I have to admit - less exciting. Finish up with a green juice and purchase some organic honey for those back home. Then enjoy the walk back to where you came from.

This place was great, not only was it affordable but we really enjoyed the hike and the fresh air. Some people mentioned walking from the city center but I don't recommend it unless your ready to be tired when you get there. Just park directly at the location or get a taxi to drive you up there. Also it can be a bit challenging for kids and the elderly so I wouldn't recommend making the full circle. I would say to at least cross the mini dam since it was the most beautiful thing there. I also loved the abandoned villa with its ancient oven. The entrance was very nice and it had well kept bathrooms inside as well. Lastly, I would recommend bringing a bottle of water and to add some sunscreen.

We walked most of the loop and were super bored. It's not very scenic, the paths are poorly marked and it's easy to lose your way. There are a ridiculous amount of unmarked, multi-pronged forks in the road. Or sometimes there is a marker but it's hard to read and doesn't match anything we found on the map (see attached photo). The best part of the experience was chatting with our awesome Uber driver and seeing all of the beautiful houses on the drive up.

This is my happy place. My family and I come here nearly every morning when we visit SMA. We always start out with a run and walk around the loop and then enjoy the fresh refreshing green juice (juice no. 2) and chilaquiles at the small sweet cafe. There's something magical about the peaceful energy of this place that restores our soul. It doesn't surprise me that Dali Lama proclaimed it a "peace zone."

We walked from Quebrado to El Charco. It's a long up hill walk but totally doable. The scenery on the way was just outstanding as were the photo opportunities. I expected a typical botanical garden with flowers etc etc. That is not the case here, it's rugged and natural, and an environmental conservation site. highlighting the natural foliage of the high desert. The cacti and Agave plants were superb, massive. The paths and walks which are basically clear cut and rugged within the park highlight natural beauty all around. It's truly stunning here. We stopped in at the little family run cafe for drinks and a rest in the shade. They also have a little store selling local handmade gifts native to the people and area. We were able to get an uber home no problem. Cost $2.00. Entrance to conservation area 0.50 American cents!! Do not miss this amazing non tourist gem within the town of San Miguel de Allende.

Beautiful park, kind personnel, nice cafe and gift shop. Internet flaky, unable to use Uber- staff at reception area was kind enough to call taxi for us. Lovely park to walk, explore + relax.

This is a "don't miss" experience in San Miguel de Allende! And if you are really lucky, your guide will be Dave, a Briton who emigrated to Mexico after years at the University of British Columbia. Friendly, knowledgeable, patient and funny, he was the perfect guide for our trek through this high desert treasure! Even if your interests are not in desert flora and fauna, you will be intrigued by this very special place which has been saved from the developers bulldozers and greed!

Lovely outing if you go in the early day be sure you wear a hat and covering, take your time and make frequent stops, there are lots of birds, butterflies and leaf ants.

I've never been anywhere like this before, as most gardens I've visited are full of flowers and what I think of as "regular" plants. Come to this Botanical Garden, and you'll be surrounded by different types of cacti and succulents (including agave, of which mescal is made from) as you explore by foot. The grounds are so large that my husband and I spent a couple of hours walking around and believe we saw slightly less than half of what there is to see. I was enamored with the uniqueness of this garden. Great photo opportunities here! At one end of the garden, there is a lovely, breathtaking view of the city, and at the time of day we were there close to sunset (though it had been sprinkling and it was mostly cloudy), the sky with the clouds and lighting was picturesque as well. The paths are generally well-maintained (but watch out in some parts that are more narrow and you are closer to the cacti, as there are spider webs and HUGE spiders that may startle you in your path and make you hyper-sensitive internally and start walking cautiously and slowly hoping to avoid encountering any more, or perhaps instead mesmerize you and evoke your quickness to get our your camera and get some close-up shots). There is an enclosed/covered nursery that features some cool cacti and succulents, too. We were graciously greeted and led through a portion of the garden by a cute kitty who instantly took a liking to us (and us to him). My husband returned a couple of times to go running along the trails. We are backpacking and don't have access to a car, so we walked from town below, which took about 30-45 minutes from where we were staying (it was a lot of uphill to get there, but fairly flat throughout the garden itself); if you have a car, drive up to the entrance and start your mosey from there. The price was right at $40 MX, which is about $2 USD per person. In my opinion, this is a must-see in San Miguel de Allende if you want to get slightly out of the main part of town to see something else other than artisan crafts, restaurants/cafes, art galleries, and shops and stretch your legs a bit (if you still have energy after walking up and down the cobblestone streets in the main part of town).