Once a hidden colonial gem, San Miguel de Allende’s UNESCO status and Pueblos Mágicos label propelled it into luxury-tourism territory—at the cost of longtime residents.
San Miguel de Allende started as a quiet colonial outpost—its cobblestone alleys and baroque churches drawing artists and expats in the 1940s. Fast-forward to today, and it’s unrecognizable: a global showcase of high-end hotels, gourmet dining and skyrocketing property prices.
Back in the ’80s, SMA had just 34 hotels, mostly three-star lodgings off the beaten path. Now . . .






