I absolutely adore San Miguel de Allende and Guanajuato!

These two destinations are worth spending a week or even more time to explore slowly—there's a good reason they're such popular tourist cities. Both historic centers are UNESCO World Heritage Sites and are far more beautiful than other Mexican cities. Although I took a bus from Querétaro to San Miguel, there's a local ride-sharing app called BlaBlaCar for intercity travel. Booking a day or two in advance is cheap, and the price is the same whether it's for one or two people. The best way to describe San Miguel is simply "gorgeous." The historic center isn't very large but is exceptionally charming. According to Lonely Planet, American hippies began moving to San Miguel as early as the 1950s—proof of how captivating it is. During a meal, I chatted with an elderly couple from Texas who retired and relocated here seven years ago. Many Americans are retiring in Mexico, and honestly, Latin America could totally be our final destination too. Guanajuato is a small mountain town with a historic center slightly larger than San Miguel's. This city is incredibly unique—every day, you navigate between above-ground streets and underground tunnels. The buildings are painted in candy-colored hues, brightening your mood just by looking at them. After sunset, groups of troubadours dressed in Renaissance attire lead tourists through the alleys, playing music and telling stories along the way. It's so special—I've never seen anything like it anywhere else.