How is it possible that it’s already been more than a week since I returned from Mexico? Part of the reason time blurred is I spent the first four days at home sleeping after breaking my foot and suffering a tough bout of flu the night before we left. I’ll save that story for another post.
This trip grew out of a bold idea from a fellow Fit Foodie Maven. Last year, after launching The Blogger Project and SHEuncovered, we promised ourselves a reward: a friends’ work-and-play trip to escape the cold. We picked Mexico—specifically San Miguel de Allende—because it’s stunning and because Linley’s boyfriend’s parents live there and offered us their lovely garden casitas. Before arriving in San Miguel, Davida arranged an incredible avocado tour in Uruapan, Michoacan, often called the avocado capital of the world, with a partner organization that supports Mexican avocados.
Traveling with two best friends was the perfect plan. If you followed our updates on Snapchat, you saw a play-by-play of our adventures. Lin, Davida, and I ate and drank our way through central Mexico—so much so that I ended up having some form of alcohol for ten consecutive days. My Wisconsin roots would be proud.
Part 1: Avocado Heaven
Location: Uruapan, Michoacan, Mexico
Fun Fact: More than 50% of the world’s avocados come from Uruapan.
I didn’t expect to fall even more in love with avocados, but this trip strengthened that bond. We witnessed every stage of the avocado lifecycle: seeding, growing, harvesting, and packaging. The most striking part was seeing how many different people and processes are involved before an avocado reaches a grocery shelf.
Our two-day itinerary began at Rancho Milpillas, an avocado farm. Farmer Agustín shared traditional avocado dishes and guided us through his property. Until then I hadn’t realized avocados grow on trees—endless rows of them stretched out like a dream. Watching an organic farm in operation and learning the techniques used to protect crops without chemicals was eye-opening. Agustín’s knowledge and dedication made the visit unforgettable.
Next we traveled on winding roads to a small town to cook with well-known local female cooks. It was here I learned two important lessons: always take a small shot of mezcal before cooking, and don’t put garlic in traditional guacamole. We made guacamole, avocado salsa, and tamales—and I discovered I truly love tamales. In the end, everything came together in a rich, flavorful soup that surprised us with how well it worked.
Our third stop was an avocado nursery where we learned about different varieties and propagation methods. There are three main types mentioned at the nursery: Criollo, Hass, and Mendez. Most Hass and Mendez trees are grafted with Criollo branches by hand—each plant carefully grafted to improve yield and resilience.
I planted an avocado tree while I was there. It was a small but meaningful moment that connected me to the process in a real way.
The final stop on the tour was a packing plant. Watching hundreds of crates being unloaded, washed, and sorted by size showed how many hands and systems are involved in preparing avocados for market. I also learned avocados are typically shipped by truck or boat—not by plane. Sending avocados to Europe, for example, can take around 17 days by sea because of transit times, which contributes to their retail price.
Spending time in Uruapan and the nearby farming communities was a highlight. It’s not a typical tourist destination, but witnessing the local culture and seeing how avocados serve as an economic foundation there was fascinating. For the record, we never felt unsafe during our visit.
Part 2: San Miguel de Allende
Location: San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, Mexico
Fun Fact: San Miguel is known for the arts and is a popular destination for American and Canadian expats.
We traveled to San Miguel de Allende by bus from Morelia. Mexican long-distance buses are comfortable—the seats felt first-class—and the ride offered changing landscapes, from lush countryside to more arid terrain within a few hours.
San Miguel is remarkable. If I had to summarize it in one sentence: it’s like a slice of Europe, right in Mexico. The colorful colonial architecture, cobblestone streets, and vibrant public spaces give the city a timeless feel.
The city’s community is eclectic, with a significant expat population—English and Spanish are commonly spoken. We stayed six days at Linley’s boyfriend’s parents’ home on a hillside overlooking the city. One of our goals was to disconnect from work and fully experience local culture; limited Wi-Fi helped us keep our focus on exploring.
One of my favorite discoveries was how specialized local shops are—like tortillerías that make only fresh tortillas. We bought a dozen for about 40 cents. The markets are vibrant and affordable, full of fresh produce and handcrafted goods.
I appreciated the relaxed pace of daily life in San Miguel. Mornings were slow and intentional—coffee, breakfast, then long walks through the city. Because the town is built on hills, we ended up getting a lot of uphill walking; by the end of the trip I definitely had stronger legs.
I’ll publish a more detailed post about our favorite restaurants and spots in San Miguel soon. For now, know we ate fantastic food, drank many margaritas, and laughed constantly—traveling with your best friends is an unbeatable experience. Stay tuned for a follow-up with more San Miguel recommendations and the story of how I managed to break my foot on the last day—without letting it overshadow what was an amazing trip.