Boca de la Cañada

Boca de la Cañada, a rural community 20 minutes outside of San Miguel de Allende proper, has less than 300 inhabitants and is a Mother Nature wonderland carved into the middle of a magnificent canyon with an active river and swimming holes along the ascent up.

We met up with the kid’s school at Parque Juarez at 9 in the morning for their back-to-school annual hike, and from there we all caravanned out to to the base of Boca de la Cañada.

Leaving the city for a day in a canyon!

The car ride there was breathtaking, as we passed by cotton candy colored flower fields, the shimmering lake in the mid-morning sun, and the rich green that colors the high-desert during this time of year in Central Mexico.

Cotton Candy Flower Fields!

Beauty Worthy of Another Picture!

La Presa: San Miguel de Allende’s Lake

Almost There!

Upon arrival, the fabulous director of the school, Victoria, gathered us all together and went over the rules: stay together, don’t go off by yourself, be careful, and have fun! Did she mention to watch out for the toros and burros along the way?

Victoria~Director of Mairead and Liam’s School

We headed out as one main group, but quickly got separated into several. I wonder if Tanya realized that when she stopped to fix her shoe that she had a few visitors behind her:

There were various diversions and distractions on the trail that encouraged you to pause and take it all in. Up around the bend was this little sweetie with his mama:

Baby Burro with Mama

Although we were a group of many, if you got distracted for even a few seconds, you might find yourself off-trail and solo:

Or worse yet, finding yourself stumbling into one of these:

Your goal, and that of about 40 other people of various sizes and ages, was to stay on this:

At last, we made it to the main watering hole and The Reds wasted no time in getting in, but first not without contemplating the water temperature!

Reds on a Rock!

As is typical with most things adventure/daring-based, Mairead was one of the first to take the plunge!

Mairead

Her twin brother Liam wasn’t far behind and went for it!

Liam

This life we live and adventures we have aren’t so bad:

Fun Had By All!

Mairead and Her Friend Lily

Growing up in Central Mexico is sure to leave these kids with some lasting impressions:

It’s A Kid’s Life Around Here!

We spent the day at this main watering hole, swimming, hanging out, eating, enjoying our community of learners and families.  On our descent down, the afternoon sun and canyon colors were amazing:

Inside the Canyon

We all made it back to the base of the hike around 3 in the afternoon and were happy to find a little store with cold drinks….a cold cerveza for the adults and soda for the kids were welcomed treats after a 5 mile round-trip hike with lots of adventure and fun!

Mairead and I with Tanya, one of her wonderful teachers!

We definitely see ourselves heading back again to Boca de la Cañada….such a magnificent treasure here in the desert highlands of Central Mexico!

Hasta pronto,

~Katie