Jardin Botanico El Charco del Ingenio - Botanical Gardens San Miguel de Allende
Jardin Botanico el Charco del Ingenio, Botanical Gardens are located just outside of San Miguel de Allende. There is a partially paved road just north of the Gigante Supermarket, which is 2.5 km east of the center of town, on the Queretaro road. Here you will find cactus and other succulent plants that are native to many parts of Mexico.
In the caves in the canyon, you’ll find stone tools and ceramics from pre-Hispanic times. Also at the Botanical Gardens you’ll see a variety of more recent Colonial-era structures such as canals, aqueducts, dams, and the remains of fulling mill. There are also ruins of an old 19th century hacienda, a still functioning dam and the remains of an iron aqueduct, built in the mid 20th century.
It is the perfect place for a morning or afternoon stroll through its many different pathways which wind along the hillside just above a reservoir and a deep canyon. It is open from sunrise to sunset. Cost is $1 USD.
It is owned an operated by nonprofit group called Cante that promotes conservation.
The Botanical Garden also has environmental programs for children. Here they teach about environmental conservation.
The Charco del Ingenio is the setting of regularly scheduled meetings, courses, workshops, astronomical observations, races, concerts, dances, ceremonies and various festivities that reflect the multicultural society of San Miguel de Allende.
Every month, on the weekend closest to the full moon, the Botanical Garden hosts a temascal, a ritual and curative sweat-lodge ceremony using aromatic herbs and steam. This ceremony takes place in the ruins of a hacienda located within the Garden.
The Spring Equinox Concert: around March 21, which takes place in the Charco del Ingenio canyon, the walls of which create a naturally sculpted acoustic space (a natural amphitheatre). Each year a different musical group performs.
The Festivities of the Holy Cross (Santa Cruz) of the Charco del Ingenio:
The festivities are celebrated during the first two weeks of July in the Botanical Garden and adjacent Landeta Park. Hosted by the rural communities of the municipality of San Miguel, this well-attended event includes a candlelight vigil, raising of the súchil or ritual altar, a procession of the Holy Cross, traditional costumed dances of the rayados (striped dancers), concheros (shell dancers) and locos (the crazies, disguised as women and political caricatures), as well as a public dance and musical bands. Admission is free.
Day of the Dead Altar: At the beginning of November
In addition, the Botanical Garden opens its doors to the public at night for the observation of the total eclipse of the moon.
For more information go to www.elcharco.org.mx
