I had a chance to speak with the amazing Minister of Tourism for Guanajuato Mexico, Teresa Matamoros. We talked about this off the beaten path destination in central Mexico that is trying hard to attract LGBTQ tourism.

Guanajato Mexico Episode

This week I welcome Teresa Matamoros, the Minister of Tourism for Guanajuato, Mexico, to the show to talk turkey on Guanajuato as a safe destination for LGBTQ travelers. We also dig into some deeper cut tourist spots, my husband Joe’s reluctance to leave Mexico, and common conceptions of the country’s crime problem.

Guanajuato: have you heard of it? A city of roughly 170,000 smack dab in the middle of the country, it was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1988, yet some travelers shy away from Mexico’s interior because of the American media’s portrayal of the country as being overrun by drug cartels. 

Fortunately, Teresa and I set the record straight by comparing this image to the “shocking” headlines concerning crime right here in Chicago. 

Teresa and I discuss the welcoming nature of Mexican locals, as the country remains the top international destination for American travelers. Guanajuato is similarly LGBTQ friendly, and should be on your radar the next time you’re searching for a place to visit. 

San Miguel de Allende, a smaller city in Guanajuato state, is the most popular inland wedding destination in the country, according to Teresa. That’s more great news for LGBTQ travelers, with destination weddings growing faster than any other part of the demographics’ tourist industry.  

Why travel at all, especially to places you may never have heard of? As I get older and recognize the fragility of life, I feel more and more compelled to see what the world has to offer me beyond my day-to-day life. Hopefully Teresa and I have convinced you to do the same!