Access Denied
IMPORTANT! If you’re a store owner, please make sure you have Customer accounts enabled in your Store Admin, as you have customer based locks set up with EasyLockdown app. Enable Customer Accounts
Stephanie Bower's San Miguel Vacation Workshop 2024
February 27-March 2, 2024
Explore the colourful, cobbled streets of San Miguel de Allende and learn new skills with an urban sketching workshop taught by Seattle urban sketcher, Stephanie Bower! During this 5-day workshop we will take in the art and culture of this safe, sunny and clean retreat popular with so many fellow expat artists. San Miguel de Allende is a colonial-era city in the mountains in central Mexico located at 6233 ft (1,900 m) above sea level. It is a World Heritage Site known for its baroque Spanish architecture, thriving arts scene and cultural festivals. In February the average daytime high temperature is 76°F (25°C) and the average night-time low temperature is 45°F (7°C)--perfect weather for our art vacation!
Meet Stephanie Bower
Stephanie Bower is an architectural illustrator, teacher, author and avid travelling urban sketcher. In this workshop over the course of the week we will be learning watercolor techniques, how to capture buildings and landscapes and a little about perspective en plein air in the beautiful city of Seville. Beginner artists are welcome. Learn more about Stephanie here: www.stephaniebower.com and follow her on Instagram @stephanieabower.
Workshop Itinerary
Arrive Sunday February 25, 2024
Your arrival date is your decision but we suggest you arrive on Sunday February 25, 2024 so that you have time to settle in and possibly to adjust to a new time zone or the vagaries of travel which, as we know, could include a missed or delayed flight. Better to be relaxed at the start of your vacation workshop.
Monday February 26, 2024
Welcome to San Miguel de Allende! Workshop participants who arrive early are invited to meet in the hotel lobby at 2:00 for a warm up sketch (optional). All tour participants are invited to a welcome reception at 6pm.
Day 1 Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel + Art Gallery crawl
Tuesday February 27, 2024
After breakfast, participants will walk to a quiet spot under the trees in the Jardin Allende where Stephanie will teach Workshop #1.
After lunch we will visit the Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel, the renowned neo-Gothic, pink sandstone parish church of San Miguel with its soaring pink spires and lofty, ornate sanctuary. Then we will head off on an art gallery crawl exploring some of the many little art galleries supported by this friendly, artsy town.
Day 2 Street Scenes + a Museum Visit
Wednesday February 28, 2024
In the morning we will explore some of the cobbled streets near our hotel as we walk to the location of Workshop #2.
After lunch we will visit the Museo La Esquina del Juguete, the Mexican Toy Museum or you may wish to sketch on your own.
Day 3 Half Day Excursion to Cañada de la Virgen
Thursday February 29, 2024
Today we will travel by private coach to visit the Cañada de la Virgen pyramids. This guided tour involves walking 3/4 mile from the entrance into the site and back.
We will return to the hotel by noon, and Stephanie will teach Workshop #3 after lunch.
Day 4 Visit the Templo de San Francisco + a trolley tour
Friday March 1, 2024
In the morning, Stephanie will teach Workshop #4.
Then after lunch we will make our way to the Templo de San Francisco just a few blocks from our hotel. This church with its lavishly embellished façade and tri-level bell tower faces a small shaded plaza.
In the afternoon we will enjoy a tour of the town by trolley with a stop at the highest point, the famous vista, el Mirador.
Day 5 Visit a Mercado and Boutique Museum
Saturday March 2, 2024
In the morning Stephanie will teach Workshop #5.
Afterwards we will visit another of the quirky little museums this town is known for and a nearby mercado to pick up any last minute souvenirs of our wonderful week in San Miguel de Allende. 
In the evening we will celebrate an amazing week with a farewell dinner (included).
Departure
Sunday March 3, 2024
It's time to say goodbye but you will never forget the friends you made or the skills you learned during this great week! Or extend your stay for a long relaxing holiday!
Please note that the order of events in this itinerary are subject to change.
Recommended Workshop Supplies
The complete list of supplies will be added later. You may wish to note that San Miguel de Allende is a UNESCO Heritage Site. Every building in the pedestrian-only historic centre is painted in warm rust or terracotta or mustard or cadmium yellow or pale yellow or orange and you may wish to bring these colours in your palette.
FAQs
Click HERE for answers to frequently asked questions.
For more information about the workshops content contact Stephanie at stbower@comcast.net.
For more information about this vacation package contact Brenda Murray Studio56Boutique@gmail.com.
Tour Includes
- A welcome reception
- All art classes
- Admission to attractions listed above
- Half-day excursion via coach to the Cañada de la Virgen pyramids
- Farewell dinner
Tour Excludes
- Flights to/from
- Hotel
- airport pick-up and drop-off
- Meals (except those listed above)
- Painting supplies
- Porterage/luggage handling
- Travel insurance
- Expenses of a personal nature
- Items not explicitly specified in the inclusion list
Early Bird Prices! Book now before September 30, 2023 and save $200USD!
$1899USD $1699. USD Workshop Participant
$1299. USD NonSketcher Companion (such as partner or travelling buddy)
NonWorkshop Participant tickets include the same attractions and meals as the Workshop Participants with the exception of the art classes.
To reserve your spot in this workshop a $500 nonrefundable deposit is required for Workshop Participants and a $300 nonrefundable deposit is required for nonWorkshop Participants.
To make a deposit, scroll to the bottom and click BOOK NOW.
PLEASE READ OUR REFUND POLICY.
Greenlighting a workshop
Workshops are greenlighted when the minimum number of tickets (10) has been sold. All ticket holders will be notified by email when this happens. Please do not book non-refundable flights or accommodation until we have given the go-ahead for the workshop.
Bring a Friend and Get a Discount
Here's how it works. You and your sketching buddy register for the workshop with your deposits. Then send us an email and tell us you are registering with a sketching buddy. You will each be sent a discount code for $50USD that you can apply when you pay the balance of your tickets.
The small print: This discount code cannot be used in conjunction with any other discount code and it can only be applied to 2 Workshop participant tickets if the workshop sells out with 15 participants.
Accommodations
The official hotel of this tour is Hotel Real de Minas. The room rate varies depending on the day of the week. Please see the room rates below in MEXICAN PESOS. Breakfast is not included but can be purchased in the hotel restaurant for about $9USD.
| Sun-Thurs room rate | Fri and Sat room rate | |
| STANDARD 1 King size bed or 2 double beds with interior view | $1949MX | $2749MX |
| SUPERIOR 2 double beds on 2nd or 3rd floor with pool view | $2249MX | $3049MX |
| EXECUTIVE 2 double beds on 2nd or 3rd floor wtih pool view | $2549MX | $3349MX |
| JR SUITE 1 King bed, living room and 1.5 bath | $2949MX | $3749MX |
How to Make A Hotel Reservation
Before making a hotel reservation, please click the BOOK NOW button below to ensure you have a spot in this workshop.
After you have secured your spot in this workshop, then you can make a reservation in this hotel first by visiting the hotel website to familiarize yourself with the types of rooms available. Free cancellation up until 72 hours before arrival.
Workshop participants are not obliged to stay in this hotel. You are welcome to stay in another hotel or Airbnb if you prefer. However, if you would like to stay in this hotel, we suggest you make your reservation asap to get the type of room you want as there is free cancellation up to 72 hours before arrival.
Pedestrian Friendly??
The historic centre of San Miguel de Allende is pedestrian-only but not necessarily pedestrian-friendly due to the narrow sidewalks, cobbled streets and high elevation. You must be fully mobile and able to walk for 20 minutes and sometimes uphill without the aid of a walker. If you are not able to walk 20 minutes and sometimes uphill, we recommend you consider a workshop that is less physically demanding.
Practical Tips
San Miguel de Allende is located midway between two airports: Santiago de Querétaro (QRO) and Guanajuato (also called Bajío International Airport) (BJX). You will want to fly in to the airport that has the best connection from your local airport. Both are about an hour's drive from to the hotel. We recommend booking an airport shuttle that is approximately $28USD one way.
Travel + Medical Insurance
Travel insurance is also highly recommended as it covers you in the event you must cancel your trip and it covers emergency medical services which may be significantly more expensive than expected when travelling in a foreign country. Please check with your insurance provider. Click HERE for a list of US insurance providers. Some credit card companies may also offer travel insurance if you paid for your trip with that card.
Covid-19 Vaccinations
The instructor and tour manager are fully vaccinated against covid-19. This tour will be following all locally recommended protocols. Please check HERE to read more about Mexico entry requirements and check back closer to the date as entry requirements may change.
Your Tour Manager
Participants will be accompanied by Studio 56 owner, Brenda Murray. Brenda is a Canadian artist and arts advocate, the founder of Urban Sketchers Waterloo Region and a former Urban Sketchers Board member. A seasoned traveler, Brenda has traveled to Austria, Bahamas, Belgium, Brazil, Cuba, France, Germany, Indonesia, Italy, Jamaica, Japan, Liechenstein, Luxembourg, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Netherlands, Portugal, Singapore, South Korea (lived there for 4 years), Spain, Switzerland, Thailand, Uganda, UK, and the USA (35 states). Brenda will be on hand to assist the instructor and to ensure that everything runs smoothly. Learn more about Brenda HERE.
For More Information
Email Studio56Boutique@gmail.com or call Brenda Murray at 519-572-1757.
How to Register for this Workshop
To register for this exciting vacation workshop, click the BOOK NOW button below to pay the $500USD Participant ticket deposit and/or the $300USD nonSketcher Companion deposit. This is the only way to hold a spot in this workshop. Registration closes when 15 workshop participant deposits have been received.
Invalid password
Enter