5 Best Hotels in San Miguel de Allende and the Heartland, Mexico

The appealing Casa Encantada is a magnificent hotel built into a 17th-century mansion just off Pátzcuaro's main plaza. Rooms and suites—all with different configurations and appealing decor and furnishings—surround a courtyard with a garden and fountain. Though rented by the night, they're more like apartments than hotel rooms; most have kitchens and/or dining areas; a couple have fireplaces, and four have bathtubs.

For an authentic Zacatecano hotel, consider this clean, quiet place. The spacious brown-carpeted suites have dark antiques; some are equipped with a small kitchen (but no cookware). Sprawling plants and singing birds—Pepe the parrot leads the choir—enliven the two-story interior courtyard. There's also a breakfast room.

With a sleek modern design and a terrific location within walking distance of Plaza de Armas and the restaurants and nightlife of the La Cruz district, the reasonably priced Hotel Criol has a peaceful courtyard and pool, a library, a small restaurant for guests to relax in, and compact but smartly furnished rooms.

Rooms in this basic, budget-priced, 19th-century inn are simply furnished in a colonial style; they're nothing fancy, but this is a good option for travelers on a budget. Several in the old wing are uncomfortably dark and cramped, but others are more open and have fireplaces. Head up to the rooftop public terrace for city views; the building is near the hulking dome of the Iglesia de la Concepción. There's a communal TV in the lobby, which looks like a formal Mexican living room.

Stone archways ring plant-filled courtyards in this 17th-century mansion. Rooms, with large wood-and-glass doors, are partially carpeted. The owners are an excellent source of information regarding Pátzcuaro and the surrounding areas. Be sure to check out the restaurant, Doña Paca, and its tasty coffee drinks.