Irapuato

Giant strawberries on billboards, cups of cream on every corner, and a colonial church full of Baroque detail: Irapuato, in the state of Guanajuato, proudly calls itself the strawberry capital of the world. On a trip through the Bajío, this farming and industrial city makes a relaxed stop between Guanajuato, León, and San Miguel de Allende.

From Bajío Village to Strawberry City

The name comes from the Purépecha language and is often interpreted as "place between low hills." A Spanish settlement was founded here in 1547, living off the fertile plain of the Bajío, the breadbasket of New Spain. In the 20th century, local farmers specialized in strawberries, exporting them in large quantities to the United States, which earned the city its nickname. Industry arrived later with the auto plants of the Bajío. The center preserves colonial-era churches and plazas, while districts such as Arandas and the roads leading out of town are shaped by commerce and new housing developments.

Sights in Irapuato

The architectural highlight is the Templo del Hospitalito, with an ornate 18th-century Churrigueresque facade. The cathedral and the Presidential Palace stand on the Plaza de los Fundadores. The Jardín Principal, with its bandstand and laurel trees, is the city's most popular meeting place, and the surrounding arcades are home to cafés and ice cream parlors. On the edge of town lies Parque Irekua, with lakes and walking paths. In the evening, it's worth taking a stroll along the pedestrian streets of the old town, where musicians play and families promenade. Around the market and the churches of the old town, small shops have survived that sell hats, boots, sweets, and religious images. If you're interested in agriculture, you can see the fields, greenhouses, and cold storage facilities on the outskirts, from which strawberries, broccoli, and asparagus are shipped around the world.

Eating in Irapuato

A visit would be incomplete without fresas con crema, strawberries with sweetened cream. You'll also find candied strawberries, strawberry jam, and strawberry liqueur sold at stands and in shops. Guanajuato cuisine also offers enchiladas mineras with potatoes and carrots, guacamayas (rolls filled with chicharrón and spicy salsa), and carnitas. At the Mercado Hidalgo you'll find fresh fruit, vegetables, and food stalls. In spring, the city celebrates its big festival, with the strawberry taking center stage alongside concerts, exhibitions, and tastings. Other classics include fresas cristalizadas, strawberries candied in sugar, which are packed in boxes as souvenirs.

Getting Around, When to Go, and Day Trips

Bajío International Airport (BJX) near Silao is about 25 miles (40 km) away and has connections to Mexico City, Monterrey, and the United States. Irapuato is a hub for buses and freight trains in the Bajío. In the city, buses and taxis are the usual way to get around. The state of Guanajuato has recorded high rates of violence for several years, mostly due to cartel conflicts; visitors should be careful at night, stick to busy areas, and plan intercity travel during the day. The best time to visit is between October and April. Worthwhile day trips lead to Guanajuato, the UNESCO World Heritage city with its underground streets, to Salamanca with the San Agustín monastery, and to San Miguel de Allende.