San Miguel Writers Festival: The Setting

Waking up in Labradores is a gentle affair. Sunlight filters through my damask curtains, dreams linger, and the day begins with a text for coffee (café con leche, por favor, mi amor) and a moment of meditation. Breakfast is tropical—papaya, mango, banana, chia, nuts, oats, and yogurt—paired with cold water or hibiscus tea. 

Mornings mean swimming and laughter. Friends gather, and the neighborhood comes alive with “buenos dias” and waves. Rainy season brings a riot of flowers—bougainvillea, trumpet blooms for hummingbirds and milkweed for the monarch butterflies, who migrate thousands of kilometers each year, just as we do. 

Life here is simple and beautiful. There’s no mail delivery, the house shines thanks to Marianela, and the garden flourishes under Juan’s care. Palms, cacti, and a lime tree thrives, promising margaritas for happy hour. 

The pool is fed by an underground stream—pure, warm, and delicious. Some days are for swimming laps, others for floating and stretching. Music plays, bodies move, and sunlight dances through the trees—a phenomenon the Japanese call komorebi.

Quiet pleasures in the afternoons. Reading, writing, guitar, cooking beans, or watching herons in the yard. I luxuriate in my afternoon naps, every part of me smiling.

Evenings bring happy hour and late dinners. Margaritas, maize chips, salsa, and guacamole. Meals are shared when hunger calls, followed by movies and wine. Sleep comes easily.

Weekends mean trips to San Miguel, pool at Ocho Bollo, and tango dancing. The city’s bohemian spirit shines through its art, music, and cosmopolitan charm. 

Days in Mexico are gentle and unhurried. Life is shaped by sunlight, song, and connection. Neighbors stop to talk, dogs nap, and the air is filled with woodsmoke, jacaranda, and laughter. The nights in SMA glow with mariachi, fireworks, and candlelit processions. Here, the ordinary becomes extraordinary, stitched together by the freedom to simply be. 

The San Miguel Writers’ Festival

From 2026-02-11 to 2026-02-15, the San Miguel Writers’ Festival brings together a global community of writers, readers, and enthusiasts to engage with and celebrate the written word - in this breathtaking setting. This year will mark my third time attending.

If you have any questions or comments about the festival, please contact me directly or leave a comment.

Http://sanmiguelwritersconference.org. To find out more