Sight guide · San Miguel de Allende · Mexico
Visiting El Chorro and the lavaderos
The spring where the town was founded in the 16th century still feeds a row of stone public washbasins (lavaderos), where some residents wash clothes by hand.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Microstar, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
El Chorro and the lavaderos is a historic site in Guadiana, San Miguel de Allende. Allow 30 minutes; it is free. Booking ahead is not usually needed.
Key facts
- Type
- Historic site
- Area
- Guadiana
- Time needed
- 30 minutes
- Cost
- Free
- Book ahead
- Not usually needed
- Good for
- history, free and off the beaten path
- Best months
- February–March and May
About El Chorro and the lavaderos
The spring where the town was founded in the 16th century still feeds a row of stone public washbasins (lavaderos), where some residents wash clothes by hand. A small waterworks building and stairways connect it with Parque Juárez below and Atascadero above.
Tip: Ask before taking photographs of people at the basins; they are still in everyday use.
Plan your visit
- Time needed: 30 minutes.
- Cost: Free — no ticket needed for the main area.
- Book ahead: not usually needed; buy on arrival.
- Where: Guadiana, quiet residential streets beside Parque Juárez.
Best time to visit El Chorro and the lavaderos
To avoid the biggest crowds, aim for the quietest of the good months:
- May: 31°C (88°F) highs, about 4 rainy days, moderate crowds.
- February: 25°C (77°F) highs, about 1 rainy days, busy crowds.
- March: 28°C (82°F) highs, about 1 rainy days, busy crowds.
When to visit San Miguel de Allende has the full month-by-month picture.
Fit it into your trip
El Chorro and the lavaderos is not on our short itineraries, so plan it as an extra once you have seen Parroquia de San Miguel Arcángel and El Jardín.
- No. 14 of the 15 sights in our San Miguel de Allende things-to-do list.
- Listed in free things to do in San Miguel de Allende.
Near El Chorro and the lavaderos
Also in Guadiana, so you can walk between them:
- Parque Juárez — 1 hour, free
If you like El Chorro and the lavaderos
- Centro Cultural Ignacio Ramírez (Bellas Artes) — Centro, 45 minutes
- Templo de San Francisco — Centro, 20–30 minutes
- Instituto Allende — San Antonio, 30–45 minutes
Staying near El Chorro and the lavaderos
Stay in Guadiana ($$$) to walk here: quiet residential streets beside Parque Juárez. All areas to stay in San Miguel de Allende.
Questions travellers ask
+How long do you need at El Chorro and the lavaderos?
Plan 30 minutes. With Parque Juárez nearby, it fits a half-day in Guadiana.
+Is El Chorro and the lavaderos free?
Yes, it is free to visit.
+When is the best time to visit El Chorro and the lavaderos?
February–March and May, the quietest of the good months. Ask before taking photographs of people at the basins; they are still in everyday use.
+Do I need to book El Chorro and the lavaderos in advance?
Usually not: you can decide on the day.