Native Trails MyTrails 2025 142 Guanajuato 26 Visit of the strawberry fields of Irapuato Duration: 01:30 h · Level: Easy Mexico is one of the biggest strawberry producers in the world. Although some states, e.g., Michoacán, bring in greater harvests of the fruit, Guanajuato boasts the “Strawberry Capital” because here almost the entire area planted with strawberries is concentrated in one city – Irapuato, where the commercial production began in about 1880. During your visit of one of the large strawberry plantations, you will learn interesting facts about the cultivated varieties, the importance of strawberry cultivation for the municipal economy, and the measures implemented to adapt to changes in demand and methods of production. 27 Visit of the tequila manufacturer Corralejo Duration: 02:00 h · Level: Easy Tequila is one of the most emblematic drinks of Mexico. During your visit of Tequilería Corralejo – which lies on historical ground, since it was this hacienda where Miguel Hidalgo, leader in the Mexican War of Independence, was born – you will learn all about the production of Tequila. In the fields, the jimador harvests the blue agaves and cuts off the leaves. After the hearts of the plants have been cooked in a steam oven, the juice is fermented, distilled and stored in barrels for aging. Try a 99,000-hour tequila – this is about the time it takes from setting the plant to the finished product. 28 Visit of the nopal fields in Guanajuato Duration: 02:30 h · Level: Easy The Circuito del Nopal makes you familiar with one of the most typical plants of Mexico, a plant that is not only characteristic of the landscape in many places, but also important as food and for other uses. Sitting on a rustic “tractopal”, a specially prepared cart drawn by a tractor, you go to the nopal fields where you learn all about their organic cultivation, the harvest, and the processing of the nopals (also called prickly pears). Apart from cosmetics, culinary products are most important, and for this reason, the tour also includes a lunch with a tasty nopal meal. 29 Visit of the archaeological zone of Peralta Duration: 02:00 h · Level: Medium As can be inferred from the monumental buildings, the 1.5-km² (nearly 400-acre) archaeological zone of Peralta comprises one of the most important centers of the socalled Bajío culture. Much is still hidden under agricultural land, but the structures exposed so far are very impressive. Particularly interesting is the main structure, a complex of about 2 ha (5 acres) with a sunken patio on its eastern and a round basement on its western side. Why the place was abandoned at about 900 AD, is unknown, but there is some evidence of catastrophic natural changes. 30 Visit of the archaeological zone of Plazuelas Duration: 02:00 h · Level: Medium Occupied between about 600 and 900 AD, Plazuelas surprises the visitor because of its careful integration in the landscape. The people, not yet exactly determined, that founded the settlement left several structures of different sizes, including a pyramid with a sunken patio and a ball court. The uniqueness of the site results from more than 1,000 stones decorated with reliefs. As the angle of the sun determines whether the motives can be recognized, they appear to have been intended for being looked at at certain times of the day. However, this as well as many other things in Plazuelas is still open to further research.
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