Okay, okay... "Most Instagrammable Airbnb in Mexico" might be a TAD misleading considering...
a) I've never stayed at any Airbnbs in Mexico EXCEPT this one AND...
b) I have no way to scientifically define "most Instagrammable Airbnb" for you
So can I really make the claim that Casa Proserpina is the most Instagrammable Airbnb in Mexico?
Absolutely YES.
Casa Proserpina is a newly opened Airbnb located in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico -- an easy, 4 hour flight direct flight from Chicago. Have you visited San Miguel de Allende before? It's been voted the "World's Best City" for two years running now by Travel + Leisure!
And it's easy to see why. From the city's vibrant culture to its incredibly colorful houses to the impeccable food scene, there is so much to fall in love with.
Having traveled quite a bit around Mexico (and to many of Mexico's magical towns), I can say that San Miguel de Allende is in a category utterly its own. It's wild and fun, vibrant and delicious.
And -- no matter where you go -- it feels utterly Instagrammable. It's no wonder you find one of the most Instagrammable Airbnbs here. And I'm so excited to finally share it with you!
The Most Instagrammable Airbnb in Mexico
The Casa
Casa Proserpina is a 300-year-old hacienda-style house located just STEPS from the very heart of San Miguel de Allende.
Owner Hadley O'Regan purchased this family-owned home with the goal of making it one of the most luxurious and beautiful Airbnbs in all of Mexico.
And -- man -- she succeeded.
Hadley put her heart and soul into revamping the property. It was named Casa Proserpina after the Greek Goddess of rebirth, Persephone, symbolizing a rebirth for her as well. Every corner is beautifully detailed and curated -- you'll immediately fall in love...
And NEVER want to leave...
The property is divided into various casas and can sleep up to 10 people total. At $1,000/night for the entire property, this is truly one of the most incredible travel deals I've ever come across.
I mean, just LOOK at this property. Every inch was begging to be photographed:
The Location
Casa Proserpina is located just down the street from San Miguel de Allende's Jardin Allende -- the main square of the city. It's a vibrant beautiful square with plenty of delicious restaurants, colorful shops and -- of course -- the famous Parroquia de San Miguel Arcàngel which was inspired by La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona.
Having walked our way around most of San Miguel de Allende, I can say that Casa Proserpina's location can't be beat. You can walk to literally everything in the city from there!
The Service
The staff at Casa Proserpina are incredible. The house is staffed by 2 maids, 1 on-site manager, and a gardener who all seem to work seamlessly together to ensure you have a luxurious stay.
They steamed my clothing. Arranged my beauty products in the nicest way I've EVER seen. And they stocked plenty of important but often overlooked amenities like standard-sized hair dryers, disposable make-up removing towelettes, and plenty of house-branded water bottles.
Plus the ear plugs next to the bed are a MUST! San Miguel de Allende is -- at it's heart -- a deeply Catholic town. So at 6 am on Sundays when the churches "wake-up the saints" with firecrackers (SERIOUSLY!), you won't be woken up with them...
Hadley literally thought of every single detail when she was putting together the amenities at Casa Proserpina. I KNOW of many 5-star hotels that PALE in comparison...
The Food
San Miguel de Allende has one of the most interesting and diverse food scenes I've ever experienced. And the continental breakfast at Casa Proserpina every morning was one of my favorite perks!
But if you're looking for a more custom foodie experience, Casa Proserpina also works with caterer Ruby Joy to do personalized menus. And her food is INCREDIBLE. And impressive -- she accommodated all of our dietary allergies and preferences (including gluten-free) without missing a beat. I'm STILL dreaming of her homemade chocolate truffles weeks later...
The Excursions
One of the best perks of staying at Casa Proserpina is their excursions!
Guests at the Casa have access to some incredible excursions (some which you can ONLY do as a guest of Casa Proserpina) and is one of the main reasons why I recommend them so highly. They have some incredible contacts that can help plan itineraries you literally cannot do anywhere else.
How cool is that?
Here are a few of my favorites:
Chapel of Jimmy Ray
Have you ever dreamed of an artistic oasis where color, creativity, and Mexican culture collide?
That's what you'll find at the Chapel of Jimmy Ray -- a working art gallery located outside of town that showcases local artists as well as owner Anando's one-of-a-kind art pieces. As a gallery dedicated to the "road less traveled" you'll find so many incredible surprises here. This quickly became our favorite excursion of the entire trip not only because it was so inspiring but because you fall immediately and utterly in love with Anando and his team.
The space they've created is BEYOND inspiring. I can see why so many brands and companies opt to shoot campaigns here. I'm pretty sure I snapped almost 800 photos over our 2-hour visit!
It's just so breath-taking.
EVERY inch of Anando's property has been turned into a working, evolving art project. Beautifully colored tiles decorate every single space. And we were all positively smitten with the artwork for sale. When three of us purchased pieces during our visit, Anando couldn't stop saying how much our support means to the local artists. His love for them and their work made the visit so special.
No matter what you do on your next visit to San Miguel de Allende, make sure you include the Chapel of Jimmy Ray on your itinerary. It's a truly empowering and inspirational space run by some of the most incredible humans I've ever had the pleasure of meeting.
The Sanctuary of Atotonilco
Every week over 5,000 visitors visit this World Heritage site for pilgrimages and to see the famous painted ceilings that have given the Sanctuary of Atotonilco its nickname, "Mexico's Sistine Chapel".
But did you know the most magical rooms and paintings aren't open to the public?
At all?
Making The Sanctuary of Atotonilco one of the most "instagrammable" perks of staying at Casa Proserpina. Guests can arrange private tours through the sanctuary to see rooms you LITERALLY cannot see any other way.
The photos from this visit alone made the stay at Casa Proserpina worth it! It's truly one of the most magical churches I've ever visited in the entire world. And the best part is you literally have these rooms to yourself when you walk through! No other tourists in sight!
Horse Rescue SMA
Another one of our favorite excursions was riding horses through the mountains with Horse Rescue SMA.
Their location is absolutely stunning and Horse Rescue SMA is such an incredible cause. Not only do they offer horse-back riding classes and seminars but also therapy for kids and adults. And all the proceeds support their efforts rescuing horses throughout all of Mexico!
Rose Ann Hall Designs
Rose Ann Hall Designs is a factory and shop that produces incredible glassware and candles outside of town.
They utilize recycled materials for crafting their traditional Mexican pieces and produce some truly beautiful (and labor-intensive) designs. Their etched glasswork is particularly mesmerizing -- and can be purchased in the US here.
And while Rose Ann Hall Designs isn't actually a non-profit, they employ many disabled locals, providing financial benefits to so many who might not have had other opportunities. Win-win!
Viñedos San Francisco
We had an incredible evening and dinner at the Viñedos San Francisco located about an hour outside of town.
Not only are the wines produced here delicious, but the property itself is GORGEOUS.
We literally felt like we'd stepped into Tuscany!
They have homes you can purchase on the property as well and we all kept joking that we were going to chip in together for one. I mean who wouldn't want to live here:
Tequila Tasting at Casa Dragones
I'll be honest... tequila and I don't have the best relationship.
I think back to those wretched days in college brimming with crappy tequila shots and half-used limes.
*CRINGE*
But mercifully our tequila tasting at Casa Dragones was as far from those crappy college days as you can get.
Created as the world's first "sipping tequila" Casa Dragones has designed a tequila FOR chefs to pair WITH food. Preferably in a luxurious setting.
Not only has this tasting converted me to drinking tequila again, but its now caused me to hunt down every bottle of it I can find in Chicago.
I keep telling myself they're for Christmas gifts but I think we all know I'll probably drink the bottles before then...
CONCLUSION
I am so lucky to have the job that I do. I frequently get to travel the world and stay at some of the world's best hotels for WORK.
*PINCH ME*
But after years of traveling like this, it's hard to find myself impressed anymore. Most hotels and properties feel the same. The amenities and restaurants all feel like rehashings of things I've seen time and time again.
But Casa Proserpina completely surprised me.
From the incredibly Instagrammable spaces to the luxurious amenities to the one-of-a-kind excursions... every minute of my stay felt unforgettable. I will forever be grateful for the true and deep connections we had with those at the Casa and on our excursions.
And while it may be a little cliché to say... I think I've left my soul at Casa Proserpina...
Disclosure: I received a complimentary trip to San Miguel de Allende through Casa Proserpina to facilitate this post. Review and all opinions are ALWAYS my own.
