GTO is a great place - I came here 16 years ago for two weeks and just never left. As you probably already know GTO is the capital of the state of the same name, a university town and a UNESCO world heritage site. There is a symphony orchestra with a season corresponding to the UGTO calendar [admission is around $7] and always something else going on.
When I came here there was no Internet and no 'proper' bar [you could buy a beer and sit in a plastic chair just about anywhere] No we have a champagne bar. Food has improved radically so it is just not 100% local level anymore and the Internet has arrived - well it actually came in '97 and was what caused me to stay as I could log-in to Worldspan via Compuserve and continue my outside agent relationship with an agency in the States.
GTO is compact and walkable [driving is a pain] Plenty of busses [50c] and cabs [$3 most anywhere in town] The architecture in el Centro is beautiful and given its a gov't/university town its mostly middle class and there is no industrial blight - there's no industry other than the mines which still operate. From GTO on one of your days go up to Valenciana [8km] and maybe onto Cristo Rey overlooking BJX - or for some exercise hike up to la Bufa.
Enjoy your trip,
Bill Byrnes author of the long out-of-print Airfare Secrets and currently vacation rental property owner - see
Guanajuato Rentals- and ask for the Flyer Talk discount
[a note about lodging - there are several 5 star hotels and Catg Especiales in el Centro - if you are looking for a vacation rental beware many mention they are 10 minutes to el Jardin - which is true. What they forget to mention is the arduous climb back - mine, located in
la Presa are an easy basically flat walk in either direction.
AIRPORT TAXI is your only choice in getting out of BJX. Buy a ticket after you exit Customs. There are several desks but they are all the same. Price to GTO is around 400 pesos. Getting back a local cab can take you for 100 pesos less. At the airport there is a bi-lingual ATM under the flight monitor 180 degrees around from the taxi ticket desks.