El Charco del Ingenio Botanical Garden, San Miguel de Allende

Most visitors to San Miguel de Allende walk past the pink church and miss the botanical garden on the edge of town that tells a harder, more honest story. El Charco del Ingenio is 67 hectares of rare Mexican desert flora, a Dalai Lama-declared Peace Zone, in April, a reservoir so dry the fish were dying in the clay. Nirmal’s photos, and everything you need to plan your visit.