Whether this is your first time attending the Writers’ Conference or you’ve been coming to San Miguel for years, you’re sure to find some useful information in this guide. If you have a question which isn’t answered here, checkout the FAQs page on the website or reach out to our team.
What to Expect
The 2025 Writers’ Conference will be a significant gathering of writers and those who love literature. You can expect to learn from incredible authors in the ballroom, attend stimulating workshops and advanced classes where you will hone your craft, and benefit from amazing opportunities to connect with other readers, writers and industry experts. This year’s event (2025) is also about choice. You can choose your own adventure with a wide array of events, workshops, panels, and speakers from which to select. This year’s program will engage, invigorate, and stimulate you!
Ticketing, Registration & Scheduling
1. Badge Pick Up Times & Location for Package or Bundle Holders*
Badge pick-up for package and bundle holders begins the day before the conference. Please stop by our registration desk in the lobby of the Hotel Real de Minas (where the conference will take place) during the following times:
- Tuesday, February 11 from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, February 12 from 8:00 a.m. to 6:45 p.m.
- Thursday, February 13–Sunday, February 16 from 8:15 a.m. to 6:45 p.m.
While badges will be available for pick-up all week, we highly recommend you stop as early as possible (either during the day on Tuesday or early Wednesday morning) to obtain your badge and program materials so you can arrive by 9am to the Open Plenary on Day 1 (Wednesday).
A note for Patrons: You are welcome to pick up your badge on Tuesday at our registration desk or on Wednesday at the Patron Hospitality Suite.
*Not a badge or bundle holder? Please read #3 below for how general ticketing will work.
2. How Ticketing Works & What to Bring When Picking Up Your Badge
All tickets are e-tickets (no physical tickets are sent) and are delivered via email after purchase. Your order confirmation is your ticket.
The only thing you need to bring when picking up your badge is a form of ID. You do NOT need to bring a printed order confirmation as our team will have the name of the ticket buyer in our records.
Multiple individual ticket holders must arrive together, as only the buyer’s name will appear on the attendee list.
3. Accessing Events for Individual Event Ticket-Holders
If you did NOT purchase a package or a bundle and instead, purchased individual tickets for one or more events, simply give your name at the door of the event you’re attending and bring an ID. Our team will have an attendee list for all events that require prior registration.
4. Tickets Sales Before and During the Conference
Though our packages have sold out, you can still buy individual tickets online for select workshops and events by heading over to our à la carte menu.
If you’d like to purchase a last-minute ticket while you’re at the conference, and that event hasn’t yet sold out, you can do so at the registration desk in the lobby of the hotel at least 30 minutes before the event.
5. Registration Desk General Hours
Our registration desk, where you can pick up badges (for package or bundle holders) and buy last-minute tickets during the conference, will be located in the lobby of the Hotel Real de Minas, running during these times:
- Tuesday, February 11 from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
- Wednesday, February 12 from 8:00 a.m. to 6:45 p.m.
- Thursday, February 13–Sunday, February 16 from 8:15 a.m. to 6:45 p.m.
6. Changing Your Schedule
If you’d like to switch one of your 90-minute workshops, you can do so as long as there are seats available. This needs to be done at least 48 hours before your workshop. Simply contact us via our online Contact Form and we’ll handle the rest.
Location & Schedule Information
Make sure to review the conference schedule to familiarize yourself with the flow of events throughout the week. We will have printed versions of this schedule listing in detail all the locations where various workshops, keynotes, and other activities will take place.
Concierge
We will have a concierge station open throughout the conference where you can ask questions and get support.
Connectivity
Charging stations are limited throughout the hotel, so make sure to bring a fully-charged phone.
We’ve set up a dedicated Wi-Fi network for your convenience during the conference. To ensure a smooth experience for all attendees, please use it only for conference-related activities and avoid large downloads or uploads. Thanks for helping keep the connection strong for everyone!
Network Name: SMWC GUESTS
Password: CONFERENCE2025
Handouts & Note-Taking
To find out whether your class has a handout, please visit this page. If your class has a “Handout Available” designation, you can find these in your account on the website (click on MY ACCOUNT on the top menu and then on Downloads on the left menu). Otherwise, faculty has been/will be in touch with you or your workshop does not require one. We recommend checking the list in advance so you can download or print anything you may need, as there are no on-site printing services (more on that below).In addition to handouts, we encourage you to bring a notebook and pen or your own laptop for note-taking and writing exercises.
Printing Services
There are no printers available at the hotel. If you need to print documents, we recommend visiting one of the nearby print shops: Araiza Computación is at Ancha de San Antonio 119-B. About a two-minute walk further on the Ancha de San Antonio is Servimax at El Cardo 1. Our concierge can orient you to these locations.
Pre-Event Registrations
Be sure to pre-register for the following events: The Open Plenary (already included in packages), The Big Read discussion of Martyr! by Kaveh Akbar, the Poetry Fire Circle under the stars, Author Readings/Open Mic, Discussion Circles, Individual Consultations with industry experts, our vibrant Mexican Fiesta (already included in packages), and our Post-Conference Workshop.
Also, be sure to check out our list of curated excursions around San Miguel! If you’re wondering how to find time for these excursions given our busy conference schedule, we recommend making Saturday an adventure day (as long as you don’t already have a morning or afternoon Intensive).
Late-Night Events
Each evening, we will host off-site events such as Storytelling, Author Readings, the Poetry Fire Circle, and our famous Mexican Fiesta, and the Patron Dinner (if you are a Patron). These events are included in your package, or you can purchase them à la carte.
We have created a Google Map where you can find the location of the various spots where offsite events will take place.
Don’t Miss the Fiesta!
Ticket sales close on Thursday, February 13th, at 6 PM, so grab yours here while you can! Enjoy a street food feast, tequila, margaritas, and live Mexican music and performances—a perfect way to celebrate Valentine’s Day. The event takes place in an outdoor 18th-century hacienda, so dress festively and bring layers for the cool evening air.
- LOCATION: Foro El Obraje
- TIME: 8:15–10:30 PM
- ADDRESS: Calzada de la Presa #50, Centro
Getting There:
- Taxi/Uber: Best way to avoid crowds.
- Shuttle Service: A limited number of shuttles will run between Real De Minas and Foro El Obraje from 8:00–11:00 PM. Shuttles will depart once full, so please be patient.
- Shuttle Meeting Point: Real De Minas lobby
- Valet Parking: Available next to Foro El Obraje for $150 pesos
Being on Time
Please make every effort to arrive on time for all conference events, including keynotes and workshops. We understand there’s a lot to fit in, but punctuality ensures a smooth experience for everyone. Late arrivals, especially for keynotes, may not be accommodated.
Bookstore
Our bookstore will feature books from our keynote speakers, faculty, and San Miguel Literary Sala authors. The bookstore will be cashless, and credit cards will be required for purchases.
A note for published authors: Some of you have asked if you can sell your books at our bookstore. Unfortunately, it is too late to do that for this year’s conference but we invite you to become a Literary Sala member and sell your books with us at our bookstore in 2026.
Affinity Groups
Affinity Group lunches are on Wednesday, February 12th. If you signed up for these lunches, you should have received an email with your group and meeting details. Haven’t heard from us? Check your spam folder or contact partners@sanmiguelwritersconference.org in case of an email bounce-back.
Networking During the Conference
In addition to the Affinity Group Lunch on Day 1, we also will have a bulletin board at the conference to help you connect with fellow writers by leaving messages and questions for one another. You can also mix, mingle, and make new friends in smaller-group spaces such as in our Discussion Circles and Coffee & Connection Corner.
Wellness at the Conference
Start your day feeling refreshed and inspired with our daily wellness offerings.
- Morning Yoga: Join us for a free yoga class each morning at 7:45 a.m. on the back lawn near the Enforma Wellness Tent. No sign-up required—just bring your own towel or mat.
- Special Wellness Experiences presented by Enforma Wellness: Explore a variety of wellness activities, including Tarot readings, Mayan readings, Mexican flute classes, sound healing, spa days, and more. To view the full schedule and sign up in advance for these paid classes, make your way to the Enforma Wellness Tent on the back lawn. We’ll share the daily wellness schedule on our Writers’ Conference Instagram, along with the Enforma’s Wellness Instagram, so be sure to follow us for updates. Be sure to also download the Enforma wellness app to see what is going on around town!
Food & Drink at the Conference
The hotel restaurant buffet will be open for purchase (breakfast and lunch) throughout the conference, offering a variety of options, including some gluten-free choices. For quick bites, a “Grab & Go” café will also be available with snacks and take away items for purchase.
We recommend you also explore the numerous restaurants around the hotel to find a place that will suit your needs. The local eateries on our list are close to the Real De Minas hotel and will offer conference perks or discounts if you mention you’re a conference attendee!
To reduce waste, we encourage you to bring a reusable water bottle each day of the conference.
Packing for San Miguel
The average temperature in February ranges from 55°F/12°C to 75°F/23°C. This year has been particularly cold, especially in the mornings, so please dress warmly and in layers, so you can stay comfortable throughout the day. Good walking shoes are also important. San Miguel is built on a hill with many cobblestone streets.
Pesos
While many places in San Miguel accept credit cards (including the Conference Bookstore), you’ll want to have some pesos on hand for taxis (these typically cost 80 Mexican pesos or around USD 4 to get anywhere in Centro/Downtown) and smaller transactions. We recommend using your ATM card to withdraw pesos at a good exchange rate. There is an ATM at the hotel and we also recommend using the ATM at the airport if you are flying in.
Safety in San Miguel
In spite of the recent news reports about increases in violence in Mexico, a holiday in San Miguel de Allende is safer than vacationing in some parts of the U.S. San Miguel is a great distance from the cartel wars and highway robberies and it is safe to travel from the airports (León, Querétaro, Mexico City) to San Miguel either by car, shuttle, or bus. Walking the streets of San Miguel during the day and in the evenings is also safe. Please read our FAQs for further information.
Medical Needs
In case of an emergency, please dial 911. These numbers work in Mexico, just as they do in the U.S.A. If you don’t have an emergency but would like to contact a doctor while you’re in town, we can recommend the following clinics and hospitals:
The Clinic San Miguel
- Website: theclinicsma.com/en
- Email: recepcion@smahealthservices.com
- Phone number: + 52 (415) 152-2255
Hospital Joya San Miguel
- Website: hospitaljoya.com/hospital-joya-smda
- Phone number: +52 (415) 152-5900
Accessibility & Service Animals
If you have any last-minute accessibility support needs, please email Jeanne Mills at coordinator@sanmiguelwritersconference.org.
While the Hotel Real de Minas has a pet-friendly guest room policy, we kindly request that only designated service animals accompany attendees in conference spaces. This helps ensure a welcoming, comfortable, and distraction-free environment for everyone.
Social Media Contests
Get ready to capture the excitement of SMWC 2025! Follow us on Facebook and Instagram share your favorite conference moments, tagging us by using #SMWC2025. Post daily for a chance to win amazing prizes in our exclusive social media contests! Whether it’s a standout session, a fun networking moment, or your conference look—we want to see it all! Stay tuned for daily contest details and get ready to snap, tag, and WIN!
Accommodations
Packages do not include accommodations. To make a reservation (special rates + breakfast) at the Hotel Real de Minas, you must contact the hotel directly via telephone at 011(52) 415 152 2626 or 011(52) 415 980 0191, or email at both reservaciones1@realdeminas.com and reservaciones2@ realdeminas.com. Make sure to mention this promo code: SMAWC.