Following the Path of Las Cachinches Arroyo
Las Cachinches Arroyo
Las Cachinches Arroyo is more than a line on a map. It is a strand in an ancient web of waterways that connects the natural and human history of San Miguel de Allende.
For countless generations, water has flowed from the surrounding hills through a network of springs and streams, shaping the landscape we know today. These waters sustained a rich diversity of plants and wildlife and provided an essential source of water for the Otomí and other Indigenous peoples who made their homes along the waterways.
Three presas (dams) now punctuate the upper stream. Between Presa San Carlos and Presa Las Colonias lie Parque Landeta and El Charco del Ingenio, an important protected natural area where native vegetation and wildlife offer a glimpse of the landscape that once characterized much of the watershed. Below Presa del Obraje, the waterway takes the name Las Cachinches Arroyo, winding through the heart of San Miguel before flowing into Presa Ignacio Allende.
As you follow Las Cachinches Arroyo downstream, you'll discover layers of San Miguel's history—from haciendas and orchards to textile mills, dams and the remnants of pipes that once carried water to generate electricity, and the arrival of the railroad.
Farther downstream lies San Miguel Viejo, an area with roots reaching back to early Indigenous communities and later the site of the original Franciscan mission settlement of San Miguel.
Centuries of growth have transformed the arroyo. Natural springs have diminished, development has altered its banks and floodplain, and today much of the water moving through Las Cachinches comes from summer rains and stormwater runoff from the city. Yet this urban stream remains a living part of the landscape—providing essential habitat for wildlife and carrying water along a course shaped long before the streets and neighborhoods that surround it today.
ARTIST: Stefánia Cuervo
I’m Stefánia Cuervo, 33, born and raised here in San Miguel. Storytelling is my biggest passion; whatever medium I find, I will definitely want to explore it.
My background is in fashion and documentary photography. I’ve loved drawing since I was a little girl, though it wasn't until 2021 that I finally took a leap of faith and painted an elephant that kept playing in my mind. I also have a unique obsession with birds and maps; I love creating and designing maps that double as puzzles filled with secrets.
I like to think of myself as a sculptor who sculpts with paint, a traveler who freezes time with her camera, and a poet who preserves and shares memories.
Contact: Instagram: @stefaniacuervo WhatsApp: +52 415 249 3512
Social Media: @khamaleonparadox @aravensartbook
Artist Statement:
I created a visual representation of the path the water follows until it becomes the Arroyo de las Cachinches, illustrating some of the most important landmarks along this path, featuring El Charco del Ingenio nature reserve, the old Train Station, and the historic village of San Miguel Viejo.
San Miguel de Allende is a semi-arid region, which is why its vegetation includes huizaches, mesquite, pirul trees, and hundreds of cactaceae species. This ecosystem is home to majestic birds like the caracara and owls, as well as ringtails (cacomixtles), snakes, turtles, an amazing variety of insects, alongside other mammals and reptiles.
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