Pénjamo sits in southwestern Guanajuato, away from the state's better-known colonial showpieces. Its claim is not polish but identity: Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, the Father of Mexican Independence, was born at nearby Corralejo, and the surrounding hills hold one of the Bajío's more interesting archaeological sites.
The clear first stop is Zona Arqueológica de Plazuelas, where pyramidal platforms, a ball court, and carved stones sit in dry hill country. Corralejo Ex Hacienda gives the city its national-history weight, while the Jardín Principal and churches make the centre worth a short wander.
Pénjamo also has a rougher outdoor side in the Sierra de Pénjamo, with canyons, waterfalls, and hiking country nearby. It is a strong day for travellers already in the Bajío who want something less rehearsed than the famous colonial circuit.