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2 cities
State · Bajío e cidades coloniais
Querétaro
Querétaro: the historic center and the aqueduct, the Peña de Bernal, the wineries and cheesemakers of Tequisquiapan and the Franciscan missions of the Sierra Gorda.
In the photo: Misión de Landa de Matamoros
Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.
The state
Get to know Querétaro
Querétaro lies in the Bajío, about 210 km north of Mexico City, between the dry plateau and the green mountains of the Sierra Gorda. It is a small state, with a well-preserved colonial capital and towns that are among the most popular weekend trips in the country's central region.
Santiago de Querétaro, the capital, has a World Heritage historic center with plazas, baroque churches, the convent of Santa Rosa de Viterbo and the 74-arch aqueduct from the 18th century that brought water to the city. It was in Querétaro that the independence conspirators met, and the Constitution of 1917 was signed there.
About 60 km away is Bernal, a town at the foot of the Peña de Bernal, one of the largest monoliths in the world, which can be partly climbed via a trail. Tequisquiapan and the surrounding area form the cheese-and-wine route, with wineries producing sparkling wines and cheesemakers open for visits.
To the north, in the Sierra Gorda, five 18th-century Franciscan missions with baroque façades full of carved figures are a World Heritage site; the base for visits is Jalpan de Serra. The Sierra Gorda biosphere reserve protects forests, rivers and canyons. On the table, cheese gorditas and the region's wine.
Destinations
1 destination in Querétaro
Cities
2 cities in Querétaro in the guide
Querétaro
Bernal
Bernal is a village in the semi-desert of Querétaro, at the foot of the Peña de Bernal, a rock monolith about 350 meters high, one of the largest in the world. The village has cobblestone streets with colorful houses, the church of San Sebastián, a small castle, wool and sweet shops, and freshly made corn gorditas. It is a Pueblo Mágico.
Querétaro
Jalpan de Serra
Jalpan de Serra is the main town of the Sierra Gorda of Querétaro, a biosphere reserve of mountains, canyons and forests. It has the first of the five Franciscan missions founded by friar Junípero Serra in the 18th century, with a carved baroque façade, a World Heritage Site. It is a Pueblo Mágico and a base for visiting the other missions and the region’s natural attractions.
When to go
From October to May days are usually dry and sunny, with cold nights from December to February. From June to September it rains in the afternoons, and the Sierra Gorda becomes greener. The grape harvest is usually celebrated between late May and July at the wineries. Querétaro is 3 hours behind Brasília.
Getting there
Querétaro airport (QRO) receives flights from several cities in Mexico and the United States. From Mexico City it is about a 3-hour bus or car ride via Highway 57. Bernal and Tequisquiapan are about 1 hour from the state capital, and Jalpan de Serra about 4 hours by mountain road.
Your questions
Frequently asked questions about Querétaro
Can you climb the Peña de Bernal?
There is a trail to a high point of the monolith, open to visitors; the final section is technical climbing, only with equipment and a guide.
How many days should you allow for Querétaro?
Two days for the capital and Bernal, plus one for Tequisquiapan and the wineries. The Sierra Gorda missions require two additional days.
Is Querétaro close to San Miguel de Allende?
Yes, about a 1-hour drive, and many travelers combine the two cities.
What are the Sierra Gorda missions?
Five 18th-century Franciscan churches with carved baroque façades, scattered across the mountains in the north of the state. They are a World Heritage site.