Tourist attractions State of Querétaro
World Heritage
Magic Towns
The history, tradition and beauty guarded by some of the most iconic sites in Querétaro have been recognized by unesco with the title Cultural World Heritage:
Querétaro currently has five Magic Towns that have guarded the traditions that characterize the culture and individual lifestyle of each zone: San Sebastián Bernal, Jalpan, San Joaquín, Cadereyta and Tequisquiapan are areas filled with charm and magic, which must be visited and admired.
Historic Monuments Zone, Historic Center of Querétaro Named in 1996, the Historic Center of Querétaro is an exceptional example of how a city can accumulate history, tradition and culture. Along its streets and alleyways you can see magnificent viceregal buildings and relive their historic past.
Tourist attractions State of Querétaro
Franciscan Missions in the Sierra Gorda These five magnificent temples symbolize the last phase of evangelism in Mexico. Each building artistically reflects the Franciscan monks and indigenous people’s motives in a Baroque fusion style. The missions of Concá, Jalpan, Landa, Tilaco and Tancoyol were declared Cultural World Heritage in 2003.
Places of Memory and Living Traditions of the Otomí Chichimeca People of Tolimán
Spanning 11,688 km², Querétaro is a state that provides many opportunities for visitors to discover and enjoy its great natural and cultural riches. Its location in the center of the country, modern infrastructure, excellent connectivity and diversity of products to offer tourists make this a very special place to be. Querétaro has 4 World Heritage Sites, 5 Pueblos Mágicos (Magic Towns) and a Biosphere Reserve that offer excitement and adventure, on top of 4 archaeological zones that let us get to know our roots better. A54080516
You can experience our culture on the city streets, in our museums, at our cultural events, and in both our traditional and cosmopolitan cuisine. The region’s succulent gastronomy makes the most of our fertile soil, especially that of the semi-desert region with its cacti, making it ideal for pleasing even the most demanding palates. Live an experience without limits in Querétaro; a state that offers options for all tastes, and which is enriched by the hospitality of our residents.
San Sebastián Bernal Its streets and central square are examples of the quiet life lived by the residents of this town. Its main attraction: the magnificent monolith that adorns and importantly watches over this part of the municipality of Ezequiel Montes. Here you can go climbing, go hiking, admire its alleyways and taste its exquisite cuisine.
Jalpan The picturesque streets that adorn the oldest of the five Franciscan Missions are the reason why the municipal capital of Jalpan de Serra has been named a Magic Town. The infrastructure of its tourism services, in conjunction with the traditions of the area, makes this an ideal tourist destination. You must try their cured meat, a typical dish from the Sierra.
Cadereyta
These places were so-named in the town of Tolimán in 2009, and make up all the sacred places to the indigenous otomí - chichimeca people, which are represented in Querétaro’s semi-desert region, the familiar chapels, festivities, pilgrimage routes and the memory of the indigenous people.
The magic of Cadereyta dwells in its beautiful streets and provincial feel. Here you can visit two important cactus greenhouses: The Quinta Fernando Schmoll Greenhouse and the Manuel González de Cosío Regional Botanical Garden. More than four thousand types of plant from all over the world can be found in these two greenhouses.
Inland Royal Road
Tequisquiapan
This is the route along which material goods were passed and exchanged in the 16th Century from México City to Santa Fe, the capital of the former province of New México. It is also known as the Silver Road, and was declared World Heritage in 2010 by unesco. This route passed through México City, Querétaro, Guanajuato, Jalisco, San Luis Potosí, Aguascalientes, Zacatecas, Durango, Chihuahua, Texas and New México.
There is an abundance of reasons to visit this town. You can take a spectacular hot-air balloon ride here, visit a vineyard, or enjoy a guided tour of the opal mines. In the town center you will find restaurants and cafes that are ideal for spending an afternoon in with your family or friends.
San Joaquín This Magic Town is known as the cathedral of Huapango Huasteco dancing. Alongside its folklore, its ancestral profile stands out as it is also the location of one of Querétaro’s archaeological zones: Ranas (meaning Frogs). If this weren’t enough, San Joaquín has also been blessed by Mother Nature with numerous attractions, such as its waterfalls and landscapes that will capture the attention of anyone who visits.
Sierra Gorda Querétaro is proud of its Sierra Gorda, a lively space that’s full of color and has been declared a Biosphere Reserve due to its great diversity of ecosystems, ranging from tropical forest to semi-desert. For the adventurous, we recommend spending the night in one of the cabins at an ecotourism campsite, starting the day on a zip-line before riding a quad-bike, and finishing the day around a bonfire. You can travel around the sierra by bicycle, motorcycle or Jeep, climb up it and abseil down it. There are extreme sports for all there.
Eco tourism camps San Pedro Huimilpan: Right on the edge of the San Pedro dam in Huimilpan, this campsite is ideal for mountain biking and traveling with pets. Call 045 (448) 100 5025 El Jabalí: Their main attraction are their quad bike trips from San Joaquín, which take you past the Bucareli Mission, canyons, mines and mountains. Call 045 (441) 107 2239
La Isla: Located on the Zimapán dam in Cadereyta, this is the ideal place for relaxing and fishing for black bass. Call 045 (773) 136 9339 La Tortuga, Villas & Temascal: This is a holistic center in the community of San Antonio de la Cal in Tolimán, just behind the Bernal monolith. It has a temascal sweat lodge, massage parlors, a swimming pool and a Jacuzzi. Call 045 (441) 110 0373