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
SAN LUIS POTOSÍ
Doctor community in Cadereyta, this campsite is perfect for enjoying beautiful sunrises and trips to waterfalls, and in July and December you can even help collect apples. Call (441) 109 2860
Toluquilla Archological Site
Santiago de Querétaro
Termas del Rey water park
Quesos VAI Celaya 28 mi Morelia 124 mi
El Cerrito Archological Site
Santuario de Schoenstatt Rancho San Josemaría Mundo Cimacuático
CORREGIDORA
Mina La Carbonera PEDRO ESCOBEDO
H U I M I L PA N
San Pedro Huimilpan Camp
El Oasis water park Viñedos los Rosales Vinícola San Patricio
Quesos Néole
Escolásticas Huimilpan
Museo de la Muerte
San Pedro Dam
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Querétaro’s Ministry of Tourism Pasteur 4 norte, Centro Histórico, Santiago de Querétaro. 76000, México T. from México 01 800 715 1742 / from u.s.a 1 888 811 6130 info@queretaro.travel
La Isla (Tzibanzá) Camp
Tequisquiapan
La Vinificadora Presa Centenario
SAN JUAN DEL RÍO
Toluca 121 mi
México City 138 mi
Amealco
World Heritage Cultural sight Natural sight
La Barranca de la Mula
Wine and Cheese Route Water park
MICHOACÁN
Constituyente
www.queretaro.travel
San Juan del Río
Cerro de los Gallos A M E A L C O DE BONFIL San José Cabañas Ithó Jajelilo
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Visit Querétaro on line
El Doctor
La Tortuga Templo de Soriano Camp CADEREYTA Rancho Peña de DE MONTES La Hondonada Bernal Rancho Cavas Santa Laguna de Quesería Freixenet Cadereyta Marina Ajuchitlán del Rebaño Quinta Schmoll Bodegas Viñedos Paso Jardín Botánico Regional de Cote de Serra Intercontinental Viñedos Azteca Ezequiel Montes Airport Wamerú Villa Progreso Zoo San Joaquín water park Viñedos La Redonda
Juriquilla
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San Joaquín
Vinos del Marqués QUERÉTARO
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Ranas Archological Site
Gruta Los Herrera
Colón Dam
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you with nature, and gives all visitors an adventureand adrenaline-filled trip. On top of this, this area is home to the magnificent Franciscan Missions: Concá, Jalpan, Landa, Tilaco and Tancoyol, whose buildings symbolize the last phase of evangelism in México. For more information, go to www.queretaro.travel
La Soledad Dam COLÓN
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Cañón de los Pilones
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El Zamorano San Miguel de Allende 45 mi
SAN JOAQUÍN
Parque Nacional Campo Alegre
Capillas Otomíes
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El Jabalí Camp
El Oasis water park
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In the municipality of Corregidora, just 15 minutes from the Historic Center of the state capital, you will find a pre-Hispanic settlement that includes squares, altars, and small rectangular bases built on rocky outcrops. Built at the peak of the Teotihuacán civilization, el Cerrito served as a seat of political and religious power from 400 ad by those who appropriated its symbolic value.
Zacatecas 243 mi San Luis Potosí 127 mi
Bucareli Mission Bucareli Extremo
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El Cerrito
Sierra Gorda Zone: This route will connect
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You can explore the area on foot, or by a fun tram ride. On the way you can admire the impressive architecture of mansions and ex-convents that today are museums, hotels and theaters that demonstrate the city’s avant-guard modern lifestyle.
Just before San Joaquín, on one of the highest hills in the region, are the ruins of the important pre-Hispanic city of Toluquilla. Here you can see leafy forest, stairways, corridors, residential areas, walls that are more than two meters high, and four ballgame courts that have been built into the site. The entire urban design of the site revolves around these spaces and is faithfully adapted to the lay of the land on the hill.
Cañón del Paraíso
Southern Zone: In this zone, you can visit the magnificent remains of haciendas that once belonged to Querétaro’s most wealthy families, and which store a whole host of stories and legends that you cannot miss. For more information, go to www.queretaro.travel
PINAL DE AMOLES
Misión PEÑAMILLER Mirador de Palmas Cuatro Palos
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In 1996, the city’s Historic Center Monuments Zone was declared as Cultural World Heritage by unesco. The criteria for this title are clearly met in the area’s exceptional viceregal architecture, which is a clear example of the fusion that took place here over time between the indigenous and Spanish settlements.
Toluquilla
Semi-Desert Zone: This zone is made up of
Tancama Archological Site El Salto waterfall
Landa Mission Tilaco Mission
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Located just two hours away from México City, Santiago de Querétaro is a meeting place for the past and present, both of which are evident in the contrast between cobbled streets and colonial buildings. Due to its strategic geographical location, Querétaro has been the scene of many significant events in México’s history.
Puerta del Cielo
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Historic Center
Ranas is an archaeological lookout with enviable views. At 2,400 meters above sea level, the zone is made up of three terraces for playing ball aligned over a central axis, along with circular ceremonial buildings.
Pinal de Amoles El Chuveje waterfall
GUANAJUATO
LANDA DE MATAMOROS
Mundo Acuático water park
Cañón de La Angostura
El Lobo
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Cabañas Chuveje, Pinal de Amoles: Call (555) 150 0131
Río Blanco
Xilitla 167 mi
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San Antonio, El Doctor, Cadereyta de Montes: Call 045 (441) 117 1205
We can sum up Querétaro in 3 zones where you can enjoy the flavor, culture, history, nature and fun to be had in our state:
México City
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Las Trancas, Pinal de Amoles: Call 045 (441) 107 3315
Jalpan Mission
Museo Histórico
Sierra Río Escanela de la Gorda Camp
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Campamento San Joaquín: Call (441) 293 5274
Located at the starting point of Querétaro’s Sierra Gorda, and just three kilometers from the old mining village of San Joaquín, you will find the ruins of a pre-Hispanic city that was built and inhabited between 600 and 1000 ad. They are located at the top of two hills and have an extraordinary view.
El Madroño
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Other Campsites:
Tancoyol Mission
Sótano del Barro
Zones of Querétaro
the delicious Cheese and Wine Route, which combines products from Querétaro’s vineyards and cheese factories. You can also learn about the traditions of the Otomís and Chichimecas here, which have been declared Cultural World Heritage, or visit two of the biggest botanical gardens in Latin America. For more information, go to www.queretaro.travel
Las Adjuntas
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Ranas
Ayutla water park
Querétaro
Morelia
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El Abanico water park
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Archaeological zones
Concá Mission
San Juan de los Durán Camp
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the Sierra Gorda, you will find a network of eco lodges that offer self-sustaining campsites, cabins and houses surrounded by forest. For more information, visit www.sierragorda.net
State of Querétaro
Guanajuato
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Eco Lodges: Hidden in various communities in
Other unmissable places for your visit are the Museo de la Ciudad (the City Museum); the Museo de Arte (the Art Museum), which has the most beautiful cloister in America; the Aqueduct, an excellent symbol of Querétaro; and the La Cruz convent, which guards the treasure of its trees that have thorns in the shape of the cross.
Just 15 minutes from Jalpan is Tancama, which means ‘Hill of Fire’ or ‘Land of Flint’ in the Huastec language. Discover this place, which was permanently inhabited for around 400 years; its population arrived in 200 bc and it wasn’t until 200 ad that they started to abandon the site. This area is made up of three plazas on a slope, and during the winter solstice the sun lines up with the peak of the Cerro Alto or High Hill.
San Miguel
Río Verde 207 mi
Tancama
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Bucareli Extremo: In the small town of Bucareli, in Pinal de Amoles, you will find Bucareli Extremo, a 10 km circuit made up of 9 zip-lines that travel through the magnificent landscapes of the Sierra Gorda. Call 044 (442) 445 2134
Amongst its architectural attractions, you cannot miss the Plaza de Armas (the Parade Square); the Teatro de la República (The Republic Theater), where the Constitution was signed; the Museo Regional (the Regional Museum) and the Santa Rosa de Viterbo temple, a real gem of Baroque architecture.
ESTADO DE MÉXICO
Sacred Valley Otomí – Chichimeca 16 mi
Design and edition: Querétaro’s Ministry of Tourism. T15K
El Bosque de las Hojas: Located in the El
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