Queretaro: Less Obvious Things to do?

Hi All,

I am returning to most beloved and most noble and loyal Cuidad Santiago de Queretaro in few weeks time and will be again crossing Sieera Gorda to Huasteca region. No kids this time so pretty mobile.

I have a good half of a day to spend between Queretaro and Bernal before I really have to start moving (my next stop is Penamiller and it's not particularly far but the road is crazy so I won't lo leave/pass Bernal no later than 4 pm). Looking for recommendations, looking for something less obvious. I have been to Bernal a number of times, been to Cadereyta and Tequis. Lats April we used a publication by the Queretaro's Travel board to visit several haciendas and wineries around Tequis and it was fun but I think I have explored this option as well.

What are the other wonderful places to explore near Queretaro - preferably east of it?

Many thanks in advance!
/alter

Have you visited the Xilitla area attractions ? carracar

Greetings, alterigor.
Don't know if what I'll post is of any value or not. And I'm assuming you'll have a car.
From centro, take Zaragoza out towards the end of the acueducto, and then take the turn out towards the Hercules colonia. The Cerveceria Hercules is a cool place in an old converted textile mill. Good beer, limited menu. I could envision both Hercules and La Cañada (just down the road) becoming gentrified in a bohemian kind of way someday.
https://www.mexicodesconocido.com.mx/fabrica-hercules-cervezas.html
Continue on 200 out towards the airport, but take a left towards La Griega at the 500 intersection. There's an OXXO there, shocking, no? Anyway, just east of La Griega is the Puerto Del Lobo winery, with a pleasant restaurant with a nice view of the valley.
http://puertadellobo.mx
From there, on the way to Bernal, you'll pass by El Lobo which has a restored hacienda but it's not open to the public just yet. The road continues but eventually becomes cobblestone that connects to 510 that goes through Colon and Ajuchitlan, the latter having a pleasant park near a pond, then to the highway to Bernal. Really nice views all along the way.
Another option between Queretaro and Bernal takes you through Atongo. There are a couple of wineries for which you need reservations, but the restaurant 1651 in Atongo might be of interest.
http://hacienda-atongo.business.site
You can get there from La Griega (as described above) or by taking Fray Junipero Serra to the Chichimeqillas exit which gives you a nice view of the valley and the city. From Atongo, you can continue on to 510.

Sotana de Barro is a famous site to see the military macaws. I wrote a trip report recently about my visit to El Chilar, Oaxaca to see the local population there. I guess you´re not interested in birds, but it does meet your criteria of Less Obvious Things to do.

Thank you, Everybody!

Carracar, Mclarjh - yes, I have been to a number of points of interests in Sierra Gorda, including Sotano de Barro (McLarjh, I am pretty sure per your suggestion few years ago) - I have a very funny photo of me going down to Santa Mair de Cocos on a burro ;) I have been to Sotano de Galandrinas, Cueva del Sol, Tamul, etc. There is a huge deal of other attractions in Huasteca region, of course, but right now I am trying to figure out something new to do/visit between the city of Queretaro and Penamiller :)

ElPelon - yes, thank you, this is precisesly along the lines of what I am looking for. There is a beautiful wall-size hand-drawn with black ink map of all the Sierra Gorda's Missions and Churches of importance on the wall inside the garage entrance to the hotel Maria del Carmen in Jalpan. Of all the places on that map, Colon is the only one I haven't been so far so I guess this is a set deal :) Thank you for the recommendations.

The other option I researched yesterday is to do a climb to the top of Bernal, with one of few local operators. There is an easy route that utilizes permanent "staples" mounted into the side. But I am not sure I will be upto that ;) (I do plan to hike in Sierra Gorda but I am not sure I am upto climbing, even an easy route). So I may just enjoy wine in the winery you linked instead ;)))

Saludos!
/zhe

I haven`t hiked up Pena de Bernal, but I just checked Google Maps for terrain, and photos, and there must be an easier route up, because in one photo I saw a line of tourists casually walking up the hill.

I hiked pretty far up Bernal when I was there, but it started to rain and my shoes were pretty slick once the path gave way to rocks. I was eating some excellent blue corn quesadillas back near the base and one of the tour operators chatted me up, he had lived in San Diego, said the climb isn't that hard if you know the correct route.

I recently noticed a pyramid on the map on the southwest side of Queretaro, "El Cerrito". I had spent a week in Queretaro a few years ago and never knew that was there.

I've been thinking about going back. Like you I've been to Bernal, Tequis, Cadereyta. The town of San Joaquin popped up on my radar and it looked like a place to check out. I don't know much about it, though.

If you weren't heading to/through Bernal, another option to get to Peñamiller could be to head north on 57 to San Jose Iturbide. It's not a Pueblo Magico, but certainly has the feel of one, except for the lack of tourists. Lovely town.
Nearby is the more touristy, bit still interesting, Mineral De Pozos. We drove to Peñamiller one time that way, but it's been a few years.
https://www.zonaturistica.com/atractivos-turisticos-en/125/san-jose-iturbide-guanajuato.html
That route takes you through Tierra Blanca, which when we did a 'drive by' looked interesting.
http://tierrablanca.webcindario.com/
Other research we did for about the area brought up Victoria/Arroyo Seco, which seemed interesting too, but we never made it there.
http://loccal.org/articles/2015/september/rock.php
There is a new restaurant in Bernal that took the place of an old standby in the last several months, whose prior name now escapes me. But it's an improvement.
http://mesondelaroca.com

I recently noticed a pyramid on the map on the southwest side of Queretaro, "El Cerrito".

I tried to visit this place when I was in Queretaro, but for some reason it was closed. Check with the tourist office before going out there, although it didn´t seem that far away.

Mclarjh, let me clear a confusion here. Th hike to a large natural "platform" somewhere around 200 meters altitude that provides excellent views n the town and valleys below is indeed easy - we have done it with kids few times; many Mexican parents carry babies; and we have seen more then few Mexican ladies going up in high hills (even though I personally always wear hiking sandals with good traction as in few places the path consists of slippery boulders that are not too comfortable to walk in regular shows, especially on the way down.) The hike is about 40/45 min one way for an average hiker. It is very popular place, with souvenir shops and food stands, etc.

But to get to the top (400+) meters - the walls are quite vertical. Most of the routes are quite technical - you have to have plenty of experience and come with proper gear. Something like this.

I have heard of easier routes. One of them is done using permanent staples. Like this. Supposedly, the route starts on the smaller platform right above the the Vista platform that is at the end of the hike I mentioned above. The stamples of course make things easier and safer - but still you need to com with safety ropes, carabine locks, and, if you have no experience, with a good instructor. I've read at one of the operator's site, it is 4 to 6 hrs round trip.

Peter (#6) - somehow pictures of San Joaquin never inspired me to visit the town. What I know however is that the time to visit is April when International Huasteco Dance festival is held there (http://sanjoaquin.gob.mx/) It must be amazing: as said, I've never been to SJ but few times that I stopped for a night in Pinal de Amoles, another municipal town in Sierra Gorda that I really like for its remoteness and friendliness and cleanliness and several beautiful streets, the town's teenagers were practicing for the festival in the Casa de la Cultura right the main plaza: we were watching them through the windows and they invited us in. It is a lot of fun to watch them practicing and I am sure the festival itself is just awesome.

Pinal is another place I'd like to visit. Actually, there are a half dozen in Queretaro. So I probably need to go back, it's been several years now. I have a $300 credit on Southwest I need to use by the end of May, so perhaps I'll fly to Mexico City and bus to Queretaro sometime soon.

ElPelon... That's exactly right!! I actually did travel from Penamiller to Mineral de Pozos (my friends used to own B&B there back in a day when it was not that touristy) - but I've never been to San Jose Iturbide. I will certainly consider going this route! - if not next week, maybe next time :) Many thanks, great idea!!

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