Hola Mexico-loving friends,

Welcome to the Mexico Spotlight newsletter. You are receiving this because you are already subscribed to my monthly Mexico newsletter.

This newsletter highlights specific destinations around Mexico. I hope to shine a spotlight on lesser-known destinations or slightly off-the-beaten-path towns and cities that are close to places that you may already have on your Mexico bucket list.

Why Querétaro?

Querétaro has grown in popularity over the last few years, especially as a place to live, but for foreign tourists, it remains one of those cities that often flies under the radar. Just a three-hour bus journey from Mexico City, it is easy to reach. It even has its own international airport now.

The city’s historic center is a UNESCO World Heritage Site, filled with cobblestone streets, pastel facades, and leafy plazas. The most striking feature (in my humble opinion) is Querétaro’s 18th-century aqueduct, a massive stone structure with 74 towering arches that once carried water into the city.

There's plenty to do in the city for a few days as a visitor. You can wander through beautifully preserved neighborhoods, admire the mix of baroque and neoclassical architecture, and pop into some excellent museums, like the Museo de Arte, housed in a former convent with incredible frescoes. There’s also a growing modern side with cafes, galleries, and an incredible culinary scene.

With its mix of history, architecture, and culture, not to mention its proximity to wine country and awesome hiking spots like Peña de Bernal, Querétaro has a little bit of everything.

How to Get to Querétaro

If you can snag a direct flight to Querétaro International Airport (code: AIQ), then this is the easiest way to arrive in the city. From the airport, you can hop in a taxi and be downtown in about 30 minutes. There are direct flights from Chicago, Detroit, Dallas, Atlanta, San Antonio, and Houston in the US.

Alternatively, you can fly into Mexico City and take the bus directly from the Mexico City Airport to Queretaro downtown. It takes about three and a half hours.

Things to Do in Querétaro

This neighborhood isn't the place to come for tons of activities or museums. Rather, it's about getting lost along the cobbled streets and stopping into the local shops, cafes, and restaurants.

• Stroll the Historic Center: Wander cobblestone streets lined with colorful facades, baroque churches, and leafy plazas in this UNESCO World Heritage Site.
• See the Aqueduct: Snap photos of the city’s 18th-century aqueduct, with 74 towering arches stretching dramatically across the skyline.
• Visit Museo de Arte: Explore a stunning former convent filled with colonial and modern art, plus frescoed cloisters.
• Relax in Plaza de Armas: Sip coffee or wine at an outdoor café while soaking up the lively atmosphere of the main square.
• Day Trip to Peña de Bernal: Hike or admire one of the world’s largest monoliths, just under an hour from the city.
• ​Wine and Cheese Route: Tour local vineyards and sample artisan cheeses in the countryside around Querétaro.
• Templo de Santa Rosa de Viterbo: Marvel at one of the city’s most ornate baroque churches, famous for its curved flying buttresses.
• ​Take a Day Trip to Sierra Gorda: This magical mountain area is well worth visiting either with a tour or by renting a car and driving yourself. Alex Wittman has a great video about heading to this beautiful part of the state.

Where to Stay in Querétaro

There is a seemingly endless selection of midrange hotels in Querétaro. Most of the hacienda-style hotels and smaller boutique options range from $50-$80 per night. At this price, you get a fantastic room and often, breakfast included. Even the luxury options are affordable when compared to hotel prices in Mexico City or at one of Mexico's many beach towns.

Budget

• ​Monkey Safari Hostel: If you're traveling solo or with friends and you want to stay in a more social place to meet fellow travelers, this is the best option in the city. Single rooms start at $25 per night.
• ​Casa Tuna: This is the best deal in the city. For $25 per night, you get a double room with a shared bathroom, and breakfast is included. It's more of a hostel than a hotel, but there are no bunks, and people of all ages stay here.
• ​Hotel RJ: It doesn't get much cheaper than $18 a night, which is how much the rooms cost here. It's centrally located, clean, and has a kitchen to prep meals if you want to save more money and self-cater.

Mid Range

• ​Mamá Carlota: This is a cute local hotel in the downtown area with a nice outdoor seating area, comfortable rooms, and strong WiFi. Rooms start at $47 per night.
• ​Hotel Madero: This hotel is on the higher end of the mid-range, but if you book far enough in advance or you have Genius discounts on Booking.com, you can get rooms here for as low as $60 per night. It's a stunningly decorated boutique hotel in the historic center. Breakfast isn't included, but it is available for a set fee.
• ​Hotel Hidalgo: This is a beautiful historic hotel in the downtown area of Querétaro with a courtyard, comfortable and well-lit rooms, and an on-site restaurant for meals. Rooms start at $60 per night.

Luxury

• ​Casona de la República: This is one of the most luxurious hotels in Querétaro. It has an on-site spa, a rooftop with a hot tub, and and beautiful Art Nouveau courtyard where you can lounge in the afternoons. Rooms start at $200 per night.
• ​Casa Loreta: This is one of the few hotels on my list that also has a pool to cool off in, which would be perfect if you are visiting during the warmer months! Rooms start at $90 per night.

Where to Eat in Querétaro

Querétaro has the perfect mix of fantastic local spots and international cuisine on offer around the city. You can get delicious tacos, fresh jugo, and delectable tortas, or you can sit down for sushi, juicy burgers, and locally made craft beer.

• ​Gorditas del Andador: This little food stall is serving up one of the city's best local dishes, gorditas de migajas. There aren't many places to sit, and you'll wait in a line for up to 10 minutes, but it is entirely worth the wait.
• ​Los Picapiedra: Pozole, tacos, or tostadas are all that's on the menu, which is how you know you've found a good spot.
• ​La Biznaga Arte y Café: This was one of my absolute favorite breakfast spots in Querétaro. In the four days that I spent in the city, I ate here twice because the breakfast menu was full of so many good things I had to come back to try other things on it. Just note that it's cash only.
• ​Taqueria el no que no: This is one of my favorite simple taco spots. Suadero, pastor, chorizo, and bistec are all available here.

If you want to know more about Queretaro, Alex Wittman's YouTube channel is a wealth of information since she lived in the city for several years. I have also found Tourist to Local to be a great YouTube channel and website to learn more about the fun things to see, do, and eat there!

I hope this made you want to book a trip to this magical part of Mexico! If you have any questions, as always, feel free to hit reply and ask away!

Laura