Queretaro

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Constitutional Querétaro

A travel journal to Queretaro by lobosolo

Green enchiladas with cheese 43 pesosMore Photos

Santiago de Querétaro, one of the principal historical México's cities: even before the official Spanish "foundation", a large group of Chichimecas, often referred as one of the last groups of Nahuatl, this Sangremal Hill was busy with people coming to take pleasure trips to the high mountains or thermal baths.

  • 17 reviews
  • 2 photos

Constitutional QuerétaroBest of IgoUgo

Overview

Querétaro is now part of the cultural world assets, is a home state of the National Biosphere Reserve and is visited by Europeans that say this is one of the cleanest colonial cities that very much resemble Santander in Spain. The city, still not as large as some other cities, was once capital for the country and from here is where the Insurgentes started their trip to freedom from the 16th century Spaniards under the Guadalupan Standard which made Fr. Miguel Hidalgo I. Costilla our "Father of Independence" so famous. A new country was being delivered and sovereign rulers from Spain, as well as Viceroys were no longer respected as the maximal authority.

Quick Tips:

If you come by road take highway 40 which connects from the US Interstate 35 in Laredo, TX with Nuevo Laredo, Tamaulipas, go south past Monterrey, Nuevo León through Saltillo, Coahuila. From here take Highway 57 heading south and pass Matehuala and San Luis Potosí, both in San Luis Potosí State and then still south to Querétaro. Make no turns on San Miguel de Allende's, Guanajuato detour (you'll go there later on your wayback North) and come into an old Hacienda hotel Jurica, which was native word for "Well Living". Once here you can lay back for a couple of days to rest from the 12hrs drive from San Antonio, TX. Then we can start your 5 days of historical visiting, where we can also have sun for sunbathing almost every day in the year, beware of the pure air which can get you sunburns if not careful. Of course if you rather fly you have two choices: México City or León (Bajío) International Airports to which Continental, Mexicana or Aeroméxico airlines can get you here. Both airports are about a 2 1/2 hrs drive away from Querétaro. I can help with arrangements for transportation and lodging

Best Way To Get Around:

Don't miss walking around the "andadores" in downtown and ask for a plate of Spiced Quesadillas Queretanas, it is a flavor you will remember for times to come by, just ask for a mild version for it might get a little too hot...

Hacienda JuricaBest of IgoUgo

Hotel | "Hotel Hacienda Jurica"

182 luxury rooms, including Suites with an exquisite colonial decor, some of if with real antiques. Ample settings and some of them with a gorgeous look to the swimming pool or the richly kept lawns and gardens, Hacienda style.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by lobosolo on February 21, 2001

Hacienda Jurica
Carretera San Luis Potosi Km 229 Queretaro, Mexico 76100
52-442-218-0022

Plaza CamelinasBest of IgoUgo

Hotel

A newly refurbished hotel with modern rooms and a beautiful set of gardens and lawns that host a nice pool. Food is excellent and continental style. This is a good choice, close to downtown and with ISO certification.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by lobosolo on February 22, 2001

Plaza Camelinas
5 de Febrero # 28 Queretaro, Mexico
(524) 216-5494

JosechoBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Ask for a platter of marlin toast while you decide if you have an exotic plate or rainbow trout. The owner is a good hunter so any choice you make is for sure going to be good to you palate. Plus the service you get is close to the best, for sure the best in the city.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by lobosolo on February 21, 2001

Josecho
Av. Constituyentesa 100 m de Plaza de Toros Santa Queretaro, Mexico
(524) 2160201

Porto Buzio sBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

The decor in this restaurant is a modern one. This was actually the first of two still running both. The second one is overlooking dam and is a lot more romantic.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by lobosolo on May 20, 2001

Porto Buzio s
Plaza Boulevares loc 18 Queretaro, Mexico

Porto Buzio sBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant | "Porto Buzios"

This restaurant is the second of a chain and is built right over a dam so you have a terrific look while dining. You have a handful of other restaurants, bars and nightclubs so you can round up a full night of fun in different moods.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by lobosolo on May 20, 2001

Porto Buzio s
Plaza Boulevares loc 18 Queretaro, Mexico

ChecándoleBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Traditional fast food in Mexico are tacos and some that are very popular are the "pastor" which are pork in a spicy overnight mixture and then put on a barrel to cook, these are the specialty here, but you can also get beef with cheese and in different cooking forms. Ask for Juan Carlos Paredes and he will get you the best service. They have two addresses, one at the North of the city and one at the South.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by lobosolo on June 26, 2001

Checándole
Plaza Jurica No. 7 Queretaro, Mexico

Cantina de Los RemediosBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

The decor is a mixture of very different Mexican memorabilia. You will find Golden Era pictures on the walls, a sombrero collection, a serving tray collection, and a good selection of folk phrases all over the place. It is named as a "cantina", so you will find plenty of tequila cocktails, beer and other liquors and spirits. If you ask for the special bomba (for $40 which will come roughly to 4 USD) you will probably not need any other drink for the night unless, of course, you want to be dragged out which might be also good for you -sometimes you need to get drunk! Food, however, is the best feature here and if you are looking for tasty Mexican food I would reccomend the "sopes poblanos", or a delicious "Remedios filet" both for about 10 dollars. For dessert don't miss the "tarta de manzana" baked on demand.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by lobosolo on June 26, 2001

Cantina de Los Remedios
Constituyentes Ote. 18 Queretaro, Mexico

El Porton de SantiagoBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Excellent food quality and fairly good service might not sound too good, but you are for sure going to have a good time and a tip will ensure better service. Plus, being at one of the world's asset cities and having the choice of enjoying theatre at the same time as good food might have set its price.
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by lobosolo on September 30, 2001

El Porton de Santiago
Pasteur Norte # 37, Centro Historico Queretaro, Mexico
2240783

Fa YianBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Exquisite choice of menus. The sweet and sour pork is a good choice. Chow Mein is also very good. If you come with children, however, you probably will spend your time explaining what the decorations are and where they come from, because they don't have amenities for them.
  • Member Rating 2 out of 5 by lobosolo on August 10, 2001

Fa Yian
Circunvalación # 39 Queretaro, Mexico

Mariscos ChecheBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

This restaurant is like one of those you wouldn't stop at if you didn't know it has good food. They are still working on the decoration, or should I properly say the shack building. . . However, don't judge a book by its cover; this is the real thing with traditional seafood cuisine and very budget. Just trust me; you won't regret coming here.

Review on March 22, 2005: The restaurant has being growing a lot since I last reported about it. They bought the adjacent property and grew that way. Decoration is still on the go, but the good traditional food is what has made them strong and stronger.

  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by lobosolo on May 17, 2004

Mariscos Cheche
Av. Universidad o. 173 Ote., Col. Centro Queretaro, Mexico
01152 442 214 5885

La MariposaBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Green enchiladas with cheese 43 pesos
This is the real enchilada -- the real Mexican enchilada, that is. You can have them filled with cheese or with shredded chicken, and my personal favorite is the green, but you could also ask for a red plate. Don´t miss the peach pie and the fresh "preparado", or prepared water, which is actually a water shake with choice of fruits (my choice: cantaloupe). All this for under $13.
  • Member Rating 4 out of 5 by lobosolo on November 3, 2004

La Mariposa
Angela Peralta 7, Centro Queretaro, Mexico
011524422121166

Le BistrotBest of IgoUgo

Restaurant

Le Bistrot RLS
The most exquisite taste of French food in a French Colonial building, in the best part of downtown. I had an onion soup, which I hadn´t tasted in years! The filet a la dijonaise is superlative. I chose Merlot to go with it, and my diet didn´t let me ask for a dessert this time, but next time, I will ask for crepes sussette.
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by lobosolo on November 3, 2004

Le Bistrot
5 de mayo despues de mudarse de Matamoros 15 int 6 Queretaro, Mexico

Teatro de la RepúblicaBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Four tiered colonial theatre that served for constitution signing twice and as site for reunion of the Independentist Movement. Lots of 18 and 19th centuries decor still standing. Excellent acoustics, especially if there is a concert scheduled. Relax and close your eyes for a sound of life...
  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by lobosolo on February 21, 2001

Teatro de la República
Juárez and Angela Peralta Queretaro, Mexico

Plaza Santa MaríaBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

If you like bullfighting, this is a must-- don't miss it. Saturday afternoons or Sundays are your best trips to ancient Mexican-Spanish traditions and the bulls from around here are noted for their zest and strength. Discretion advised if you are coming with youngsters for the ritual is sometimes taken as cruel by beginners. People like to go as close as they can get to the ring, but sometimes a bull might jump out of it and the sun is harsh on people not used to several hours of basking so if you are not paying a couple of dollars more to get a 'sombra'(shade) seat, bring a wide wing sombrero. Nevertheless not as wide as you might get a Zacatecan sombrero.
  • Member Rating 2 out of 5 by lobosolo on February 21, 2001

Plaza Santa María
Carretera Libre a Celaya Queretaro, Mexico

AcueductoBest of IgoUgo

Attraction

Imagine being desperately in love with a nun in the 16th century! Not even with lots of money would you be able to come up to her because you could be accused of herecy and that was a crime that often was sentenced with death by Torquemada!

Well, this is a historic legend. It happened to Marquis of Villa del Villar del Águila, one of the well known Queretans of those times.

What he decided to do was improve her life a little by constructing an acqueduct of 79 arches that conducted the vital liquid, scarce in the convent as in all the city, from the source to where the convent resided. Water came directly into a pit and at the bottom was the kitchen.

The water dripping and falling on 4 ft. thick walls customary in Spanish missions, was cool enough to conserve food for a longer time and thus the Marquis not only brought water to her beloved nun, but also a "refrigerator" and last but never least, the peace of mind of not being an heretic and therefore not risking his life!

  • Member Rating 3 out of 5 by lobosolo on March 8, 2001

Acueducto
Zaragoza Queretaro, Mexico

Bernal ClimbingBest of IgoUgo

Attraction | "Bernal"

It is called the 1000 shapes rock, and it is believed to be an aerolite, supposedly two-thirds of its whole are buried. People living around feel a great deal of energy coming to their lives, and they tend to have a life expectancy of well over 100 years. I wonder if it’s true that they have more energy? It is only 2 hours away from Mexico City. If you are near the Spring Equinox, it is worth a trip to come and get some of the energy the big stone emanates.
  • Member Rating 5 out of 5 by lobosolo on April 20, 2001

Bernal Climbing
Bernal, Queretaro Queretaro, Mexico

About the Writer

lobosolo
lobosolo
Querétaro, Mexico

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