This itinerary explores Queretaro and San Miguel de Allende through history, art, nature, wine, and nearby magical towns like Dolores Hidalgo and Bernal.
We landed in Querétaro eager for what was ahead. Once we settled in, we met our guide for a brief orientation and took it easy that first afternoon.
We began this trip in the city of Querétaro, a place that doesn’t always get the spotlight but deserves it. Our guide led us through the historic center, where every street seemed to turn into a plaza or lead to a church. We stopped to look at the aqueduct, walked along narrow alleys, and visited an archaeological site called El Cerrito tucked behind the modern city. It was a good introduction to the layered history of this region—pre-Hispanic, colonial, and contemporary all blended together.
On day three, we left the city behind and headed toward the Sierra Gorda for a taste of Querétaro’s wine country. At Bodegas de Cote, we sampled wines while walking through the vineyard. Our host explained how this relatively young wine region is quickly earning attention. From there, we drove to Bernal, one of Mexico’s designated Pueblos Mágicos. We didn’t climb the rock, but standing at the base of the Peña de Bernal, it was easy to understand why it’s so significant to the people who live there. The afternoon was left open for walking the town or just sitting in a café with a view of the monolith.
Day four brought us to San Miguel de Allende. We checked into our hotel and then headed out for a guided walking tour. The city can feel like a postcard at first but seeing it with a guide helped break that surface. We walked through its streets and squares, stopped at several churches, and learned about how San Miguel shifted from a quiet colonial town to a center for arts and international life. That afternoon, we joined a cooking class where we worked together to make a full meal, starting from basic ingredients and learning by doing. The kitchen was relaxed, the instruction clear, and the results went straight to the table.
The next day we visited El Charco del Ingenio, a botanical reserve on the edge of town. The landscape felt different from the city—quiet trails, canyon views, and plants native to the high desert. From there, we headed to La Aurora, once a textile factory, now filled with galleries and workshops. We saw a mix of traditional and contemporary work. Later, we visited a local artist’s studio for a more personal perspective. He showed us how he works, what inspires him, and how San Miguel has shaped his creative path.
On day six, we explored the surroundings of San Miguel. We started at Atotonilco, a small sanctuary with murals covering every inch of the interior. It was quieter than the churches in town, but more intense in its details. We continued to Dolores Hidalgo to visit a Talavera pottery workshop. There, we saw each part of the process—molding, glazing, painting—done by hand. The colors and patterns were familiar, but seeing how they come together gave them new meaning. In the afternoon, we drove through vineyards to reach Cuna de Tierra. We toured the winery and then sat down for a four-course tasting lunch with pairings. The setting was calm and open, with nothing rushed, and everything tied to the land we were in.
The final full day was left open, which turned out to be exactly what we needed. Some of us stayed close to the hotel, while others headed back into town to revisit places we’d passed earlier in the week. A few of us spent the morning browsing for crafts, books, or just a quiet bench to sit on. San Miguel has a way of rewarding slow wandering, and it felt right to end the trip with that kind of freedom.
The morning of our final day, we packed up and headed to the airport.
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