If you pull up the list of pueblos magicos in Queretaro, you will be surprised to see that this small state packs a punch! With 7 pueblos magicos and a really comfortable climate, Queretaro makes a great stop on a central Mexico tour or roadtrip.
If you're new here, hello I'm Katia and I spent the last two years living in the state of Queretaro so here are my tips as a local :) make sure to also check out guides for neighboring pueblos magicos Tequisquiapan, Bernal, Amealco, San Joaquin, and the Sierra Gorda region, too!
So officially called Cadereyta de Montes, this town is situated right along the tourism corridor for Art, Cheese, and Wine. Often overlooked compared to other magical towns in the state, it is still frequented as a local destination by families looking to go on a fun escape over the weekends. If you can time it up, visit Cadereyta on a SUNDAY as most Mexican pueblos are most active on the weekend.
GETTING HERE
Only about an hour from the city of Santiago de Queretaro, you can easily drive here or take the bus leaving every 30 minutes from the Queretaro bus station, Terminal B.
Cadereyta is situated in a touristic wine region, so you may want to combine a visit here with nearby pueblos magicos of Bernal or Tequisquiapan. It is also possible to do this all on a day on public transportation, but it is much trickier so drop me a message if you're interested!
THINGS TO DO
With nice weather almost year round and a pretty colonial center and surrounding hills full of cacti, there is a nice variety of activities!
Visit the Jardin Botanico.
This is the main attraction of the town and rightfully so! While you have to book a free tour in order to visit, it is literally free entrance and hardly anyone is ever there!
The tour only covers a small part of some gardens and greenhouses where they are propagating more local cactus species. Once the tour lets off, you can explore on your own, walking up to rock walls with tle trickles of water, or if you are adventurous you can even wander into the grove full of Yuccas. Just a warning, you might get a bit lost once the trail gives out.
Visit the Quinta Fernando Schmoll Greenhouses
Doesn’t exactly sound like a Spanish name? That’s because one of the oldest botanical collections in Mexico was actually started by the German Schmolls over 100 years ago, and today you can visit this hidden paradise on a short tour! I actually like the gardens here even more than the botancial garden, but it is much smaller and does have a small entrance fee.
Large central market
Biggest on Sundays, this is a very authentic market for a large Mexican town and extends a whole street block in either direction. Inside you won’t find the most authentic of products – mostly cheap imported clothes and plastic things- but there are a few nice stores selling cowboy gear and the surrounding food is very typical for the region.
Centro – beautiful cathedrals and street food
Yes that’s right, there are two adjacent bright yellow churches that make for a great photo op! Make sure you get a pic with the large Cadereyta letters in front and then stroll around the town garden. You can normally find corn on the cob, gorditas, some artisan goods and succulents, or tasty aguas frescas in the stands. It’s especially nice if you’re there during jacaranda season when these pretty trees blossom with purple flowers!
Planetarium
Only about 2 km from the edge of town, there is a small planetarium with friendly staff that help you look at the sun through a solar lens throughout the day and have a film running in the planetarium dome for a small fee. (Just don’t get bitten by the dogs fostered there. Not speaking from experience or anything.)
Visit the wineries nearby
Just past the planetarium you can try some local wine at Vina del Cielo and still make it back to Queretaro by the evening. Or, Freixenet is famed for their sparkling wines and is only about 20 minutes away.
Go hiking in the small communities in the greater municipality.
With an extensive area that borders the state of Hidalgo, Cadereyta's smaller communities like El Doctor or Maconi have waterfalls, watering holes, and caves which you can adventure to. If you are ready for a real adventure and have a grasp on Spanish, I would reach out to the tourism board of the town for more information.
IN SUM, Cadereyta is a great way to get an authentic taste of the central Mexican semidesert. If you are traveling or living in the area, it is definitely a worthwhile and affordable destination with a typically comfortable climate year round!
If you want to see Cadereyta at some high points in the year, visit during their town fair, during the pulque fair, or during the community of Vizarron's annual marble fair.
Happy adventures!
