Bernal and Tequisquiapan; Querétaro’s Most Beautiful Pueblos Magicos
May 24, 2026
Bernal and Tequisquiapan are both Pueblos Magicos or “Magic Towns” located in Querétaro, Mexico. In order for a town to be considered a Pueblos Magico, it is required to hold special characteristics that make it a unique and/or historically significant town. There are 111 Pueblos Magicos in Mexico and if you are in Querétaro you can hit up two quintessential Pueblos Magicos just 40 minutes from one another.
Bernal and Tequisquiapan also both happen to find themselves nestled along the wine and cheese route of Querétaro. Some vineyards to check out include Vinedos La Redonda, Finca Sala Vive, De Cote Casa Vitivinicola, and Vinedos Azteca.
Ideally, weekends are the best time to go to Bernal and Tequisquiapan because everything is open and running with Sundays being the busiest day. If you visit midweek it will likely be dead with only a few restaurants and shops open. But, if you prefer to avoid the crowds mid-week might be perfect for you! I also would avoid visiting during any Mexican holiday as it will be completely packed.
If you are most interested in filling your belly with wine and homemade cheese be sure to plan your visit to Bernal and Tequisquiapan for May when Querétaro hosts their annual Wine and Cheese Festival.
Getting There / Bernal and Tequisquiapan
Plane: If planning to spend your vacation in central Mexico you can easily fly into Querétaro or Mexico City for the cheapest options and then take a bus to either town from the bus station.
Car: I am always partial to driving a car when visiting a new place because it allows more room for adventures. Bernal and Tequisquiapan are both easily reached by car in just a few hrs from any of the surrounding cities including Santiago de Querétaro, San Miguel de Allende, Guanajuato, San Luis Potosí or just decide to take a road trip and visit all of these cities in one go!
Taxi: Not sure of busses that go back and forth from Bernal to Tequisquiapan, but I’ve heard that there quite a few taxis that do for a decent price.
Bernal
I’ve been to Bernal two different times: once for a short breakfast stop and to peek at the Pena during a Central Mexico road trip, and a second time on our way to Grutas de Tolantongo in Hidalgo when my parents visited us in Mexico. While we only stayed for the day I did get to do a lot of research on the area in preparation for our trip and didn’t want it to go to waste so I am going to share them with you!
To Do in Bernal
Hike the Peña de Bernal
Hike Peña de Bernal - the world’s 3rd largest monolith. Follow the maze of uphill sidestreets until you find yourself at the base of the rock. If you are driving it just take a few pesos to park. The hike takes about 40 minutes. Be sure to bring a hat and sunscreen.
There are also quite a few bouldering, rappelling, and climbing opportunities. You can work with some local guides or bring your own equipment.
Explore Centro and Visit the Artisan Market in Bernal
Much more lively on weekends than midweek the Centro is the hub for all the food stands, restaurants, small shops, and artisan markets. Wander around the cobblestone streets that radiate out from the Centro and see how many angles you can spot the Peña from.
To Eat in Bernal
Bernal and Querétaro are known for their Gorditas as well as their cheese and wine. You can find a blue corn gordita stuffed with rajas de crema at one of the many food stands. If you are okay with spending a little more money head for one of the rooftop restaurants in the center to enjoy cheese, wine and an amazing view of the Peña. Eat at one of the rooftop restaurants and enjoy the view of the Peña.
To Stay in Bernal
While there are definitely a variety of options of places to stay from boutique to budget in and around Bernal - I personally wouldn’t find myself with enough to do to justify spending the night. If you plan on climbing the Peña there is a climber’s lodge called Chichidho nearby. Santiago de Querétaro is just a 55-minute drive away and San Miguel de Allende is just under 2 hrs.
Tequisquiapan
Another Pueblos Magico in Querétaro, Tequisquiapan or Tequis for short is a beautiful place to visit for an afternoon or even a weekend getaway if you want to do some wine tours or check out the hot springs!
To Do in Tequisquiapan
Explore the Centro and the Zócalo
My favorite and the go-to to do activity when visiting a city in Mexico is to explore the downtown and the Zócalo (the heart of the town). I always love to walk down the streets lined with papel picado (paper flag) and check out the small cafes and local shops.
Visit the Artisan Market
If you haven’t traveled too much throughout Mexico you might find the artisan market to be a fun activity, but personally, I couldn’t find anything I didn’t see anywhere else in Mexico.
Visit the Opal Mines
La Trinidad, just 10 minutes from Tequisquiapan, is known for mining opal and the products are quite beautiful. While I didn’t get to participate in a tour, I did check out a few Opal stores in Tequisquiapan and was able to learn about the mining process. If you are interested in taking a tour I’ve read that you can learn about the different types and properties of opals, see the shaping of stones, take a tour of the mine, and purchase some opal from small family-owned shops.
Take a Ride in a Hot Air Balloon
Vuela en Globa offers hot air balloon rides in both Tequisquiapan and San Miguel de Allende. I actually took a hot air balloon ride in San Miguel de Allende when I was there. The rides are very safe and much cheaper than you will be able to find in the USA. They offer quite a few different packages depending on your group size.
To Eat in Tequisquiapan
Eat at the Market
There are a lot of local food options at the market definitely find some Gorditas as they are Querétaro’s specialty.
Find some Local Cheese, Wine, or Wine Ice Cream
Tequisquiapan is right along the wine and cheese route in Querétaro and I would definitely recommend trying out their wine and homemade cheese. While wandering the streets I happened upon this small ice cream shop that served wine ice cream/gelato! I’ve seen wine ice cream floating around the Pinterest world for a while but was excited to finally see my dreams come to fruition! You can even choose your pick of your favorite red wine: Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, etc.
To Stay
While I always prefer to stay in Air BnB when I travel, there are a lot of boutique hotels, haciendas and budget stays available in Tequisquiapan. I personally didn’t stay the night in Tequis as we were just visiting for the day on our way to Grutas de Tolantongo in Hidalgo. There are a lot of cities within an hour or so from Tequsquiapan that make a great home base for your travels in Central Mexico including Santiago de Querétaro, San Miguel de Allende, and San Luis Potosí.
Haley
October 1, 2025I love how colorful and full love life everything is, I mean besides from the skeletons of course lol. It’s like an Instagram heaven.
Megan
October 1, 2025I think if I ever got the chance of going to Mexico I would never stop taking pictures. Everything looks so beautiful.