Queretaro – Mexico

Querétaro took me by surprise. I’ve visited Mexico countless times in the past, but had mainly been up North and in beach areas like Cancun. I wasn’t quite sure what to expect, it being my first time in central Mexico, but let me tell you, it was eye-opening and incredibly beautiful.

I’m always immediately obsessed with cities that have a lot of historical charm and Querétaro did not disappoint. The stunning downtown area is very well maintained and full of an array of quaint shops and restaurants. It’s colonial, colorful, friendly, and a fantastic place to visit if you’re looking for some culture and history à la Mexicano.

Staying downtown at the Casa de la Marquesa made the rest of the downtown area super accessible because we were able to walk practically anywhere. I definitely recommend staying nearby and especially recommend a hotel like Casa de la Marquesa to round out your experience. I really loved being able to get up in the morning and walk only a few blocks to the most incredible breakfast ever. I believe we paid between $5-$6 USD for coffee, juice, bread, and a breakfast dish. Our first morning there I ordered chilaquiles verdes and I cannot even begin to describe how delicious they were!  I also cannot say enough about how good the coffee was.

Fun fact: I was not a coffee drinker until I had cafe de olla (coffee from a clay pot) in Querétaro. It was heaven on my tastebuds and it transformed me and now I drink coffee. Seriously, if you’re in Mexico, try it! IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE.

Our rest of the time there was spent eating quite a bit more and exploring the downtown area. Aside from all the amazing eateries, there are also quite a bit of statues and monuments scattered around. You’ll definitely pass them by, even if you’re just shopping around in little markets or stopping to eat every 10 minutes, like us 🙂

Why yes, that IS a giant inflatable crayola. 😛

If you’re looking for amazing food, beautiful architecture, friendly locals and great prices: you’ll love it. There’s a lot to see and do, even if you don’t venture off too far from downtown. And as far as security goes, it’s honestly quite safe. We walked around during the day and also at night and felt pretty secure both times. You will have to watch out for pickpockets or petty theft, but that’s pretty common in any downtown area. I had my DSLR and didn’t have any issues. Just don’t leave anything unattended 🙂

I would definitely jump on the opportunity to go back, because our stay was quite short and it truly is a beautiful city. Hope you enjoyed!

Happy Trails!