Cadereyta
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◈It’s the gateway to Querétaro’s Sierra Gorda and much more. It’s also where the semi-desert meets water. The region is blessed with an enormous variety of ecosystems that are contained within the red walls of Querétaro’s sierra.
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Here, you can hike, fish, mountain climb, and check out old churches. It’s also got two of the most diverse cactus nurseries in the Americas.
◆ Shopping for istle handicrafts
◆ Eating nopal en su madre at Quinta Schmoll.
◆Spending an entire day fishing at Presa Zimapán.
At La Isla, ask for a boat ride to the dam’s waterfall. You’ll be impressed. Try pulque a maguey drink made from fermenting the sap of multiple varieties of agave (the same plant used to make mezcal and tequila)
❖ Plaza Principal and sorroundings
With its grand, old houses and thousand-year-old trees, the Plaza Principal gives the feel of a colonial town. Start at the Parroquia de San Pedro y San Pablo, with its Porfiriato-era clock. Behind the neoclassical facade, the church features a churrigueresque altarpiece. Other churches worth checking out include: La Soledad, construction of which began in 1828 and was inspired by Mexico City’s Metropolitan Cathedral; San Gaspar, found in the Otomí town of the same name; and Templo del Refugio, which is also neoclassical in style and devoted to Our Lady of the Refuge.
❖ Presa Zimapán
It’s one of the most beautiful places in Cadereyta and forms the natural boundary between the states of Querétaro and Hidalgo. In 1996, it became the site of a modern, hydroelectric power plant that harnesses the power of the San Juan and Tula rivers to generate up to 292 megawatt-hours of power.
❖ Botanical Gardens
Cadereyta’s botanical garden is dedicated to the study, conservation, and practical application of Mexican flora.
These botanical gardens are devoted to the conservation and care of cacti and other plants of the semi-arid climate. First, there’s Quinta Fernando Schmoll, which includes African aloe and succulents in addition to Mexican species. Down the road, at Jardín Botánico Regional Ing. Manuel González de Cosío, along with yucca palms, ocotillo, and oregano, you’ll find organ pipe, elephant, bristle brush, and barrel cacti, as well as a curious barrel cactus species of the genus mammillaria.
❖ Try barbacoa and “nopal en su madre”
If you’re a fan of barbacoa—the Mexican slow-cooked meat tradition, you have to go to Boyé, 6.2 miles from Cadereyta. It’s where you’ll find the best in the state. Wash it down with strawberry, guava, or pineapple pulque (Boyé is where the Barbacoa and Pulque Festival is held).
For dinner, tradition dictates you try “nopal en su madre.” This dish consists of a cactus paddle served inside an agave leaf and stuffed with meat or seafood. Try it at Quinta Schmoll.
❖ Check out the waterfalls
If you’re a fan of waterfalls, don’t miss the ones at San Juan de Enramadas. In this tiny town just 30 minutes from Cadereyta, you’ll find small falls surrounded by delightful vegetation. There are another three to check out in a place called Maconí. Velo de Novia is the highest (246 feet) and best-known, but there are two more, El Salto and Chuvejé, each with their own natural charm. Don’t miss them.
❖ Go for a bike ride
Ride in company.
The Bici Roll sets out to explore Cadereyta’s streets and alleyways every Wednesday. Age is no factor: kids, teens, and adults are all welcome to join. The ride departs from the Presidencia Municipal esplanade at 7 pm and wraps up at the same spot.
❖ Feria de la Barbacoa y el Pulque (Barbecue and Pulque Fest)
The last weekend of September, after the national holidays, this fair is held in the town of Boyé. During the celebration you will taste the best pulque and the barbecue that is produced in this region. Charreadas and concerts of local and national groups are performed.
❖ Celebration of Nuestra Señora
del Refugio
Fiesta de Nuestra Señora del Refugio takes place in the Refugio neighborhood on July 4: Novenas, mornings, mass, procession, dance, jaripeo, and the presentation of the Queen of the Annual Fair occur during the Fiesta.
❖ Holy Week in Cadereyta
The parish of San Pablo and San Pedro is the protagonist of this event. From Palm Sunday to the lighting of the New Fire, people participate during the week until its conclusion. It is said that this activity has been celebrated in this way for more than 200 years.
