Colorful and quaint, Tequisquiapan is also home to “the best churros we had ever had”.
Cute, with an almost Italian feel in some areas, there’s this magical little city called Tequisquiapan. It's not as famous as places like Guanajuato or Tulum, so it's often overlooked. But if you ask me — it's as classic as it gets for a Mexican Magic Town and absolutely worth taking a day or two to come wander this hidden gem in central Mexico. Charming and relaxing are two words that come to mind when I think of Tequisquiapan.
If you're an ILP volunteer, the good news is that you're likely just a bus ride and this could make for a perfect little weekend trip during your ILP semester abroad. One of the major perks of spending time in this country means all the little weekend trips you can take, especially since ILP volunteers get free time during the week and every weekend off to do some serious exploring.
See what else is waiting for you
Mexico Destination Guide
Nicknamed Tequis for short, Tequisquiapan is somewhere you stop for a few hours and wish you had more time to step into towering cathedrals, shop for handwoven baskets, explore the deep opal mines, and snack on churros. See why this is one of our favorite Magic Cities?
Hang Out At The City Square
Feel like you’re strolling around in Europe when you visit Tequisquiapan’s main square and the heart of the city, Plaza Miguel Hidalgo. Like most cities in Mexico, Tequis is home to a huge open square where you can find the prettiest cathedral (more on that next), a nearby park, and a place for people to hang out, play music, do some shopping, and snack on some street food.
In Tequis, the city square is where you’ll see the Neoclassical church, Temple of Santa Maria de la Asuncion. It's that pretty pastel pink church that you'll see pop up first anytime you Google search "Tequisquiapan". It is still an active church where you can attend services and you can hear the bells chime out “Ava Maria”, usually in the evenings at 6 PM. Find it on Google maps here.
You’ll also find benches to sit on (surrounded by pigeons you can feed if you have some bread), two stone-quarry arches that frame the area, plus there are typically some street musicians and street vendors that just adds to the whole atmosphere here.
Tequis is known for artisan vendors so this is a great place to shop for souvenirs and keepsakes. Find everything from wicker baskets and ceramics to jewelry and leather goods.
Try These Local Treats
Gorditas
These are Tequisquiapan’s specialty, though you’ll find them all over Mexico. Gorditas are a stuffed pastry that are delicious, in a word. But the pastry is made of maza and filled with meat, cheese, spices, and other yummy things if you want more info. Like I said, delicious.
Churros
One of our ILP volunteers Aubrey B., is a bit of a churro connoisseur and she said that you have to try the churros here. They’re made a bit differently here than other spots in Mexico and some think they are the best … but that’s up to you.
The town square is a great spot to find local vendors serving up treats like these.
A Few Tips
Souvenirs
This charming city is also known for basic weaving, a tradition that’s still going strong in Tequisquiapan. You can find them all over the city, but especially in the minimal market and handicraft markets. Find them on Ezequiel Montes Street, but there are also walking vendors who will set up camp in the main square. You’ll find locally made baskets and other souvenirs you want from Mexico, like woven pullovers, jewelry, embroidered shirts, pottery, etc.
Walk The Neighborhoods
With warm and sunny weather, you should schedule in some time to just wander the neighborhoods. You will stumble on streets painted a rainbow of colors, with homes complete with balconies and flowerpots.
How Long Should I Stay?
Hm, that depends. Here’s what Aubrey said: “We stopped here on our way back from Mexico City and were ready to find a way to stay here longer. You only need a day here, but could easily spend two. It is cute and quaint, with an almost Italian feel in some areas. We absolutely loved it here!"
It’s an easy day trip from Queretaro if you're in the area, but if you have the time, you may want to have a low-key weekend in this cute city.
Add On A Trip To Bernal
Bernal is another Magic Town located just about 20-30 mins away by car. Because you don't need more than 1/2 to one full day to enjoy each of these little towns, it makes for a perfect trip to combine them both in a weekend.
Check out our guide to Bernal here.
Getting Here
Easily done thanks to the buses in Mexico. Tequisquiapan is just a short bus ride from Queretaro, a city our ILP volunteers are fond of visiting on the weekend. Our advice? Spend a weekend exploring Querétaro, then visit again on another weekend to see Tequisquiapan and Bernal.
From Querétaro
Figure out how to get to Querétaro here, but once you arrive, you’ll just need to hop on a bus to ride to Tequisquiapan. Double check once you arrive (or get some help from your ILP Local Coordinator — they may be able to call ahead and make sure) but the bus company Flecha Azul runs half-hourly to and from Querétaro between 6:30 AM and 8:00 AM.
We think Mexico's waiting for you
This country will surprise you — our number one pick for weekend adventures, some of the best food around, and vacations filled with beaches and ancient ruins is just a taste of what you'll experience here.
