Enjoy the natural attractions along the entire State Highway 400 with a specific excuse: eat one of the best lamb barbecues in Querétaro
Cabins next to the dam
After a hard week at work, what you most want is to enjoy the family and a little rest. But it is not only about resting the body, it is also important that you give your mind a break. To do this, there are few things more effective than taking a walk through some of the most beautiful landscapes of Querétaro, no more than an hour from the city, and having breakfast at Barbacoa Los Leyva, in Huimilpan.
It seems incredible, but when you take State Highway 400 and start to climb the slopes of Cerro del Cimatario, everything changes as if by magic. You breathe fresher air and the landscape begins to turn green with each kilometer that you advance. Go calmly and take advantage, above all, of those places where the cell phone signal does not reach you. Stop and get hungry while you truly enjoy what nature has to offer in Querétaro. Forget about the city, put aside the worries of everyday life and revitalize yourself.
Now that if you are very hungry, continue to the municipal seat of Huimilpan. Specifically in Morelos 237 is Barbacoa Los Leyva, for many the best lamb barbecue in Querétaro. It is a good size venue, ideal for large groups. It has its own parking lot, so you don't have to worry about that. You can enjoy the classic options of any lamb barbecue, from the solid to the montalayo, the consommé, the menudo and the moronga.
Handmade tortillas, sopes and huaraches
Their traditional Huimilpan recipe and the use of products from the region, many grown by themselves, give it a very special flavor, with a country air, different from the classic options in the city. In addition, the handmade tortillas are a delight in themselves, as are their gorditas and sopes, all prepared at the moment. To complete the task, there are several traditional stews, some of them without meat, so even vegetarians can rest assured when visiting Los Leyva.
When you finish, don't go back right away, you're in Huimilpan! There are many tourist spaces that you can visit. To begin, don't leave the municipal seat without visiting the Parish of San Miguel Arcángel, of Franciscan origin like a good part of the Catholic temples of Querétaro, and which is part of the route if you want to see them all. You can also tour its main kiosk in the Jardín Hidalgo, where you can take some photos. In the area, they usually sell handicrafts from the region and also natural ice cream, so it is worth taking advantage of the passage to buy some things and take a dessert.
If after stopping to admire the landscape you are left wanting more, then the best thing is to take some more time to delve into the nature of the area. The unmissable space in Huimilpan is undoubtedly the San Pedro Dam, whose main attraction is the San Pedro Ecotourism Camp, a place at the foot of the dam with safari-type cabins in which, if you don't stay in a start, you will surely book for the following weekend. There, in addition to sport fishing, you can go hiking or rent bicycles.
In the same area, but next to Amealco de Bonfil, there are more perfect ecotourism options to spend a day in nature, rent a cabin or simply camp under the stars. The entire State Highway 400 will take you to places such as the Lagunas de Servín forest, La Beata Natural Park or El Aserrín, where you can do activities such as hiking and mountain biking. These are some of the most popular natural spaces for Querétanos due to their proximity to the city and their imposing beauty.
When you return to Querétaro, you will surely be hungry again after having spent an unforgettable morning in Huimilpan, so before passing through El Cimatario National Park -where by the way it is also worth stopping, and where you can spot opossums, coyotes, red-tailed Mexican eagles, white-tailed deer, and owls in their natural habitat-, you will find some food stalls on the side of the road that you cannot miss.
To get away from the city, you don't need to drive many kilometers. Make Huimilpan your daily getaway and show yourself that any weekend can be special with an idyllic setting, a lot of flavor on the table and best of all: the company of those you love most.
