From the most surprising destinations, to the best places to eat
Running from west to east, following the course of the asphalt road, the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve welcomes you with the arid basin of the Extóraz River.
By Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda I.A.P.
Imposing, before the eye stretches one of the oldest deserts in Mexico and the southernmost tip of the great Chihuahuan desert.
It is in that succession of mountains that overlap like wrinkles of an old skin where biznagas, Queretaro yuccas, garambullos and organs expand freely.
Suddenly, the landscape changes abruptly and gives way to temperate forests. Stone pines, junipers, cedars and firs immerse the visitor in the concept of forest learned in the stories. They are responsible for filtering rain into the ground, housing the 347 species of birds that inhabit the reserve and capturing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
Further down, at the bottom of the deeper gorges, junipers, poplars and willows form pools that house frogs and fish. There, life reaches its maximum splendor when the rivers and springs arrive loaded with water. Heading east, the secession of landscapes and ecosystems continues and it is then understood why this reserve is the most ecodiverse in the country.
The great mountain range that unfolds from the Moctezuma River to the Santa María River is mostly covered with jungles, temperate and cloud forests where pumas, jaguars, jaguarundis, margays, ocelots, black bears or the endangered hocofaisanes live.
Sierra Gorda is the second richest protected area in mammals in Mexico. Despite the fact that cloud forests barely cover 1% of our country, in this area there are still islands of life where oaks, magnolias, ferns and sweetgums compete in an endless battle for beauty. The former, with their majestic dimensions, and the latter, with their green, purple, yellow, brown, reddish and orange hues, serve as a home to mosses, ferns, bromeliads and orchids that, in the best seasons, are so abundant that they turn the forest into a gigantic botanical garden.
Mushrooms, frogs and tree salamanders end up drawing the perfect setting for fairy stories.
Here, nature has learned not to skimp on details.
HIKING ROUTE
The Sierra Gorda is distinguished by its impressive biodiversity and by the efforts that Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda makes to preserve this natural wonder through sustainable development. From mysterious cloud forests to humid jungles and deserts, the area is also famous for its crystal clear rivers.
Routes to visit: Mirador Cuatro Palos, from where you can see a sea of clouds or the El Chuvejé waterfall, where, by the way, you are only allowed to walk the trails under the old poplars along the pools to the waterfall to be able to add to the conservation of life that like the axolotls, finally, it recovers in these waters.
Old royal roads and trails offer a variety of routes for visitors.
2,308 species of vascular plants.
127 species of fungi.
800 species of butterflies.
27 species of fish.
131 species of reptiles and amphibians.
347 species of birds.
111 species of mammals.
Cultural expressions
The rugged territory of the Sierra Gorda has a variety of vestiges that tell us about its past. More than 500 archaeological sites, Franciscan missions that are a UNESCO World Heritage Site, a garden of surreal sculptures and hundreds of years of tradition and history come together here.
Enjoy one of the guided tours of the Missions of Fray Junípero Serra, the former convent of Bucareli, or archaeological wonders such as Tancama, in Jalpan de Serra y Ranas and Toluquilla in San Joaquín.
And don't miss the annual huapango festivals, with musicians and couples from all over the country congregating in Pinal de Amoles and Ahuacatlán.
Handicrafts Route
Embroidery with motifs from nature, healthy food, natural remedies... the mountain women bring out the best of themselves to offer visitors exclusive products with all the flavor of the Sierra Gorda.
For years, Grupo Ecológico Sierra Gorda has been working on various productive projects to ensure that more and more families earn a decent living and without the need to emigrate to other places.
The artisans use traditional techniques and materials from the region, the products help, at the same time, to preserve the rich cultural heritage.
In the workshops it is possible to take an embroidery class in the community of La Colgada and its embroiderers, or learn how to make a vaporizing cream.
Remedios Doña Valen, in the community of Carrizal de los Sánchez.
In the Natural Concá food workshop, it is possible to buy artisanal jams, oatmeal cookies, tamarind sweets, different dehydrated seasonal products and if you travel in a group schedule a workshop on making bread, cookies or desserts.
Eating has never been so pleasant, the Sierra Gorda has a Route of Flavor made up of inns rehabilitated with traditional clay techniques in their construction that are operated by local microentrepreneurs, each with their own specialty.
Well-made thick dough tortillas, beef with chickpeas, grilled jerky, melted cheese in red sauce and scrambled eggs with nopales.
Be sure to try the huge pots of beans, which these women prepare for the visitor as if it were their own family. In the rainy season, ask about mushrooms with fava beans.
Remember that your consumption leaves an economic spill that it brings to families while you enjoy your tour.
You will distinguish the Ruta del Sabor by its green signs with the different names of the fondas and restaurants such as "Las Manzanitas" or "Las Orquídeas".
Eating has never been so pleasant, the Sierra Gorda has a Route of Flavor made up of inns rehabilitated with traditional clay techniques in their construction that are operated by local microentrepreneurs, each with their own specialty.
Well-made thick dough tortillas, beef with chickpeas, grilled jerky, melted cheese in red sauce and scrambled eggs with nopales.
Be sure to try the huge pots of beans, which these women prepare for the visitor as if it were their own family. In the rainy season, ask about mushrooms with fava beans.
Remember that your consumption leaves an economic spill that it brings to families while you enjoy your tour.
You will distinguish the Ruta del Sabor by its green signs with the different names of the fondas and restaurants such as "Las Manzanitas" or "Las Orquídeas".
Network of Eco Hostels
From boutique hotels to simpler cabins, the Sierra Gorda destination offers a variety of lodging options.
Let yourself be pampered at Casa María Antonieta or La Casita Ecológica, get closer to nature in the cozy cabins of Centro Tierra and San Juan de los Durán.
The entire network of eco-lodges has the Sabino Seal, which is a means of social verification that provides the certainty of staying in an ecological place and, in addition, where the local economy is boosted so that the people of the mountains can continue to protect and preserve the Biosphere Reserve, for future generations.
Experience the best of nature, culture, and wildlife in this amazing region with our expert local guides. Watch the swifts take flight at sunrise from the imposing Swallow Cellar or hike to the incredible limestone formation of the Puente de Dios.
The Sierra Gorda awaits you, adopt its care and preservation, that your footprint stops being carbon and becomes "a green footprint".
A tour of the workshops of Villa Progreso, where the craftsmanship of ixtle and ceramics reveals the tradition and talent of its artisans.
Bodegas Vaivén is a vineyard that is clear about its concept; balance and equilibrium are a fundamental part of its philosophy. Visit it and experience everything about wine in the Querétaro semi-desert.
The Hotel Villa Mexicana is a space full of elegance and good service. Its exclusivity is one of its main characteristics. It is an environment in which business tourism can enjoy signature spaces in a typical Mexican hacienda environment.
