Guide to Visiting Bernal, Mexico
Guide to Visiting Bernal, Mexico
Are you going to visit Bernal?
This is your guide to visting Bernal, Mexico! Bernal is located in Queretaro, Mexico.
I will be including things to know before you, things to do and more important details to help you have an amazing time in Bernal, Mexico!
Stuff to know about Bernal
Bernal is a small town. You can easily walk through the downtown quickly.
There are lots of roads that up and down hills. Be prepared to walk up hill if you’re in Bernal.
Besides the downtown with the town square, another place to mingle is the street that leads to La Peña De Bernal.
If you’re not sure what La Peña De Bernal is, stay tuned for another blog all about it! To sum it up quickly, it is the 3rd largest monolith in the world!
This road to La Peña goes consistently up a hill and curves at times.
It’s full of restaurants, bars, shops, souvenirs, and more.
It is an interesting walk, and there are some really great restaurants and shops along the way.
There are many reasons that make it worth the walk up the hill!
I recommend wearing comfortable flat shoes on this road and a hat or something for shade.
If it’s your first time visiting Mexico, check out my Best Mexico Travel Tips! (Read Before You Go).
Good to Know First!
Click the links to check them out!
Book your Tours
Don't miss out on that great experience because it's sold out! Book in advance and know you will have this experience!
eSim Card
Stay in contact, get directions, & check out the best local places with your phone minus the expensive international charges!
Rent your Car
Get your rental car booked in advance so you can adventure around your destination.
Luggage Storage
Arrived early or staying later? Store your luggage safely so that you can enjoy freely!
Book your hotel
Get the location, class & style of hotel that you want! Book in advance & have peace of mind!
Rent Bikes etc.
Rent your motorcycle, scooter, quads,& bicycles here in advance so you can travel freely!
Here is a map where you can get to know the basic layout of Bernal. I have marked the monolith on the map for you. You can also research and book your hotel using this map too. There are some very beautiful and unique hotels in Bernal including a medieval hotel and a hotel that is a mini version of the town.
A Pueblo Magico
Bernal is an interesting town. It is a Pueblo Magico, which is a tourist initiative by the Mexican government.
If you would like to learn more about Pueblo Magicos and what they are like, check out my Guide to Pueblos Magicos in Mexico.
The style of life of Bernal is that of tourism.
It is bustling with tourists and locals on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. There are musicians mingling around and vendors set up in many locations, including the middle of the road of the square!
How much time is needed to see Bernal?
Because Bernal is such a small town, it doesn’t take too long to see it.
Of course, if you want to do a bunch of organized tours, those will take more time.
I would recommend arriving on a Wednesday and staying until Monday if you’re looking to explore everything that Bernal has to offer.
The reason that I recommend this is that on Mondays and Tuesdays the majority of the restaurants, vendors and shops are closed.
This town really works around tourism, so Monday is many people’s day off of working at their shop or restaurant. They usually work all weekend.
On Wednesdays, some of the restaurants are open, but it’s still very calm.
If you arrive on Wednesday it gives you a day to get to know the town and learn your way around before it is busier. There are also still some restaurants and shops opened so you don’t have to worry about finding a place to eat.
Thursdays is when some tourists often start to come, not a lot but some for sure.
Then, on the weekends, it is busy, and everything is opened!
When I was there, there was even mariachi and banda groups mingling to play for tourists on the weekend.
I am going to share some activities that I feel are worth checking out when you’re in Bernal, Mexico.
Tasting Fresh Bread
Bernal is known for a few things and one of them is there bread!
There are a lot of bakeries that specialize in breads in Bernal.
A specialty of Bernal is ‘Pan De Queso’, which means Cheese Bread.
In the cheese bread they have 3 types of cheese:
There is a store called “El Negrito” that this bread that is black.
It has this cream filling inside, it’s really good!
Many of the bakeries have samples of their breads, so I definitely recommend sampling some of the cheese breads and other types as well.
Cheese Tasting
Bernal is part of an official Route of Art, Cheese and Wine.
They have many cheese shops in Bernal, and they have samples that you can try too!
I visited and interviewed La Quesaria La Vaca Feliz, and an employee said that during the week they only have 4 types of cheese that they sample, but on the weekends, you can sample all of the types of cheese!
Some popular cheeses from the area are: ‘requeson’, which is ricotta cheese.
They actually sell more than just cheese. For sale, there are also salsas, jams, rompope (a liquor), wines, crackers and more!
The Museum of Quartz
This museum is very interesting. Bernal is known for its quartz and stones.
It is called the Quartz Grotto, or ‘Gruta del Quarzo’ in Spanish.
This place is located on the way to the La Peña De Bernal.
It is filled with stones and quartz all over the walls.
It is an interesting experience. It doesn’t take too long to explore.
Chill & Mingle in the Municipal Square
Bernal has a really beautiful town square with a garden in it.
It is surrounded by beautiful buildings with beautiful architecture, arches, pillars, and colourful buildings.
Just chilling with a drink or some ice cream and sitting in the square is entertaining.
There are vendors and toursists mingling.
People offering tours and free liquor samples too!
I loved going to Rockalito and looking all the beauty in Bernal!
Go to La Aurora Market
This market has been there for 4 generations!!
At first you think, it’s just a store, but no!
Keep walking, even when it seems like it’s the end, keep going!
You will see workers making the art live!
They work mostly with wool making ponchos, wall hanging, clothing, decor and more!
It’s impressive to see all of the art, then to learn that it is made by the people that are working at that time!
Enjoy some traditional-flavoured ice cream
There are 2 very interesting ice cream shops in downtown Bernal, and they are right by each other.
They are both by the corner of Calle Ezequiel Montes and Calle Ignacio Zaragoza.
One of them, I didn’t even notice a name, but it’s in the orange arched building with the fountain at the fork in the road. The second is across from it on the side.
The 2nd one is called Rockalito.
Rockalita is a small business, and the service can be a bit slow.
They serve alcohol drinks and have seating inside and outside.
As it’s small, there is not a lot of seating.
What I like about of these places is there ice cream!
It’s not just that it’s tasty ice cream, it’s that it’s traditional foods from Mexico.
To me, it is unique!
They have ice cream flavours like:
- cactus
- rose petal
- lavander
- prickly pear
- 3 types of cactus flower or fruit ice cream!
- soursop
- red wine
- coffee
- mango
- nut
- lemon
- pistachio
- and more!
They also have some common flavours if you’re not feeling adventurous.
Some examples are: vanilla, strawberry, banana with caramel, oreo ice cream.
Visit some themed hotels
There are some really neat themed hotels in Bernal.
One is called ‘Hotel El Centenario Los Arroyitos’. This hotel is very neat!
It looks like a replica of the town!
Some tour companies offer tours of this hotel.
There is also a medieval hostal that is called ‘Hostal Medieval’.
Here is the map again so you can check out some of the hotels that are available in Bernal.
Visit the Museum of Masks
This is something unique to do in Bernal.
Even the walk to the museum is very nice.
The museum of masks is very unique and interesting.
It’s not a far walk from downtown. Maybe 5 minutes depending on the way that you go.
Eat Traditional Foods
Some popular foods in Bernal are Gorditas Negritas.
Gorditas are made with blue corn for the tortillas.
They are like a pita pocket that gets filled with meats, cheeses, cactus or other fillings.
Sopes are also popular. They are like a thick tortilla with a raised edge all around. The sopes are topped with beans and cheese. People can also add cactus, meats, or other toppings too.
Nopales are cactus. Nopales en la Penca is also a common food. It is mixed with onion and sometimes peppers or other foods.
Quesadillas are also popular there. There are many different types of quesadillas like cheese, meats, squash blossoms, and more.
If you’re a vegetarian, check out my guide to Everything you need to know about being a vegetarian in Mexico
Wine & Cheese Tours
There are a lot of tour companies in Bernal offering tours.
Most of the all offer Wine and Cheese Tours.
They will take you in a big van or bus around Bernal to wineries and cheese shops.
You often leave Bernal and go to the neighbouring towns or rural areas to visit the wineries.
Black Onyx Restaurant
This is a classy restaurant with great food.
They have a main floor, 2nd flood, and roof top terrace!
They have good service and an excellent ambience.
It’s the kind of place you can take a date, celebrate or just treat yourself!
When you get there you get a free appetizer plate!
It has a local ricotta cheese. It is called ‘requeson’. It comes with 2 different types of crispy tlayudas, tortilla chips, onion, epazote and one other item.
Epazote looks like a type of lettuce, it has a really nice flavour.
This plate is packed with a wonderful combo of flavours.
The menu includes items like premium meats, salads, Mexican dishes and more.
Climb La Peña De Bernal
In English, this means monolith.
A monolith looks like a mountain, but it is made from rock completely.
It is actually the 3rd largest monolith in the world!
You can climb up the monolith, but you do so at your own risk.
There are specific instructions that they give your for your safety.
Staff are located at the bottom, middle and top to help people who panic or need help.
As you walk the road to climb the monolith, you will pass a lot of restaurants, shops, and places to buy drinks, water and electrolytes.
You will see a little toll booth shown below as you approach the bottom of the monolith, this is where you pay to climb the monolith.
To learn more about the monolith read the 3rd Largest Monolith in the world!
If you’re looking for your next adventure in Mexico, check out the Longest Suspension Bridge in the World!
Liquor Tasting
There are many different shops that offer samples of different Mexican liquors such as:
- tequila
- rompope
- mezcal
As you walk through the municipal square, there are people that will offer you to try a shot of rompope of a different Mexican liquor.
Tours in & around Bernal
Are you looking to book some tours for you trip to Bernal? You can check out your options, and even book with Viator right here!
Where to Stay in Bernal
There are so many very beautiful and elegant hotels in Bernal!
There are also the themed hotels that I mentioned above. The medieval hotel that looks like a castle!
You can see these hotels and book your stay here!
Getting around Bernal
They have these mini-open air taxis. Something to note!
The taxis don’t run late!
From Mondays to Thursday they run from morning until 8:00pm.
Fridays to Sundays, they are available from morning until 9:30pm-ish.
After that, there are no taxis available.
You may catch a taxi by flagging it down up the road from downtown on the main through street, but that’s it.
It is not a town with tons of night clubs or late night festivities anyways,
How to get to Bernal?
To get to Bernal, you have to take a bus that says “Compostela” on the side. That is the bus company.
You will go to Ezekiel Montes by Primera Plus or another bigger bus company, then go to the Ezekiel Montes bus station. Ezekiel Montes is the next town over.
There is a staff member there that you can buy a ticket from. He will call out the buses as they arrive and check people’s tickets.
They will go from Ezekiel Montes to Bernal.
It takes almost 30 minutes on the bus, depending upon the time of day.
Hold your luggage and hold on, or sit down. It is a bumpy drive on sometimes rustic dirt or rock roads.
You will pass some of the winery areas as you’re on the bus.
It takes about an hour and a half to get there.
From other towns you can also take a Compostela bus or a Primera Plus bus.
Of course, there are always driver services, apps, or taxis too. It costs about 200 or 250 pesos to go between the towns, depending upon the time of day.
Taxis are more expensive at night in Mexico.
I hope that this guide has shared some helpful information about Bernal, maybe it has helped you to decide if you want to go there or not.
If you go to Bernal, what would you like to do? Would you climb La Peña de Bernal?
Let me know in the comments below.
Besides being a travel blogger, I am also a travel writer, Amazon author and an English teacher. Check out my services here!
