Quick answer
From Querétaro to the Peña de Bernal by car is about 60 kilometers, close to an hour via Highways 57 and 100. Bernal —a Magic Town and one of the largest monoliths in the world, about 288 meters tall— is the gateway to the Wine and Cheese Route: vineyards like Freixenet, De Cote, and La Redonda are a few minutes away, in Ezequiel Montes, and Tequisquiapan closes the loop. With your own car you fit Bernal, a couple of vineyards, and Tequisquiapan into a single weekend, at your own pace. This is the getaway that pairs best with a rented vehicle.
What is the route from Querétaro to Bernal like?
From the city of Querétaro you take Highway 57 south and then Highway 100 toward Ezequiel Montes and Colón; in all, about 60 kilometers and close to an hour to San Sebastián Bernal. The Peña dominates the landscape long before you arrive: it's one of the largest monoliths in the world, about 288 meters tall and roughly 10 million years old, and at its foot lies the town, designated a Magic Town by the Secretariat of Tourism since 2005, the first in the state. The road is paved and comfortable for any car.
Bernal is best explored on foot: its cobblestone streets, the San Sebastián parish church, the wool-textile workshops, and the stalls of gorditas de migajas and regional sweets. Many climb part of the Peña along the marked trail —the summit is only for equipped climbers— and almost everyone finishes with a local wine or cheese. It's a small town, perfect for a morning, and its closeness to the vineyards makes it the natural starting point of the route.
Which vineyards and cheese dairies to see on the Wine and Cheese Route?
Querétaro's Cheese and Wine Route brings together more than thirty vineyards and cheese dairies, according to the State Secretariat of Tourism, spread mainly across the municipalities of Ezequiel Montes, Tequisquiapan, Cadereyta, and San Juan del Río. About 50 kilometers from the city, in Ezequiel Montes, is Freixenet México (Finca Sala Vivé), about 10 minutes from Bernal, famous for its sparkling wines and underground cellars; very close by, De Cote and La Redonda offer tastings and tours. There's no fixed order: you build your itinerary around each estate's hours, which is why your own car is the best tool.
Is it worth closing the loop in Tequisquiapan?
Tequisquiapan, about 70 kilometers from the city of Querétaro (close to an hour), has been a Magic Town since 2012 and is the festive heart of the route. Its main square, its arcades, and its thermal-water spas make it ideal for closing the weekend calmly. Every year, between late May and early June, it holds the National Cheese and Wine Fair, one of the country's best-known wine events. From Ezequiel Montes it's just a few kilometers, so linking vineyards and Tequisquiapan on the same day is natural when you drive.
Why does it pay off more with a car than a tour?
A tour takes you to two or three fixed-schedule stops and brings you back when the group finishes. With your own car you decide everything: leave early for Bernal, climb the trail before the heat, eat in town, visit the vineyards you want when you want, and if you like a place you stay longer. You can also carry cases of wine and cheese back without lugging bags on a bus. That control is exactly what makes the Wine and Cheese Route best enjoyed when you drive.
Tip
Bring a cooler in the trunk for the cheeses and a padded box for the bottles: in a pickup or a car with a good trunk it's easy to carry back what you buy on the route without it getting damaged.
“Bernal, the vineyards, and Tequisquiapan fit into one weekend only when you hold the keys: with no tour schedule, the route becomes yours.”
— KORU RENT
KORU RENT and this route: honesty first
Let's be clear: KORU RENT doesn't operate in Querétaro yet. We were born in Puerto Escondido, Oaxaca, with a formal adventure-vehicle rental model —contract, invoice, WhatsApp support, and delivery of the vehicle to where you're staying— and we're preparing our arrival in the Bajío. This route of Bernal and the vineyards is exactly the kind of getaway our service is made for. When we open, the idea is to deliver the car wherever you are so you can head out; meanwhile, you can join the waitlist.
See the KORU RENT fleet
Cars, pickups, scooters, and jeeps for your trip
KORU in Querétaro: destination and waitlist
Follow the launch in the city
Car rental in Querétaro: the complete guide
How to get around the city, the airport, and the Bajío getaways
Frequently asked questions
Frequently asked questions
The route, at your own pace
The Peña de Bernal, the Ezequiel Montes vineyards, and Tequisquiapan make up one of central Mexico's most rewarding weekends, and they're best enjoyed when you drive. When KORU RENT arrives in Querétaro, the idea is simple: a reliable vehicle, delivered where you're staying, with contract and invoice, so you build this route your own way. Join the waitlist and we'll notify you as soon as we launch.
KORU Team · Querétaro–Bernal–Wine and Cheese Route guide · 2026