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    Red carved baroque facade and tower of the Mission of Landa, Querétaro

    Photo by Andreadcv, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Ornate pink-stucco front of the Landa mission under clouds, Querétaro

    Photo by A01197141 Zuriel, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Atrium cross and bell tower of the Landa church with green hills behind, Querétaro

    Photo by A01610383 DanielAmador, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Close-up of carved saints and angels on the Landa mission facade, Querétaro

    Photo by Andreadcv, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Archangel relief in a sunburst medallion inside the Landa mission, Querétaro

    Photo by AlejandroLinaresGarcia, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

    Misión de Landa

    Landmark Landa de Matamoros, Querétaro Municipality of Landa de Matamoros

    The last and most ornate of the five UNESCO-listed Sierra Gorda missions, 20 minutes east of Jalpan.

    From Rioverde: 2 h 20 min by car (128 km by road) How to get there ↓

    Near here

    See everything nearby ↓

    Plan your visit to Misión de Landa

    Where to stay near Misión de Landa

    Jalpan, 16 km away, is the closest town with places to stay.

    Hotel Misión Jalpan Hotel · 90 m from the center Prices Hotel Plaza Jalpan Hotel · 190 m from the center Prices
    Hotels in Jalpan Houses on Vrbo

    Tours to Misión de Landa

    Look for tours of the area around Jalpan that stop at Misión de Landa.

    Tours from Xilitla Surrealist Garden of Edward James, Castle of Health and Xilitla Nativity ★ 4.3 (10) · From US$100
    Find tours on Viator GetYourGuide Tours from Jalpan

    How to get to Misión de Landa

    • From Rioverde: about 2 h 20 min by road (~128 km)
    • 16 km east of Jalpan
    • Nearest airport: Querétaro (QRO), 2 h 51 min by car to Jalpan
    Rent a car at QRO Flights to QRO

    Route, map and directions ↓

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    Tours from Xilitla, near Misión de Landa

    Surrealist Garden of Edward James, Castle of Health and Xilitla Nativity ★ 4.3 (10) 9–10 h From US$100
    Swallow Show, Tamul Waterfall by canoe and Cenote Cueva del Agua ★ 4.1 (7) 12 h From US$120
    two days valley trek in the Atlas mountains ★ 4.7 (3) 2 days From US$171
    Bridge of God and Tambaca Waterfalls ★ 5.0 (2) 13 h From US$120
    Waterfalls of El Meco and El Salto ★ 5.0 (2) 14 h From US$130

    Tours, prices and ratings from Viator, checked weekly. We may earn a commission if you book.

    About Misión de Landa

    The mission of Santa María de la Purísima Concepción del Agua de Landa stands in the center of the small town of Landa de Matamoros, east of Jalpan. It is one of the five Franciscan missions of the Sierra Gorda that UNESCO listed as World Heritage in 2003, and many visitors think it is the most beautiful of them all.

    The mission was founded in 1744, and the church you see was built between 1761 and 1770, making it the last of the five to be finished. Its name comes from a Chichimeca Jonaz word meaning "marsh." The carved facade is a crowd of figures: Franciscan saints and Saint Dominic in the lower level, Saints Peter and Paul above, and at the top the Archangel Michael, dressed in a feathered headdress and standing over a defeated demon, a symbol of the friars' success in the region. Look closely and you will find mermaids and faces with distinctly indigenous features among the plant motifs.

    The complex also keeps its atrium, open chapel, corner posa chapels and cloister, which help you picture how the missions worked.

    How to get to Misión de Landa

    Drive from Rioverde: 2 h 20 min, 128 km

    The mission stands in the centre of Landa de Matamoros, about 22 km east of Jalpan on federal Highway 120, roughly 30 minutes on a winding mountain road. To reach Jalpan from Querétaro city, take Highway 57 and the road to Bernal as far as Peña Blanca, then Highway 120 through Pinal de Amoles: about 180 km, roughly 3 hours. From Mexico City, take the Mexico–Querétaro toll road to San Juan del Río, then Highway 120. By bus, Flecha Amarilla runs hourly from Querétaro to Jalpan (about 4 hours); from Jalpan continue to Landa by taxi or local transport.

    16 km east of Jalpan

    Directions from Jalpan on Google Maps

    Distances are in a straight line; the road is usually longer.

    Best with a guide Tours to Misión de Landa on Viator With transport and a guide, leaving from nearby towns and cities. See prices →

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    From the nearest cities to Misión de Landa

    Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic or stops. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.

    Before you go to Misión de Landa: hours, prices and tips

    Guide or tour
    Guided tours of the Sierra Gorda missions, covering their history and architecture, are offered; ask the Landa de Matamoros tourism office (441 292 5208). Tours: Viator GetYourGuide Querétaro Travel · checked Oct 2026

    Hours and prices change, especially around holidays. Each fact links to where we checked it.

    Visiting Misión de Landa: what to see and do

    Study the facade, from the Franciscan saints at the bottom to Saint Michael at the top.
    Look for the mermaids and indigenous faces hidden among the carvings.
    Walk the atrium and see the open chapel and the posa chapels in its corners.
    Combine it with the Tilaco and Tancoyol missions for a full day on the mission route.

    Plan your trip

    Places to stay in Misión de Landa

    Compare hotels, posadas, and rentals in and around Misión de Landa.

    See them all on Expedia Booking.com
    Vacation rentals on Vrbo Airbnb

    Tours & activities

    Look for tours of the area around Jalpan that stop at Misión de Landa.

    Viator GetYourGuide

    Rental cars

    Pick up a car at QRO (Querétaro): about 2 h 51 min by road to Jalpan, then 16 km more to Misión de Landa, on your own schedule.

    EconomyBookings Discover Cars

    Flights

    The nearest airport with scheduled flights is Querétaro (QRO), about 2 h 51 min by road from Jalpan, the base for Misión de Landa.

    Kiwi.com

    Travel insurance

    Medical and trip cover for Mexico, by the week or month.

    SafetyWing

    Mobile data

    Signal can drop away from Jalpan: download a map of the way to Misión de Landa before you set out, or carry an eSIM with data.

    Airalo

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    Photos

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    When to go to Misión de Landa mild

    Misión de Landa shares the climate of Jalpan, 16 km away. The best months to visit are January, February, March, and December.

    See the month-by-month climate of Jalpan

    Make Jalpan your base

    Carved baroque facade and bell tower of the Mission of Santiago de Jalpan, Querétaro mild
    Querétaro Jalpan

    Misión de Landa is an easy trip from Jalpan, a Pueblo Mágico with places to stay, food, and more to see.

    Also close to

    Closest to Misión de Landa

    All 11 towns and sights around Jalpan →

    Near Misión de Landa

    Drive times by road from OpenStreetMap, without traffic. Times marked ~ are estimated from the straight-line distance.

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    Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.