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    The Jalpan reservoir glinting in a valley of the Sierra Gorda, seen from the hills above, Presa Jalpan, Querétaro

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

    Presa Jalpan

    Lake Jalpan de Serra, Querétaro

    The reservoir just south of town, a calm spot for a walk by the water at the start or end of the day.

    From Rioverde: 1 h 55 min by car (109 km by road) How to get there ↓

    Near here

    See everything nearby ↓

    Plan your visit to Presa Jalpan

    Where to stay near Presa Jalpan

    Hotel Los Angeles Hotel · 2.2 km from the center Prices MB Río Hotel · 2.2 km from the center Prices
    Hotels in Jalpan Houses on Vrbo

    Tours to Presa Jalpan

    Day trips and guided outings from Jalpan often include Presa Jalpan; with a local guide you can get there without a car.

    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 Presa Jalpan

    • From Rioverde: about 1 h 55 min by road (~109 km)
    • 2 km south 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 ↓

    Links open a partner site. We may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you.

    Tours from Xilitla, near Presa Jalpan

    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 Presa Jalpan

    The Presa Jalpan is the reservoir that lies along the southern edge of town, held back by a dam on the Jalpan River. It stores water for irrigation and part of the town's supply, but for visitors it is simply the calmest spot in Jalpan: a sheet of water framed by the green hills of the Sierra Gorda, at its best early in the morning or as the sun goes down.

    It is also a protected wetland. In 2004 the dam was listed as a Ramsar Site, a wetland of international importance, and it lies within the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve. The reservoir and its shores are a nesting and resting place for dozens of resident and migratory water birds, with large colonies of Neotropic cormorants and several kinds of egret, and around 140 bird species have been recorded around it.

    A walk by the water is an easy way to start or end a day in Jalpan, and bird watchers will want binoculars. In winter, migratory species add to the year-round residents.

    How to get to Presa Jalpan

    Drive from Rioverde: 1 h 55 min, 109 km

    The dam is on the southern edge of Jalpan, about 2 to 3 km from the main square: a few minutes by car or taxi, or an easy walk if you don't mind the sun. Jalpan is reached from Querétaro city on Highway 57 and the road to Bernal as far as Peña Blanca, then on federal Highway 120 over the mountains 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 through Tequisquiapan, Ezequiel Montes and Cadereyta. By bus, Flecha Amarilla runs hourly from Querétaro to Jalpan (about 4 hours), and Primera Plus and Vencedor also serve Jalpan's bus station.

    2 km south of Jalpan

    Directions from Jalpan on Google Maps

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

    Where to stay Hotels in Presa Jalpan Compare hotels, posadas and guest houses in Presa Jalpan. See prices →

    Links open a partner site. We may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you.

    From the nearest cities to Presa Jalpan

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

    Before you go to Presa Jalpan: hours, prices and tips

    Hours
    Public space with no set hours; boat and kayak rental times depend on the operator. México Desconocido · checked Oct 2026
    Entry
    Free. Escapadah (El Financiero) · checked Oct 2026
    Best time of day
    Go in daylight; sunset over the water is the highlight. México Desconocido · checked Oct 2026
    Guide or tour
    You can walk it on your own; boats and kayaks are rented through local tour operators. México Desconocido · checked Oct 2026
    What to bring
    Water, food (there are few restaurants), sunscreen, hat, cash for rentals, a light sweater and binoculars for the birds. México Desconocido · checked Oct 2026
    Rules
    Take your trash with you and respect the wildlife; it is a Ramsar wetland. México Desconocido · checked Oct 2026

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

    Visiting Presa Jalpan: what to see and do

    Walk along the shore at sunrise or sunset, when the light and the birds are best.
    Watch the cormorant and egret colonies with binoculars.
    Look for winter migrants between roughly November and March.
    Take photos of the hills of the Sierra Gorda reflected in the water.

    Plan your trip

    Places to stay in Presa Jalpan

    Hotel Los Angeles Hotel · 2.2 km from the center Find on Expedia MB Río Hotel · 2.2 km from the center Find on Expedia Hotel Misión Jalpan Hotel · 2.3 km from the center Find on Expedia Hotel María del Carmen Hotel · 2.3 km from the center Find on Expedia Hotel Karina Hotel · 2.4 km from the center Find on Expedia El Económico Hotel · 2.4 km from the center Find on Expedia
    See them all on Expedia Booking.com
    Vacation rentals on Vrbo Airbnb

    Tours & activities

    Day trips and guided outings from Jalpan often include Presa Jalpan; with a local guide you can get there without a car.

    Viator GetYourGuide

    Rental cars

    Pick up a car at QRO (Querétaro): about 2 h 51 min by road to Jalpan, then 2 km more to Presa Jalpan, 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 Presa Jalpan.

    Kiwi.com

    Travel insurance

    If you plan on swimming or kayaking at Presa Jalpan, check that your policy covers it: some plans leave adventure activities out.

    SafetyWing

    Mobile data

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

    Airalo

    Links open a partner site. We may earn a commission if you book, at no cost to you. Hotel names from OpenStreetMap.

    When to go to Presa Jalpan mild

    Presa Jalpan shares the climate of Jalpan, 2 km away. The best months to visit are January, February, March, and December.

    Presa Jalpan is best for swimming and time on the water in the warmest months (April, May, and June); in the rainiest ones (June, July, and September) expect storms in the afternoon.

    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

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

    Also close to

    Closest to Presa Jalpan

    All 11 towns and sights around Jalpan →

    Near Presa Jalpan

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

    Lists with Presa Jalpan

    Lakes and Lagoons near Zimapán · 3

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    Location from OpenStreetMap. Written by Puebloteca.