Grutas Los Herrera

Grutas Los Herrera are limestone caves in the pine-covered hills just outside San Joaquín. The landowner found them in 1977, and the following year a pair of cavers from Texas made the first full descent. Surveys have since mapped more than a kilometer of passages going far below the surface.

Visitors see only the upper part, but it is plenty: six connected chambers full of stalactites, stalagmites and flowstone, shaped by mineral-laden water dripping over a very long time. Guides point out the formations people have named, such as the lion, the crocodile and the Roman Empire.

The caves have walkways, stairs and colored lighting, and they are the only caves in Querétaro set up this way for tourism. The tour is guided and takes about an hour. The floor is damp, so wear shoes with a good grip, and bring a light jacket, since it is cool underground.