Queretaro: Colonial Architecture And History

Excellent tour guide with great explanations of everything we saw and was very interactive. He loved what he does because it showed in all of the knowledge he shared and answered all of our questions. The time went fast because it was extremely interesting.

If you like learning about history, then this is a fantastic option. Armando is a wonderful guide who has an incredible amount of knowledge about Queretaro and it's history. I'm glad that we did this tour early in our time in Queretaro because it really helped shape how I view the city. A couple of tips. A lot of this tour is outside, so make sure to wear sunscreen and other sun protection (hat, etc) and bring along a bottle of water to stay hydrated.

I’m in town solo for a few days and decided this might be a good way to get out into the city and learn about the area. Totally met and exceeded my expectations. This city is lovely, such a rich history you wouldn’t know from just walking around. My guide Armando was amazing. His knowledge of, not only the area, but of Mexican history from pre Aztec forward is astounding. I couldn’t have asked for more. If you’re thinking about trying this when in the area. DO IT. You will not be disappointed

Armando was such a wealth of knowledge! I feel like I learned any and every historical event of not about Queretaro. You can tell he really enjoys sharing his passion for history. Also, as a gringo still learning Spanish - his English is absolutely fantastic. Highly, highly recommend this tour. Just plan to wear very comfy walking shoes and prepare to be on your feet for several hours. But it’s definitely worth it!

Really enjoyed the tour with Armando. He was so knowledgeable and I felt that I learned interesting and fascinating facts about Qto.

Armando was an excellent guide. He was very knowledgeable and passionate about the city, the region and its history. I learned a lot about the city of Queretaro, its beginnings, and how it came to be what it is today. Definitely recommend!

Armando was a great guide, as he shared his knowledge and love of Queretaro's past, weaving a narrative that focused on the sites we visited, and then putting that history into the larger context of Mexican and even world history.

I spent the tour solo with Armando, and he was kind and easy to be around. Armando has extensive knowledge of the history of Querétaro and Mexico as a whole. He provided a thorough tour that covered the founders of Querétaro, the region's religious history, and the battles it has experienced over the centuries. Ask him any question and he has the answer! It was a fascinating experience in this beautiful historic city. Thank you for your time and knowledge! - Danielle from Vancouver Canada 🇨🇦

Armando has a real passion for sharing the history and beautiful colonial architecture of Queretaro. His is well versed in the topic at hand and provided very interesting information about pre-Hispanic Mexico through the Colonial era and Mexican Independence. The Pantheon of Illustrious Queretanos is very interesting as it highlights and honors prominent citizens, including politicians, artists and writers who have had a hand in shaping Mexico's history. Highly recommended and will definitely enhance your visit to Mexico and Queretaro.

I was lucky enough to be the only tourist on a Saturday tour. However, my guide was so patient, and provided me an amazing 4 hour city tour. I have learned so much about the city, and also the history and culture of the country. This is so far the best city tours I have joined in Mexico! Totally recommended!

This was a great tour. I was lucky to have a private historical tour of Queretaro Mexico by Armando. He was knowledgeable, passionate about the subject, personable and considerate! I learned so much about Mexican history and the stories behind historical events were fascinating! What an awesome tour!

Well paced and very informative. It was a great overview of the history of the city and the state. The guide, Armando, tells a great story with teasers along the way about what's to come. I did this tour on my last day, but wish it had been the first thing I did. The tour gets you oriented to Queretaro and how it fits into Mexico more broadly. You also see a lot of the cool things the old town has to offer along the way.

It was an amazing walking tour with a lot of sights. Our guide, Armando, was very well versed in the history and he explained everything very clearly and with passion. I would recommend this experience to anyone wanting to know more about the history and origins of the beautiful city of Queretaro.

We rate our experience a 5. Armondo walking tour with Armondo was most delightful. Tour with Armondo was most intimate. Armondo was very informative on the City of Querétaro. I appreciate his passion of history from the beginning establishment of Querétaro. Armondo answered all our questions.

I enjoyed the tour given by Armando ,even though it rained during most of it. Armando is so knowledgeable about Mexican history from times before the Spanish arrived to the revolution of Independence. He shared so much information that wasn't necessarily part of the tour because I asked a lot of questions . I can tell that he genuinely enjoys talking about Queretero and Mexico. I could listen and ask him questions for days. Thank you Armando , and I did go to several other museums the next day. I also shared a lot of the history I learned from you with my sister, who wasn't able to take your tour, she was very impressed.

What an amazing tour! Armando was so knowledgeable and thorough. It was like sitting in a classroom getting an education. We asked questions and I don't think there was once when he didn't know the answer. I learned so much. I enjoyed the many places in Queretaro Centro. I will have it on my list to visit when I return. I would like to take a tour of the pyramids.

Great tour—interesting, informative, and with a knowledgeable guide. It was a recommendation from a friend and we enjoyed it very much.

We’ve heard about the history of historic area and knew it would be helpful to have a guide. Armando was a wealth of knowledge and his true enthusiasm for the complexities of the local history. We enjoyed getting some architectural history as well which has been helpful as we continue our strolls amongst the colorful streets. Recommend :)

I ended up having to cancel last minute, so the 5 stars are for the good communication with Armando and his genuine attempts to accommodate me. Though my lack of planning made that impossible, I wouldn't hesitate to book in the future.

Very informative, comprehensive insights to Mexicos historical journey and significant events and those who had critical influence over the wealth, culture, history etc and how it has reached its position of today. Armando is a true historian and excellent guide who is very invested in sharing his knowledge Thank you

This tour is a must for those interested in the history of the area. Armando was an excellent guide and thoroughly explained the history of Queretero. His passion and knowledge were impressive. We highly recommend this tour.

Great tour, excellent guide. Highly recommend if you are visiting the city. Covers the majority of Centro over 4 hours.

Armando was a phenomenal tour guide /expert. I felt like I was seeing the city through the eyes of a professor of history, culture, and philosophy. Four hours were NOT enough if you want an in depth class while visiting so many interesting landmarks. And, because it was Saturday, we came across a local Indian celebration, a formal celebration/mass for a 3 year old girl, and a quincinera! He did the tour in Spanish so I could practice but his English was impeccable. Wish I had time for lunch and more discussion. Muchísimas gracias Armando!

Armando was a terrific guide, explaining the rich history of Querétaro across several city landmarks. What I enjoyed most was the thoughtful storytelling that incorporated world history and special tales of important figures. Armando is a wealth of knowledge and it was a pleasure to learn from him.

Experienced several cultural & historical sites. It was not very informative about architecture though if that’s what you’re looking for. The tour focused mostly on religious sites & their connection to the city’s history. The guide was very knowledgeable.

This is an amazing trip and our guide, Armando Magana is brilliant, Passionate about the topic! He brought the history, culture of Queretaro alive for us! It was in English as well!!

Armando was a great Guide! He is so knowledgeable about the history and legends of Queretaro that we learned more than we expected. Our tour lasted for 4 and 1/2 hours because we engaged in such interesting, deep discussions about culture, identity, religion, economics and politics from the ancient times of the indigenous peoples, through the chichimexico peoples to the arrival of the Spanish conquistadors to modern day Querataro. Thank you, Omar!! This was fantastic!!

Our tour guide ,Armando, was incredibly knowledgeable and passionate about the history of Querétaro.

Armando, our guide, was excellent. Very well versed and knowledgesble. We appreciated his passion and insights. If you go to Queretaro I highly recommend him.

This tour was wonderful--an in depth and comprehensive overview of both local history and Queretaro's role in Mexican independence over 500 years. Our tour guide was a knowledgeable and enthusiastic expert, answered all our many questions, and clearly loved his subject matter. I would recommend taking this tour with our specific tour guide early in any first visit to Queretaro.

Best tour ever. Armando's knowledge of the history of this area is amazing and he can really bring the history to life. I got a great overview of the pre-hispannic and hispanic times from this tour. I just wish it lasted longer (maybe a series of different tours?) and covered more of the city, because this area is so fascinating and so historical.

Armando was able to summarize centuries of history of the city, the region, and how it tied to Mexico and Spain in an informative and conversational manner. His tour connected this history to the buildings in Santiago de Queretero historic district and mainly along the Royal Road. Armando gave us some amazing insights into this history, some of which we were not aware of even though we have traveled quite extensively through this country rich in history and culture. We learned of the origin of the city, the expansion after the installation of the aqueduct (and the real story behind it), the background of several of the important churches, the location of one origin of the revolution, as well as the important women who played major roles in the development of this city. He has a passion for history which makes the tour engaging. Ours was conducted in English and gave us lots of food for thought since so much of Mexico’s history is tied to this central region. Wear comfortable shoes, the tour covers a lot ground. I will add that we have started to call the flowering plant so common for Christmas by one of its original names, nochebuena, since the name we know it by is derived from a person who introduced them to the US.

Wow- Armando was incredibly knowledgeable and detailed about the descriptions of the city. He really knows his stuff! I was surprised how he was able to connect so many historic peices to Europe and California even. It was a delightful tour- we got a private session and was so wonderful. I would definitely recommend this tour to anyone who loves history and Queretaro! The stories that he told really paint a picture that you will remember.

Great tour on the history of the area. Armando was knowledgeable, enthusiastic and passionate about the history and architecture of the area. His insights were well thought out and communicated. His tour was inspiring, informative and fun. I would highly recommend this tour if you are visiting Queretaro.

Wow! The tour guide provided an in-depth, entertaining and passionate tour of this beautiful city. i would highly recommend taking this tour, particularly for history buffs.

Armando sure knows his history and knows how to tell it. We really enjoyed his tour which went off smoothly despite the crowds that had gathered in the city for two days of festivals. There is a lot to the history of this area, a lot more than what we expected and Armando's perspectives kept it interesting. Very worthwhile use of your time and money!

Armando was an excellent guide. He is very knowledgeable and answered my myriad questions - I learned a lot about Queretaro history/Mexican history. We went over the 4 hours and I think he would have taken more time if I didn’t have prior arrangements to be somewhere else. Highly recommend!

Fantastic tour! We appreciated Armando sharing his expertise on Querétaro’s history. The tour was so informative and presented in such a way that it was so enjoyable to learn Querétaro’s story. Armando’s pacing was perfect to allow us to enjoy the beautiful sites of the city. I highly recommend this specific tour led by Armando.

Absolutely amazing! Armando is extremely knowledgeable across time periods and contextualized the facts based on global events. He was very generous with his time and did not rush any monuments or answers to our multiple questions. Be prepared to spend half a day immersed in the beautiful streets and architecture of Querétaro. A must for history lovers! (Not for kids if they are not used to walk and listen for 3-4 hrs)

Armando used the sites and views of beautiful Querétaro to create a captivating narrative connecting the city’s history to Mexican and world historical events. This should be on the must do list for any historically minded traveler.

Armando is an incredible tour guide. Full of knowledge. Great pace. Very patient with questions. Learned so much about Mexican history.

It was an extraordinarily hot day in Queretaro but that did not flag Armando’s spirits in the least. He is one of the most knowledgeable and enthusiastic tour guides I have ever met. He brings a deep understanding of Mexican history and what he shares is mind blowing. There is so much about this complex country that we Americans are never taught. Queretaro is rich in history and played such an important role in the story of Mexico’s journey to independence. If you are visiting Queretaro and have the time (it’s really a four hour minimum tour) don’t hesitate to book with Armando!

We were extremely pleased with our experience! We had deliberated about going, but decided we could use some spoon feeding in terms of digesting this unfamiliar city. It was the right decision because we learned an incredible amount in a very enjoyable morning. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Amando was a very enjoyable guide with a wealth of knowledge about the history of Queretaro and Mexico. We would recommend this tour very highly.

We had an absolutely amazing tour of Queretaro with Armando, covering history, art, architecture, culture, and religion. Armando is an incredibly knowledgable guide, and fascinating presenter - he kept us engaged during our entire tour. What a great way to start our visit to Queretaro.

We set out on this tour to learn about the aqueduct and some of the colonial architecture we had seen online. The tour provided this but so much more! We learned about the way that the Spanish quest and discovery of silver had global effects. And how so much of the work of the Friars in the area was driven by events in Europe. This tour gave us a breadth of understanding of the interconnection of Spanish drive and the revolution that followed and how this grew the village of Queretaro. This was a great eye-opening tour

If you love history this tour is for you!! Armando taught us so much as he walked us through beautiful Querétaro. Our tour went over 4 hours as there is so much history in this important city. Armando explains things clearly and also answered all our questions. We wouldn’t hesitate to recommend Armando and this tour.

This tour brought the history of Mexico to life and how important Queretaro was in the creation of the country. This was so much more than a city tour. I loved all the stories behind the important events which made Queretaro. Armando has an amazing knowledge of the history which he gives as we wound through the streets. Without this tour one has no idea about what one is seeing.

Armando was a great guide. He has extensive knowledge about local history and architecture and is passionate about sharing this knowledge. While walking through town he covered history from before the Spanish arrived up to present, with a concentration on the important roll Querehetro played the 1810 revolution and the expulsion of the French in the 1860’s. He showed us several lovely churches and convents and discussed their history and architecture. He also shared interesting and sometimes humorous anecdotes. Armando’s English is excellent. Our tour lasted over five hours. Great experience, highly recommend.