Mexico - Winter 23/24 : 2024-01-24 : Jalpan de Serra

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Tip
Type Name Description Service Provider Cost Notes Actions
General Info Reserva de la Biosfera Sierra Gorda $0.00 If you want the full experience to see the most important sites in Sierra Gorda, consider spending at least 2-3 full days. There are so many interesting sites to explore. These include the secluded waterfalls of El Chuveje and Puente de Dios, the breathtaking lookout of Cuatro Palos, and the five Franciscan Missions.
General Info Jalpan de Serra $0.00
General Info Melchor Ocampo School Melchor Ocampo School $0.00 Another building that faces the main square is the former Melchor Ocampo School, which was the first in the municipality. Today, it is the home of the municipal cultural center, which hosts exhibitions, and a number of government offices. The municipal post office is located on a side of the mission church, on a building that was part of the mission complex. During the Reform War, this building held General Mariano Escobedo prisoner.
General Info The mission churches $0.00
Activity
Type Name Description Service Provider Cost Kms To Date Total Notes Actions
Sight See Jalpan info Jalpan is a magical town of Querétaro state $0.00 Jalpan. In the heart of the Sierra Gorda is this magical town, declared in 2010 for the great biodiversity it houses and the baroque art that distinguishes it. You won’t be able to stop contemplating the natural beauty that welcomes the visitor from the road, with the mountain views that crosses the mist and take you to the center of town where the Mission of Santiago de Jalpan, distinguished by its floral decorations in yellow tone that highlight the religious ornaments that dress it. In 2003, UNESCO declared the Franciscan Missions located in Jalpan, Tancoyol, Tilaco, Landa de Matamoros and Conca as Cultural Patrimony of Humanity. Visit the archaeological zone of Tancama, a prehispanic settlement of the Huasteca culture. Finally, be dazzled by nature in a boat trip in the Jalpan Dam, while appreciating the natural wealth of the region.
Accommodation
Type Name Service Provider Confirmation Location Cost Notes Actions
Bed and Breakfast Very clean, cozy room in the center. AirBnB Jalpan de Serra $263.34 Paid $131.67 2023/01/29. Balance due Jan 14.
Free cancellation before Jan. 22.
Host: Guadalupe
Check-in: Flexible
No laundry facilities
Luggage drop
beautiful terrace. a lot of steps. common kitchen. location is in the middle of the town: there is a chruchbell playing songs for three minutes straight, starting at 7 or 8 am.


Trip Log

Notes Actions
Our first day in a new place is usually spent doing some errands and recon. We had an easy recon day figuring out how we’ll get to Tequisquiapan next Tuesday - take the bus toward Mexico City, which has a stop in Tequis, or if that plan fails, we will grab a cab which should cost less than $200CAD.

We also did some exploring of the town but we didn’t do our main errand of grocery shopping. The kitchen and rooftop here are undergoing renovations which we’re supposed to be finished by this morning, but… aren’t. Those are two of the criteria for me booking this place so it’s a little distressing that they’re not available. Our room is small and spartan, which is fine, if we can enjoy the kitchen and rooftop, which, so far we can’t.

One of the highlights of visiting Jalpan is to see the two Franciscan missions in the area. There is one right in Jalpan, Mision Santiago Apostol. Sadly, it is under construction and we can only see the outside (through scaffolding) and not the interior (except for the side courtyard).

In other towns that we’ve visited we’ve found lots of interesting and vibrant street art. So far what we’ve found here is focused on very sad and tragic topics. Maybe we’ll find happier art while we’re here? Or maybe we won’t. Time, and further exploration will tell.
Today I broke down and bought a Mexican SIM because it seems that my KeepGo SIMs (physical and eSIM) simply do not work here. We paid for a one-month plan which should get me through to the end of the trip. I have a phone number with a Jalpan de Serra area code now.


Photos

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