El Charco del Ingenio

El Charco del Ingenio Review

San Miguel's botanical garden has an extensive collection of Mexican cacti and other plants collected from different parts of the country. The area is protected from encroachment by an ecological reserve of 445 acres and was visited by the Dalai Lama, who declared El Charco one of the five "zones of peace" in Mexico. A garden area will introduce you to some of the 120 varieties of agaves that grow here. The reserve is huge, and has special pathways for walking, running, and mountain biking. Twice a month it opens the temazcales, ritual herbal steam baths. If you're driving, turn left past the shopping center on the Salida a Querétaro and follow the signs to the main entrance. A cab will cost about $3.