Hello Queretaro--anyone there?

[Retiring012]

Hello - my husband and I are planning to retire within the next few years to Mexico, due to climate and proximity to the USA. I heard and read great things about Queretaro, Guanajuato and Morelia. Of course, we would have to visit those place to be able to make up our minds, but would love to hear from someone in Queretaro about the good, the bad and the ugly... Don't hold back. Cost of living, safety, infrastructure anything you want to tell me is appreciated.
Thank you in advance,

[GringoCArlos]

Queretaro is not a bad city. It is on the Central Plateau, and in the summers it can be in the 90s, but the air is normally dry so it's not so bad. In the winters, it can dip down to 30 at night, but normally warms up to the 40s or 50s by the afternoon. Most of the year, think 50 at night and 75 in the daytime.

It is a World Heritage Site, and has many old buildings in the central part of the city. Population is about 600,000, and there are freeways through the city. Highway 57 runs past on its way from Mexico City to the north, and is as nice or nicer than any interstate in the US, but lots of truck traffic. Mexico City is only about 3 hours away.

Queretaro is mostly off the beaten path of the drug traffickers, so there seems to be less drug-related major crimes.

Queretaro can also have earthquakes.

It is definitely easier to live in Queretaro if one is fluent in Spanish. I have noticed that the locals in Queretaro have seen enough tourists that they sometimes have two tier pricing in effect, such as taxis, etc.

There is a large regional bus station where one can go anywhere in Mexico on several different lines, and buses in Mexico are the way to go - think of a Greyhound company with all new buses, almost-fully reclining seats, a restroom, movies during the trip, as well as a sack lunch, and all for about 20 bux or so to go 3 hours in any direction. Great for a long weekend to new country.

Queretaro also has a regional airport, and one can get flights to Houston, TX, Atlanta, GA and to Mexico City. Fares are a bit pricier though.

Houses are relatively higher than outlying areas due to a large influx of people moving to Queretaro from Mexico City, and a nice 3 or 4 bedroom house goes for about US$150,000 and up. There are several areas around Queretaro, such as San Gil about 15 minutes south, which are developments with full security, lots of doctors living there, and full facilities, but the houses then are probably in the US$200k range.

In Queretaro they also have many of the US amenities for those who want or need them - Sams Club, Costco, McDonalds, Sears, Office Depot, etc. There are also great movie theaters, bullfighting, a professional soccer team, and museums for people to enjoy.

If you want the company of other North Americans, you can go to either San Miguel de Allende or Tequisquiapan and run into them. Guanajuato has fewer resident North Americans, but many come as tourists.

[Retiring012]

Originally Posted by GringoCArlos

Queretaro is not a bad city. It is on the Central Plateau, and in the summers it can be in the 90s, but the air is normally dry so it's not so bad. In the winters, it can dip down to 30 at night, but normally warms up to the 40s or 50s by the afternoon. Most of the year, think 50 at night and 75 in the daytime.

It is a World Heritage Site, and has many old buildings in the central part of the city. Population is about 600,000, and there are freeways through the city. Highway 57 runs past on its way from Mexico City to the north, and is as nice or nicer than any interstate in the US, but lots of truck traffic. Mexico City is only about 3 hours away.

Queretaro is mostly off the beaten path of the drug traffickers, so there seems to be less drug-related major crimes.

Queretaro can also have earthquakes.

It is definitely easier to live in Queretaro if one is fluent in Spanish. I have noticed that the locals in Queretaro have seen enough tourists that they sometimes have two tier pricing in effect, such as taxis, etc.

There is a large regional bus station where one can go anywhere in Mexico on several different lines, and buses in Mexico are the way to go - think of a Greyhound company with all new buses, almost-fully reclining seats, a restroom, movies during the trip, as well as a sack lunch, and all for about 20 bux or so to go 3 hours in any direction. Great for a long weekend to new country.

Queretaro also has a regional airport, and one can get flights to Houston, TX, Atlanta, GA and to Mexico City. Fares are a bit pricier though.

Houses are relatively higher than outlying areas due to a large influx of people moving to Queretaro from Mexico City, and a nice 3 or 4 bedroom house goes for about US$150,000 and up. There are several areas around Queretaro, such as San Gil about 15 minutes south, which are developments with full security, lots of doctors living there, and full facilities, but the houses then are probably in the US$200k range.

In Queretaro they also have many of the US amenities for those who want or need them - Sams Club, Costco, McDonalds, Sears, Office Depot, etc. There are also great movie theaters, bullfighting, a professional soccer team, and museums for people to enjoy.

If you want the company of other North Americans, you can go to either San Miguel de Allende or Tequisquiapan and run into them. Guanajuato has fewer resident North Americans, but many come as tourists.

Thank you for all the great info. I do appreciate. it...

[synthia]

Be sure to take a browse through the forum. I think there have been some other questions about Queretaro. And welcome to the forum.

[Iron Horse]

Here is the ugly part first, they have horrible football clubs there. ¡Arriba las Pumas de UNAM! The good part second, I do have friends from Guanajuato and they say it's wonderful, but I've never been. I've also worked with others from Morelia and they love the place too. Then again, everyone claims their hometown is numero uno. My apologies if there isn't enough information here, but I feel my biased football info is huge.

[halfmexi]

I know I am going to get some caca for this.......... but people need to hear the other or real side about Queretaro. I lived there for 6 years - escaped 8 months ago to Mexico's secret hidden oasis...

Queretaro is the cradle of Mexico politics, hense the underground tunnel system between most churches in Queretaro city and San Juan del Rio - shuffling the politicans, gold and priests to keep them from getting killed. Not to mention the excessive rules and laws, plus a fairly high cost of utilities.

Queretaro is trying to become the aviation industry headquarters of Mexico, which will bring tons more people and more pollution to the valley. I must admit they do have some pretty good doctors and hospitals (alot of specialists come through town on a regular basis). There is alot more that could be said, from personal experience... but information can be dangerous.

Let me just say... the only healthy place left in Queretaro is Tequisquiapan (about 25 minutes from Queretaro city), land of the opal mines, thermal waters and a nice peaceful European feel. The gringo enclaves of Jurica y Juriquilla on the highway to San Miguel de Allende are a really lonely feeling place - no views, but high prices, and in downtown a crumbling wall divides the Country Club crowd from the locals that have lived there, their entire lives - very sad - segregation.

Try Morelia or Michoacan... or if you don't mind the heat, an active volcano and earthquakes, come visit Colima!