Pinal de Amoles is a town situated within the Pinal de Amoles Municipality in the state of Querétaro, located in central Mexico. It is positioned in the Sierra Gorda region, an area that extends across northern Querétaro into the states of Guanajuato, Hidalgo, and San Luis Potosí. The municipality is characterized by its geography, with 88% of its land falling within the Sierra Gorda Biosphere Reserve. This region features large forests and high peaks that serve as a natural barrier between the wetter areas to the north and east and the drier regions to the south and west.
The town originated in the 17th century as a mining camp, though most mining operations have since ceased. Currently, the municipality is one of the poorest in Mexico. While there have been recent efforts to restart mining and promote ecotourism, many residents continue to migrate to larger cities in Mexico and the United States for employment. Consequently, the local economy is now primarily sustained by remittances sent back from these workers rather than locally generated income.