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Travel to Cuernavaca, Mexico |
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Mexico, sandwiched between the Gulf of Mexico on the east and the Pacific Ocean on the west, is a traveler’s paradise, crammed with a multitude of opposite identities: desert landscapes, ancient ruins, colonial towns, world-class resorts, deserted beaches and an endless collection of fauna and flora. The country is divided into six tourist regions, where the mix of modern and traditional, clichéd and surreal, is the key to Mexico’s charm.
Cuernavaca is the capital of the state of Morales, south of Mexico City. A city of just under 350,000 inhabitants, the colonial architecture and cobbled streets are set to the background of gorgeous rolling hills and dramatic landscapes. The name originally comes from the Nahuatl language, meaning the "place near trees," and Cuernavaca is known as The City of Eternal Spring because of its warm year-round climate. Despite its deep Spanish colonial roots, the Cuernavaca is known for its rich, modern-day culture and amenities, including outstanding art and architecture, cultural festivals, scientific research, and Spanish language education.
Things to do on a visit to Cuernavaca:
• Attend an 11AM service at Cuernavaca's cathedral, built in 1552, complete with a mariachi band.
• El Tepozteco National Park, a rich archaeological and biological site where the Tlahuica Indians built the Tepozeco Pyramid.
• Visit El Castillito, housing the Photographic Museum of Cuernavaca.
• Enjoy the natural beauty of the Cascada de San Antón, a beautiful waterfall outside the city.
• Check out the famous Robert Brady House and Museum, created from the estate of painter Robert Brady, complete with a fantastic collection of Mexican art and pieces from around the world.
• Take a break from sightseeing at the Borda Garden, once used as a summer retreat by Emperor Maximilian and his wife, and filled with a variety of exotic plants, fruit tress, rotating art exhibits, and a lake. Go on a day trip to Taxco, world known for its silver crafts, design, and mining.
• Visit the Museo Regional de Historia de Cuauhnahuac (Historical Museum of Cuauhnahuac) the former palace of Spanish conqueror Hernan Cortés, boasting man indigenous artifacts and a mural by Diego Rivera.
• Visit the large outdoor artisan market in Cuauhnahuac, next to the Cortés palace.
• Make the half hour trip to the little town of Tepoztlan, which is known as a “spiritual power center,” and climb to the top of a pre-Colombian pyramid dedicated to the god of pulque (fermented agave syrup).
• Have dinner at Las Mañanitas, a well-known hotel and restaurant, with a variety of local delicacies and a few dishes fit for adventurers only.
Daily Life in Cuernavaca
Enjoying the same ideal subtropical climate as Cancun but without the crowds, Cuernavaca enjoys an average temperature of 25 Celsius and sunny days throughout most of the year. As the weather ranges from warm to hot for most of the year, and with usually very high humidity, time moves at a slower pace like many other coastal areas within the region. The sea is almost always warm enough for a swim, and it is common to break up a day’s worth of study or work with a dip or two in the ocean.
History of Cuernavaca
Cuernavaca was first settled by the Tlahuicas, a Nahuatl-speaking people, in the 10th and 11th centuries, and were responsible for buildinf the famous pyramids of Teopanzalco in Cuernavaca. Soon overcome by their neighbors, the Aztecs, the daughter of the ruling family was married to the Aztec King of Tenochtitlan, who gave birth to the infamous Moctezuma, who later built beautiful gardens and villa retreats in Cuernavaca during his rule. The Aztecs staid in power until the city was overcome by Spanish conqueror Hernan Cortés in the early 1500s. Cortés was awarded the entire present-day state of Morelos for his war efforts by the Spanish crown, and Cuernavaca later became its capital. Cortés began the project of converting locals to Christianity and converting farm labor into the hacienda system, with its most popular crop being sugarcane. In fact the state of Morelos remained one of the top sugar cane producers in the world through the 20th century. After the Mexican War of Independence in 1810, the Creole peoples were able to take charge of local government and haciendas, however the enslavement of the local indigenous persisted. The French royal family began to interfere with the new Mexican government and use Cuernavaca has their own retreat in the mid-1600s until they were thrown out by a re-established national government after just a few short years. The local hacienda system eventually contributed to the Revolutionary War centuries later in the early 1900s.
Nowadays, Cuernavaca is a modern city that is home to much scientific research, seventeen universities and is well-known as a popular destination for foreigners to learn Spanish because of the high quality language schools located in the city. Cuernavaca has been home to many artists, writers, etc., who have sought the create stimulation of this beautiful city with a consistently gorgeous climate. The city is filled with parks, gardens, outdoor sports facilities, spas, restaurants, and a variety of activities for the outdoorsman, lending inspiration to each visitor that passes through this verdant Mexican city.
Go to Spanish Courses
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5. The City
