Villa-In-Mexico - Cuernavaca Attractions

Villas de Colores is located in the heart of Cuernavaca minutes from the historic center and easy access to
shopping, restaurants and entertainment. Cuernavaca is located about 85 km. (50 miles) south of Mexico
City. It is known as "the city of eternal spring" because of its consistent 27 °C year-round weather.
Cuernavaca is truly in the heart of Mexico, and is surrounded by some of the most beautiful and culturally
rich regions of the country.

Cuernavaca has always been a popular vacation destination for people from the Mexico City valley, from the
Aztec kings, to the Spaniards. The opportunity for interesting side trips are many, all being within only a
couple of hours drive, at most, from the capital. Many sights, from populous Mexico City to 18,000 feet
volcanoes, are a short distance from the heart of the city. Cuernavaca is a favorite spot for its historical
richness, striking scenery, colorful life, and delightful climate.

The terrain is hilly and the streets are narrow and quaint. A wide variety of activities are available with all of
the normal services of a modern city this condition has added historical value to the city. The city has
examples of ancient Aztec and Tlahuica cultures and of colonial buildings such as the Palacio de Cortés.
Cuernavaca has historical sites from the Revolution, workshops of important artists, and more. The city
has a number of language schools and has, for more than 25 years, been hosting visitors from around the
world who want to learn Spanish. Bus destinations from Cuernavaca include very regular services to Mexico
City (1.5 hours) as well as services to Toluca, Puebla, Tepoztlan, Taxco, Acapulco and destinations
throughout Morelos.

Amazing architectonic complex formed by an
atrium surrounded by tall "battlemented" walls. The
Cathedral has been remodeled in the last 20 years
and murals depicting the martyrdom of St. Felipe
de Jesus were found all along both sides of the
walls. There are also some interesting original
paintings which date back to the XVII century. In
the same complex are found the Chapel of San
Jose, The Chapel of Nuestra Señora de los Dolores,
the Chapel of Carmen as well as the Temple of
Tercer Orden. Its also famous for its Sunday
"Mariachi Mass".

Medieval fortification that was constructed over a hill
to serve as the residence of "El conquistador" Hernán
Cortés. This is the most ancient colonial fortification in
the Americas. The Palacio de Cortés reflects the
different uses it has been subject to. Over time it was
destined to be used as Cortés' residence, Catholic
church, prison, Palace of the Mexican Republic, seat of
the Morelos State government and, finally, museum.
As a museum it hosts a collection of objects of great
historical and artistic value that describe and reflect
the history of Mexico.

One of the most characteristic sites of the city of
Cuernavaca. It was built in the 18th Century by
Don Manuel de la Borda y Verdugo, son of the
extraordinary businessman and miner of Taxco,
Don José de la Borda. Through the years this place
has been used in many different ways as: shelter
home, botanic garden, inn, stage coach station,
public offices, Summer residence of the Emperor
Maximilian, hotel, restaurant and night club and
now as a quite corner. It also operates as a
museum and is seat of the Instituto de Cultura de
Morelos which hosts painting, sculpture and
fotographic exhibitions, dance and theater
performances, concerts, conferences and festivals
among other cultural activities.

Tepoztlan, a magical town full of mysticism and tradition, is
located 21 km (13 mi) east of Cuernavaca. In this town of
rich natural resources you’ll immediately notice the
imposing Cerro del Tepozteco (Tepozteco Hill), a main
tourist attraction where you’ll find a pre-Hispanic
construction on the top of the hill. It is said that this site has
a positive energy force, which is why it draws hundreds of
visitors during the spring equinox.

Divided into eight colonial neighborhoods, as you walk
along Tepoztlan’s picturesque cobblestone streets you’ll see
an important 16th-century convent, various museums and
numerous stores selling all kinds of crafts and esoteric
items.

In the magnificent nature areas of the Parque Nacional El
Tepozteco (Tepozteco National Park) you can observe a
wide variety of flora and fauna on ecotourism excursions.
You also can do climbing and camping at the Campo
Escuela Scout Meztitla or the Campamento Camohmila.

The Ethnobotanical Garden's goal is to preserve, study
and cultivate a comprehensive selection of plants and
flowers native to the valley of Morelos, as well as other
parts of Mexico.

Strolling through the garden need not be just a visual
and aromatic experience. Most of the plants are
accompanied by small signs indicating common name,
indigenous (Nahuatl) name -- where applicable -- its
scientific name, its botanical family, its species and some
of its properties and usages.

The garden's collection of medicinal plants is regarded as
the most important section. The garden directors made a
commitment to the Mexican Botanical Gardens
Association, agreeing to permanently preserve a
comprehensive collection of the nation's medicinal flora.

Construido sobre lo que era el Centro de Readaptación
Social del Estado de Morelos, conocido popularmente
como "la Penitenciaría de Atlacomulco", enclavado en el
centro de la capital del Estado y sobre una de las
arterias viales más transitadas de la ciudad, cuenta con
áreas verdes de juegos infantiles que hacen obligado un
recorrido familiar. El Parque Ecológico San Miguel
Acapantzingo cuenta además con pista de corredores,
triciclopista, espejo de agua, módulo de sanitarios,
estacionamiento y próximamente el museo de las
ciencias. Asimismo, uno de sus más fuertes atractivo, lo
constituye sin lugar a dudas la magna fuente de chorros
y luces bailarinas acompañadas de música variada, que
engalanan las noches morelenses. Espectáculo que vale
la pena apreciarse de lunes a jueves en los horarios
20:00 horas y de viernes a domingo en el de las 16:00,
20:00 y 21:00 horas.

Xochicalco is a pre-Columbian archeological site - and
UNESCO World Heritage Site - in the western part of the
Morelos, Mexico. The name "Xochicalco" means "in the house
of Flowers" in the Nahuatl language. The site is located 38 km
southwest of Cuernavaca, about 76 miles by road from
Mexico City. The site is open to visitors all week, from 10am
to 5pm, although access to the observatory is only allowed
after noon. The apogee of Xochicalco came after the fall of
Teotihuacán and it has been speculated that Xochicalco
played a part in the fall of the Teotihuacano empire. The
architecture and iconography shows affinities with both
Teotihuacan and the Maya area and it is probable that the city
of Teotihuacan was a multicultural city, although it also does
seem to have had a connection to the Tlahuica culture. Today
the villages closest to the ruins of Xochicalco such as
Cuentepec and Tetlama in eastern Morelos speak Nahuatl.