Cidade Turismo
Mexico
Cuernavaca and Tepoztlán

Morelos · Mexico

Cuernavaca and Tepoztlán

The city of eternal spring, near the capital: the Palacio de Cortés with murals by Diego Rivera, the Franciscan cathedral, Xochicalco and, in Tepoztlán, the Tepozteco and the convent.

Centro do México (arredores da capital)

In the photo: Pyramid of El Tepozteco

Illustrative images. The pictures in this guide are illustrations based on the real place, not photographs, and may differ from it.

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Get to know the place

A region to enjoy
at your own pace.

Cuernavaca, capital of the state of Morelos, is about 85 km south of Mexico City, descending the mountains to a valley with mild weather year-round, which earned it the nickname city of eternal spring. Since Aztec times and later under Hernán Cortés, Emperor Maximilian and the capital's elite, it has been a place of country houses with gardens.

The center has the Palacio de Cortés, one of the oldest civil colonial buildings, with murals by Diego Rivera, the cathedral, a 16th-century Franciscan complex that is part of the monasteries on the slopes of Popocatépetl, a World Heritage Site, and the Jardín Borda, where Maximilian spent seasons.

About 38 km away, Xochicalco is a fortified city atop a hill, a World Heritage Site, with the Pyramid of the Feathered Serpents and an observatory in a cave. About 25 km away, Tepoztlán is a village at the foot of rock cliffs, with a 16th-century Dominican convent and the Tepozteco pyramid on the mountain summit.

Cuernavaca's altitude, around 1,500 meters, is considerably lower than the capital's, and the climate is warmer.

This destination brings together 2 cities: Cuernavaca, Tepoztlán.

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One destination, many paths

The cities on this trip

Start with one city or combine several in your itinerary.

Where Cuernavaca and Tepoztlán is
CuernavacaTepoztlán

Limites: INEGI / geoBoundaries (CC BY 3.0 IGO). Adaptação do Cidade Turismo.

How to get there: Cuernavaca and Tepoztlán

✈ Aeropuerto Internacional de Cuernavaca (CVJ) · 20 km to Cuernavaca

Confirm before booking. Arrival is usually via Mexico City airport (MEX), from where direct buses take you to Cuernavaca in about an hour and a half. Cuernavaca has a small airport (CVJ) with few flights.

Suggested arrival point: Cuernavaca

The local experience

Things to do in Cuernavaca and Tepoztlán

Palacio de Cortés
Cuernavaca · Morelos · Palace and museum

Palacio de Cortés

Fortified palace built by Hernán Cortés starting in 1526, today the Regional Museum Cuauhnáhuac, with murals by Diego Rivera.

Pirámide del Tepozteco
Tepoztlán · Morelos · Archaeological site

Pirámide del Tepozteco

Small temple on the ridge, about 400 meters above the town, dedicated to the pulque god, reached by a steep trail.

Catedral de Cuernavaca
Cuernavaca · Morelos · Cathedral and convent complex

Catedral de Cuernavaca

16th-century Franciscan complex, part of the monasteries on the slopes of Popocatépetl, a World Heritage Site, with wall paintings of martyrs in Japan.

Ex Convento Dominico de la Natividad
Tepoztlán · Morelos · Convent

Ex Convento Dominico de la Natividad

16th‑century Dominican convent in downtown Tepoztlán, a World Heritage site, with a carved façade, a cloister with murals and a museum.

See 2 more places in Cuernavaca and Tepoztlán
Jardín Borda
Cuernavaca · Morelos · Historic garden

Jardín Borda

18th-century garden with a lake, fountains and terraces, where Emperor Maximilian used to spend seasons, in downtown Cuernavaca.

Zona Arqueológica de Xochicalco
Cuernavaca · Morelos · Archaeological site

Zona Arqueológica de Xochicalco

Fortified city on top of a hill, which flourished between the years 650 and 900, with the Pirámide de las Serpientes Emplumadas and an observatory in a cave.

Before you go

Practical information

A little planning leaves more time to enjoy the journey.

When to go

All year round, because of the mild climate. From November to May is the dry season, with sunny days; from June to October it rains in the afternoons and the mountains turn green. Weekends and holidays fill Tepoztlán with visitors from the capital; during Carnival there are the chinelos, a traditional Morelos dance.

The seasons shown are the most usual ones; nature doesn't always follow the calendar.

How many days to stay

Three days allow one day in Cuernavaca, one in Tepoztlán and half a day in Xochicalco. Many do Cuernavaca and Tepoztlán as day trips from Mexico City.

Which city to stay in

In Cuernavaca, the center has hotels near the Palacio de Cortés and Jardín Borda; residential neighborhoods have hotels with gardens and pools in old mansions. Tepoztlán has inns and small hotels with views of the cliffs.

Respect the place

Take your trash with you, follow the signs and support local businesses. In natural areas, follow the visiting guidelines.

Get your questions answered

Frequently asked questions about Cuernavaca and Tepoztlán

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