CULTURAL PROGRAM #1: Cuernavaca, Downtown and Cathedral

Cuernavaca's cathedral is the only one in Mexico (and probably in Latin America) NOT located on the main square and the third oldest in the Americas. Cuernavaca's downtown includes its main square -called Zocalo-, Netzahualcoyotl Street, its Government Palace and the Ocampo Theatre among other interesting sites.

CULTURAL PROGRAM #2: Cuernavaca, Palacio de Cortés and Cuauhnahuac Museum

Palacio de Cortés  was the summer residence of the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés. It's the only monument in Mexico named after a Spanish conquistador. Cuauhnahuac Museum offers a good overview of Mexican history.

CULTURAL PROGRAM #3: Cuernavaca, Muros Museum

Muros is a privately-owned museum, with paintings and murals by Frida Kahlo and Diego Riviera. The murals in the museum were abandoned when the Casino de la Selva Hotel, on whose walls they were painted, closed its doors 20 years ago. However, when Costco bought the premises to open their store, Costco had the murals restored and built an art museum around them.

CULTURAL PROGRAM #4: Cuernavaca, López Mateos Marketplace

Although supermarkets and hypermarkets have been common since the late eighties, the Cuernavaca market still is the place where most Mexicans buy their groceries and personal care products. The market offers the visitor a colorful view of fruits, vegetables, flowers and an insight to Mexican daily life.

CULTURAL PROGRAM #5: Cuernavaca, city of contrasting neighborhoods

This program will take you Cuernavaca’s most remarkable neighborhoods. Even before the Spanish colonization (1492), Cuernavaca was already a resort city for the richer inhabitants of Mexico City (then Technochtilán). Nowadays, the more fortunate citizens of the Mexican Capital have their houses built in luxury land developments with Golf Courts such as Tabachines. On other hand, Cuernavaca is also the capital of Morelos and attracts unskilled workers from the surrounding towns, most of whom live in less fortunate neighborhoods...

CULTURAL PROGRAM #6: Tepoztlan

Tepoztlan, located at a half-hour drive from Cuernavaca, is famous for the remains of a temple built on top of the nearby Tepozteco Mountain and a 16th-century convent. In pre-hispanic times, Tepoztlan was considered the valley of the gods, which is logical after seeing the wonderful mountain views surrounding this little town.

CULTURAL PROGRAM #7: Cooking traditional Mexican dishes with Doña Hermelinda

You will daily enjoy the food she prepares, but this activity will show you HOW she prepares it! Doña Hermelinda also runs her own little front-of-the-house restaurant on Sundays.
 

CULTURAL PROGRAM #8: Tlayacapan

Tlayacapan is located approximately 45 minutes away from Cuernavaca and has over 26 colonial chapels and a great Augustinian former monastery. It is also the place where pottery is still manufactured by craftsmen.

CULTURAL PROGRAM #9: Cuautla

Cuautla is the second most important city in the state of Morelos. Although not the nicest city, it has its own historic value as the hometown of revolutionary Emiliano Zapata. It also has a nice downtown and offers visitors an insight view of Mexican daily life.

CULTURAL PROGRAM #10: Hacienda de Vista Hermosa and Xochicalco Pyramids

Hacienda de Vista Hermosa is nowadays a hotel, but it maintains its past glamour as the one of the biggest “haciendas” (estates) of Colonial Mexico. Built and owned by the sons of the Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortés, Hacienda de Vista Hermosa is located at a mere 20-minute ride from Cuernavaca. The pyramids at the ancient city of Xochicalco, founded in AD 650, offer fantastic views as well.

CULTURAL PROGRAM #11: Workshop - An insight to Mexican culture

Unlike the British, French and Dutch, the Spaniards who colonized Mexico and Latin America did mix with the native population. Proof is the fact that 80% of the Mexican population is considered mestizo, resulting in a unique culture...

CULTURAL PROGRAM #12: Workshop - Understanding today’s Mexico through its history

Mexico's history is complex. The pre-hispanic period (1888 BC – AD 1521) is a history of several civilizations, some of which waged war on the others. The Spanish colonial period (1521 – 1810) is confusing, as both Spaniards and Mexicans have their own point of view about history. Mexico’s recent history (1810 - 2008) is somewhat troubled, as governments have used and manipulated history in their own benefit... Despite the foregoing, this workshop will clarify many things and help you understand why Mexico is what it is...

CULTURAL PROGRAM #13: Taxco (full-day program)

Taxco, famous for its beautiful colonial architecture and narrow cobbled streets, is a former colonial silver-mining center in the neighboring state of Guerrero.

CULTURAL PROGRAM #14: Teotihuacán Pyramids (full-day program)

A must-see for people visiting central Mexico. Teothihuacán was the largest pre-Columbian city in the Americas, and its influence spread throughout Mesoamerica. Evidence of Teotihuacan presence can be seen at numerous sites in Veracruz and the Maya region. Teotihuacán was made a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1987.

CULTURAL PROGRAM #15: Mexico City (full-day program)

Mexico City, the world’s biggest metropolis, is certainly worth a visit. Mexico City history goes back before the Spanish colonization, when it was known as Technochtilan, the capital city of the Aztec Empire. Today, more than 22 million people live in the city, making it infamous for its traffic. Not to worry, though, as you will be seating on the Turibus, a Hop-on Hop-off bus showing the most important city landmarks.

CULTURAL PROGRAM #16 Xochimilco (full-day program)

Located in the south of Mexico City, Xochimilco is an extended series of canals, which are the remains of the ancient Lake Xochimilco. Xochimilco has kept its ancient traditions, giving the location a romantic reputation as all its inhabitants travel in colorful “trajineras” (Xochimilco boats) covered with flowers.

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