The city offers mild subtropical climate, floridity and old-colonial charm
Cuernavaca lies just outside the Valley of Mexico and is more than 700 m lower than Mexico City. Its agreeable spring-like climate has always made it a popular escape from the smog and grind of the capital. Its Nahuatl name, Cuauhnáhuac, means ‘adjacent to the trees’ and the area was once a great producer of bark paper and corn. It later flourished into an important religious centre, as seen at the interesting structures at Xochicalco, 40 km away. After the Conquest, the settlement was renamed Cuernavaca and became part of Cortés’ sizeable estate. Throughout history, wealthy hacienda owners, politicians and other prominent capitalinos have built homes here – most are now stealthily secluded behind high walls. The city was the setting for Malcolm Lowry’s infamous 1947 novel Under the Volcano, in which the British consul drank himself to death on Día de los Muertos. Cuernavaca gets busy on weekends, and while pleasant enough, is no longer the clean, idyllic retreat it once was. However, many foreign visitors are drawn to the city’s famous Spanish schools, which are plentiful and offer competitive rates.
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