Historic Cuernavaca: audio guide for your visit

72-hour pass for US$10, no subscription. 2 stops to listen to for free, no sign-up.

About the site

Cuernavaca is made of layers of power, faith and rest. Between volcanoes and ravines, about fifteen hundred meters up, there is a fortress of Cortés turned into a museum, a sixteenth-century Franciscan cathedral and murals by Diego Rivera. This audio guide takes you through twenty-three stops, from an introduction to the city to the Borda Garden, with routes from one hour up to four hours and forty minutes.

What to see: Cuernavaca essentials

10 stops in about 2 h 40 min, in the order you walk.

Why Cuernavaca Exists Here A city between volcanoes and ravines, about one thousand five hundred meters above sea level, famous for its eternal spring.
Zapata on Horseback, Now in the Center of Cuernavaca It weighs more than five tons and arrived at this plaza in August two thousand twenty-five, after two moves.
The Cuexcomate, the Clay Granary A great clay vessel for storing corn, standing in the open air on a terrace on the second floor.
Rivera I: The Commission and the Conquest Twelve thousand dollars, eight and a half months of work in fresco, and a Conquest told from the side of those who suffered it.
Rivera II: Conversion, Inquisition, and Zapata A baptismal font shaped like a Feathered Serpent, hanged men, and a peasant in a white shirt who closes the story.
The Atrium and the Fortress Façade A single tower, crenellated walls, and a Franciscan convent that is now a World Heritage Site.
The Open Chapel, or Chapel of the Indians A chapel with no wall at the front, so that thousands of people could hear Mass in the open air.
The Martyrs of Japan I: The Discovery A mural some thirty meters long that lay under whitewash for generations, and whose painter no one remembers.
The Museum of Sacred Art Ninety-two objects from the sixteenth to the twentieth century, brought together to safeguard the religious art of all of Morelos.
A Miner’s Dream: The Borda Gardens A man who made his fortune from Taxco silver built terraces, fountains, and a lake here in the French style.

Tours

Pick one for the time you have. The audio guide takes you one stop at a time.

Cuernavaca essentials 2 h 40 min · 10 stops
Eleven essential stops: an introduction to the city, Zapata in the Plaza de Armas, Cortés's fortress, the cuexcomate, both parts of Rivera's mural, the cathedral's atrium and open chapel, the Japanese martyrs, the Museum of Sacred Art and the Borda Garden. Allow for the walking time between places.
Historic Cuernavaca, complete 4 h 40 min · 23 stops
All twenty-three stops in walking order: the Plaza de Armas, the Palace of Cortés with all its rooms and Rivera's murals, the MMAPO, the Cathedral with its chapels, murals and museum, the Borda Garden and, as an optional extra, Cantinflas's house.
Zapata and Rivera 1 h 30 min · 5 stops
Five stops about Zapata and the painter who portrayed him: the equestrian monument in the Plaza de Armas, the two parts of Rivera's mural in the Palace of Cortés, the east gallery and, as an optional extra, the mosaic in the pool of Cantinflas's house.
The peoples of Morelos 1 h 30 min · 5 stops
Five stops about the people and craftspeople of Morelos: the palace's archaeological windows, the Landscape and Peoples of Maize and Stone rooms, the cuexcomate and the Morelos Museum of Folk Art.
Faith and art in the Cathedral 2 h · 8 stops
Eight stops through the Franciscan complex: the atrium, the open chapel, the nave, the two parts of the Japanese martyrs mural, the cloister, the Museum of Sacred Art and the Third Order church.
Gardens and retreat houses 1 h 15 min · 3 stops
Three relaxed stops: the story of the Bordas and the emperors in the Borda Garden, and, as an optional extra, Cantinflas's house, with its pool decorated by Diego Rivera.

Zones

The Plaza de Armas A bronze Zapata who changed places twice and today looks toward the Government Palace.
Palace of Cortés: Courtyards, Windows, and Halls A fortress built over the Tlahuica seat of government.
Cortés Palace: Terraces and Rivera Murals Diego Rivera’s murals from nineteen thirty, and on a terrace, a clay granary.
Hidalgo Street: Folk Art A museum with crafts from every corner of Morelos.
The Cathedral of the Assumption A sixteenth-century Franciscan convent that is now a cathedral and a World Heritage Site.
The Borda Garden The country house of a Taxco miner, which became the residence of emperors.
Cantinflas’s House Optional stop: Mario Moreno’s vacation home, with a Diego Rivera mosaic in the swimming pool.

Before you go

How to get there

Cuernavaca is south of Mexico City. Buses leave the capital frequently; confirm the schedule and the line at the terminal.

The tour is on foot through the center. The suggested order is this:

The Plaza de Armas and the Palace of Cortés are in the center, close to each other.
The Morelos Museum of Folk Art is on Hidalgo Street, between the palace and the Cathedral.
The Cathedral and the Borda Garden are in the same area.
Cantinflas’s House is a little farther, on Benito Juárez Boulevard. It is an optional stop, because the house is not always open. It is best to go by taxi or local transport.

The center has steep streets and few parking areas. It is better to arrive by bus or leave the car in a public parking lot.

Hours and tickets

The museums on the tour usually open from Tuesday to Sunday. Hours and tickets change: always confirm before going.

Regional Museum of the Peoples of Morelos, Palace of Cortés: normally nine to six. On Sundays, admission is free for Mexican nationals and resident foreigners.
Morelos Museum of Folk Art: normally ten to five.
Cathedral: open almost every day, but hours change because of Masses and celebrations.
Museum of Sacred Art: inside the Cathedral; confirm whether it has its own hours.
Borda Garden: confirm days and hours in advance.
Cantinflas’s House: it does not always open and you never know when; treat it as an optional stop.

Also confirm tickets on the official pages of the INAH, the Borda Garden and each museum.

What to bring and how to tour the center

Wear comfortable shoes: there are cobblestone streets, stairs and terraces. At the Palace of Cortés and the Borda Garden there are open-air stretches, so you will want water, a hat and sunscreen. If you go in the rainy season, bring a light umbrella.

To listen to the audios, use headphones. Download the audio guide before you arrive if you want to use it offline.

In the Cathedral and the museums

The Cathedral is a place of worship and Masses may be taking place while you visit. Speak softly, silence your phone and respect closed areas. Dress simply.

The rules for taking photos or using a tripod change at each place. Ask at the entrance of the museum, the Cathedral or the house museum.

Accessibility

The Palace of Cortés has stairs, terraces and galleries on different levels. The Cathedral and the Borda Garden have stone floors and uneven ground. If you need routes without stairs, ask at the entrance of each site before you begin.

Free stops to try

Open the audio guide