Morelos is one of Mexico's smallest states, a warm, low-lying pocket tucked just south of Mexico City across the mountains, long nicknamed the 'Land of Eternal Spring' for its mild year-round climate. The state holds the UNESCO World Heritage archaeological site of Xochicalco, the pueblo mágico of Tepoztlán beneath the sacred El Tepozteco pyramid, the state capital Cuernavaca with its Palacio de Cortés and Diego Rivera murals, and Cuautla, where Emiliano Zapata is buried and where the Mexican Revolution's agrarian roots run deepest.
Top day trips
Handpicked excursions within easy reach.
Xochicalco Archaeological Zone
Xochicalco is a fortified hilltop archaeological zone about 36 km southwest of Cuernavaca, its stone pyramids and ballcourts built by a mix of Maya, Zapotec, and central Mexican cultures atop a defensible plateau. A day trip covers the Pirámide de la Serpiente Emplumada with its carved feathered-serpent reliefs, the ballcourt, and the underground Observatorio chamber, plus the site museum near the entrance, and the elevated setting offers wide views over the surrounding Morelos countryside.
Highlights: Pirámide de la Serpiente Emplumada with carved feathered-serpent reliefs · Underground Observatorio chamber with a zenith-passage light shaft · Hilltop ballcourt and steam bath structures · On-site museum displaying stelae and ceramics from the excavations · Wide views over the Morelos countryside from the fortified plateau
Tepoztlán and El Tepozteco Pyramid
Tepoztlán is a Pueblo Mágico about 26 km northeast of Cuernavaca, set beneath dramatic volcanic cliffs and known for the small Aztec temple of El Tepozteco perched atop a steep hour-long climb above the town. A day trip typically combines the pyramid hike with a walk through the town's ex-convent, market streets known for regional sweets and crafts, and the lively weekend tianguis that draws visitors from across the region.
Highlights: Climb to the hilltop Aztec temple of El Tepozteco · 16th-century ex-convent of the Natividad in the town center · Weekend tianguis market with crafts, food stalls, and mezcal vendors · Market streets known for amaranth candies and regional sweets · Views over the Tepoztlán valley from beneath dramatic volcanic cliffs
Las Estacas Natural Spring River
Las Estacas is a spring-fed river reserve about 45 km south of Cuernavaca, its turquoise water flowing at a constant cool temperature through a forested stretch popular for swimming, snorkeling, and floating on inner tubes. A day trip typically covers the main swimming areas along the river, a walk through the surrounding tropical grounds, and the park's rope swings and diving platforms, with general admission running about MXN 525 (about USD 31) for adults.
Highlights: Swimming and snorkeling in constant-temperature spring-fed water · Floating the river on inner tubes through forested grounds · Rope swings and diving platforms along the riverbank · Shaded tropical grounds suited to a full day outdoors · On-site restaurants and snack stands for lunch without leaving the park
Taxco de Alarcón
Taxco de Alarcón is a whitewashed colonial silver town about 95 km southwest of Cuernavaca in neighboring Guerrero, its steep cobblestone streets climbing a hillside around the pink-stone Santa Prisca church. A day trip typically combines a walk through the historic center and its silver workshops around Plaza Borda, a stop at Santa Prisca, and a taxi or cable-car ride up to a hillside viewpoint over the town's terracotta rooftops.
Highlights: Santa Prisca church's ornate pink-stone Churrigueresque facade · Silver workshops and shops clustered around Plaza Borda · Steep cobblestone streets across the colonial hillside town · Taxi or cable-car ride to a hillside viewpoint over the rooftops · Regional Guerrero dining around the historic center
Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park
The Grutas de Cacahuamilpa are among Mexico's largest show caves, about 69 km southwest of Cuernavaca, with a guided walking route of roughly 2 km through cathedral-sized chambers of stalactites and stalagmites illuminated for visitors. A typical guided tour takes about two hours covering a 4 km round trip through the main gallery, with entry around MXN 100 (about USD 6) for adults, and the park's outdoor grounds add ziplines and river-adjacent picnic areas for a fuller day.
Highlights: Guided 4 km round-trip walking tour through cathedral-sized cave chambers · Illuminated stalactite and stalagmite formations, some named for their shapes · Outdoor grounds with ziplines and rappelling · River-adjacent picnic areas outside the cave · Consistent cave temperature year-round regardless of outside season
Cuautla and Agua Hedionda Thermal Springs
Cuautla is Morelos's second-largest city, about 40 km east of Cuernavaca, known both for its role in the Mexican independence and revolutionary movements and for the large mineral-spring pools of Agua Hedionda on its edge. A day trip pairs a walk through Cuautla's historic center and its Emiliano Zapata monuments with an afternoon at the Agua Hedionda pools, whose sulfurous spring water is channeled into a large public swimming area.
Highlights: Historic center with monuments tied to Emiliano Zapata · Former convent of San Diego near the main plaza · Agua Hedionda mineral-spring pools on the edge of the city · Warm sulfurous spring water suited to swimming year-round · Market stalls and comedores around Cuautla's main plaza
Centro Vacacional IMSS Oaxtepec Water Park
Centro Vacacional IMSS Oaxtepec is a large public balneario about 35 km east of Cuernavaca built around natural sulfurous spring water, with an Olympic-sized pool, a diving pit, and several rustic mineral-water pools set in tropical grounds. A day trip suits families and swimmers looking for a full day of pools rather than a river or archaeological visit, with adult admission running about MXN 160 (about USD 9).
Highlights: Olympic-sized pool and diving pit fed by natural sulfurous springs · Several rustic mineral-water pools across tropical grounds · Shaded areas suited to a full day of swimming · On-site snack stands and small restaurants · Easy pairing with the nearby Hacienda de Cocoyoc
Hacienda de Cocoyoc
Hacienda de Cocoyoc is a 17th-century sugar hacienda about 38 km east of Cuernavaca converted into a resort complex, its colonial stone architecture, aqueduct ruins, and landscaped gardens surrounding a series of outdoor swimming pools. A day visit covers a walk through the restored hacienda grounds and aqueduct arches followed by time at the pools, with the site's colonial character standing out among Morelos's more rustic balnearios.
Highlights: Restored 17th-century hacienda architecture and aqueduct arches · Landscaped colonial-era gardens · Outdoor swimming pools within the resort grounds · On-site restaurants for a full day without leaving the property · Easy pairing with the nearby Centro Vacacional IMSS Oaxtepec
Chalma Pilgrimage Sanctuary
Chalma is one of Mexico's most visited pilgrimage sites, about 65 km northwest of Cuernavaca in a steep river canyon just over the border in Mexico State, centered on the colonial Santuario del Señor de Chalma. A day trip covers the sanctuary itself, the market stalls selling palm crosses and religious souvenirs lining the approach, and the natural spring pools nearby where pilgrims traditionally bathe before entering the church.
Highlights: Colonial Santuario del Señor de Chalma built around a venerated crucifix · Market stalls selling palm crosses and religious souvenirs along the approach · Natural spring pools where pilgrims traditionally bathe before entering · Steep canyon setting with a notable elevation change on the walk in · Easy pairing with the nearby Malinalco archaeological site
Malinalco Archaeological Zone
Malinalco is a Pueblo Mágico about 60 km northwest of Cuernavaca, its Aztec archaeological zone carved directly into a hillside above the town at Cerro de los Ídolos. The rock-cut Templo Monolítico, reached by a stone staircase of more than 400 steps, is believed to have served as an initiation site for Aztec eagle and jaguar warriors, and a day trip typically pairs the climb with a walk through the colonial town center and its well-regarded weekend market.
Highlights: Rock-cut Templo Monolítico carved directly into the hillside · Stone staircase of more than 400 steps up Cerro de los Ídolos · Wide views over the town and valley from the hilltop plazas · Colonial town center and well-regarded weekend market · Easy pairing with the nearby Chalma pilgrimage sanctuary
Chinameca and the Zapata Memorial Site
Chinameca, in Ayala municipality about 55 km east of Cuernavaca, is the hacienda where revolutionary leader Emiliano Zapata was assassinated in 1919, a site of major historical significance in Morelos given Zapata's central role in the Mexican Revolution. A day trip is a short, focused historical stop covering the hacienda grounds and memorial markers, usually combined with Cuautla's own Zapata-related sites given the short distance between the two.
Highlights: Hacienda where Emiliano Zapata was assassinated in 1919 · Memorial markers commemorating Zapata's death · Compact historical site suited to a short, focused visit · Easy pairing with Cuautla's own Zapata-related monuments · Annual April 10 commemoration of Zapata's assassination
El Rollo Water Park
El Rollo is a large commercial water park about 55 km south of Cuernavaca on the banks of the Yautepec River, with wave pools, water slides, and a lazy river drawing day-trippers from across the region. A full-day visit suits families wanting an active water-park experience rather than a natural spring or river, with adult weekday admission running about MXN 440-460 (about USD 26-27) and weekend admission higher.
Highlights: Wave pools, water slides, and a lazy river on the Yautepec River · Full-day active water-park attractions across a large park area · Quieter lazy-river sections for an afternoon break from the slides · On-site restaurants and snack stands · Easy pairing with nearby Las Estacas along the same southern route
Trips by distance
How far you can go in a day.
Getting there
Transport options for day trips.
- Tours
- Organized day tours from Cuernavaca to Taxco and the Grutas de Cacahuamilpa run from about MXN 700-1,400 (USD 41-83) per person including round-trip transport and often a cave guide; tours to Xochicalco or Tepoztlán run from about MXN 500-900 (USD 30-53) per person
- Private
- Private driver hire for a full day runs from about MXN 1,800-3,000 (USD 106-177); useful for combining Las Estacas with a stop at Tlaltizapán, or for stringing together Xochicalco and Tepoztlán without relying on infrequent local buses
- Public
- Pullman de Morelos and Volcanes buses connect Cuernavaca's Central de Autobuses with Cuautla, Yautepec, and Jojutla; combis and colectivos serve Tepoztlán, Xochicalco's access road, and the smaller balneario towns, generally with a change in Cuernavaca
- Rental
- Car rental from about MXN 700-750/day (USD 41-44/day); the most flexible way to combine Las Estacas, Tepoztlán, and Xochicalco in different directions from Cuernavaca, or to reach Taxco and the Grutas de Cacahuamilpa on an independent schedule
Day trip tips
Make the most of your excursions.
Morelos's day trips are unusually compact - almost everything sits within a 1.5-hour drive of Cuernavaca, so a rental car opens up combining two shorter stops in a single day
Reaching Taxco or the Grutas de Cacahuamilpa technically crosses into neighboring Guerrero state, but both are treated as standard Cuernavaca-based day trips given the short, direct highway connection
Balnearios and water parks (Las Estacas, El Rollo, Oaxtepec, Hacienda de Cocoyoc) are busiest on weekends and during Semana Santa (Holy Week); a weekday visit avoids most of the crowding
Bring a swimsuit and towel for any balneario day trip, since rentals are limited and lockers are the norm rather than full changing facilities
Combine Chalma and Malinalco in a single day given their proximity in neighboring Mexico State, since both otherwise require a similar highway route northwest from Cuernavaca