About 23 miles south of Cuernavaca is Hacienda Vista Hermosa. Built in 1529 by Hernan Cortes, it  served as his retreat. The landscaping is beautiful and the architecture  fascinating. It has swimming, squash, tennis and horseback riding. Some of the colonial-style suites are so luxurious they have indoor marble pools.

Lake Tequesquitengo, four miles long and nearly two miles wide, is just 20 minutes  from downtown Cuernavaca. The lake shore has been enjoying a building boom in recent years and there are now about 500 mostly-elegant residences surrounding  the beautiful body of water so popular with water-skiers.

At the lake is Molacho's Club, a water-skiing resort and restaurant. Villa Bejar has a hotel  and spa on the shores of the lake. The hotel operates Barco Holu, a boat with a  restaurant-bar, music and dancing.