Fast Facts

American Express -- The local representative is Viajes Marín, Pericón 116 (tel. 777/318-9901 or 372-1000). It's open Monday to Friday from 9am to 7pm and Saturday from 10am to 2pm.

Area Code -- The telephone area code is 777.

Banks -- Bank tellers (9am-4pm, depending on the bank), ATMs, and casas de cambio change money. The closest bank to the zócalo is Bancomer, Matamoros and Lerdo de Tejada, cater-cornered to Jardín Juárez (across López Rayón from the Alameda).

Drugstore -- Farmacias del Ahorro (tel. 777/322-2277) offers hotel delivery service, but you must ask the front desk of your hotel to place the order, because the pharmacy requires the name of a hotel employee. It has 12 locations around the city, but the individual pharmacies have no phone. Some are open 24 hours a day, while others are open daily from 7am to 10pm.

Elevation -- Cuernavaca sits at 1,533m (5,028 ft.).

Hospital -- Hospital Inovamed is located at Calle Cuauhtémoc 305, Col. Lomas de la Selva (tel. 777/311-2482, -2483, or -2484).

Internet Access -- GAP, Hidalgo 7 (tel. 777/318-2288), offers high-speed access for less than a dollar per hour.

Population -- Cuernavaca has 400,000 residents.

Post Office -- The correo (tel. 777/312-4379) is on the Plaza de Armas, next door to Café los Arcos. It's open Monday through Friday from 8am to 6pm, Saturday from 10am to 2pm.

Spanish Lessons -- Cuernavaca is known for its Spanish-language schools. Generally, the schools will help students find lodging with a family or provide a list of places to stay. Rather than make a long-term commitment in a family living situation, try it for a week, then decide. Contact the Universidad Internacional, San Jerónimo 304 (Apdo. Postal 1520), 62000 Cuernavaca, Morelos (tel. 800/574-1583 in the U.S. or 777/317-1087; www.spanish.com.mx); Instituto de Idioma y Cultura en Cuernavaca (tel. 777/317-8947; fax 777/317-0455); or Universal Center for Language and Social Communication: Innovative Spanish, J. H. Preciado 171 (Apdo. Postal 1-1826, 62000 Cuernavaca, Morelos; tel. 777/318-2904 or 312-4902; www.universal-spanish.com). Note that the entire experience, from classes to lodging, can be quite expensive; the school may accept credit cards for the class portion.