What plans do you have for your next family trip? Get inspired by our experience! This time we propose a road trip through Morelos, a state considered “the spring of Mexico.” To make this trip an unforgettable experience, we got into the new Chevrolet Traverse, the perfect van for the whole family. Here are our best recommendations for where to eat and what to do in this destination during a weekend. Photos: Charly Ramos.
Family travel partner
The road trip began in Mexico City, early and with coffee in hand to enjoy a road trip of just under two hours, between wooded landscapes, good music and laughter, aboard the new Chevrolet Traverse. Its large capacity, for up to eight passengers, makes it perfect for the whole family; the little ones are comfortable in their safety seats and everyone enjoys the landscape through its front windows with sun protection and panoramic roof.
In addition, its infotainment system with integrated Google makes the road trip become a fun and entertaining experience: just press play on the browser and your favorite music to quickly reach your destination thanks to its turbo engine and eight-speed automatic transmission. Learn more at chevrolet.com.mx
Where to stay on a road trip through Morelos?
Soul Spring Sanctuary
Little by little the road trip landscape changed; plants and flowers took over the surroundings and that only meant one thing: we had arrived in Morelos. Specifically at Soul Spring Sanctuary, a space where the atmosphere, decoration, gardens and wellness philosophy made us travel to Bali in a matter of seconds.
There we were greeted by Subhankar Saha, general manager of Soul Spring Sanctuary, who shared more details about the concept of this hotel that aims for each guest to experience well-being on a physical, mental, emotional and energetic level. “We draw on the science of Vastu Shastra, which seeks to harmonize spaces and create a pleasant environment, and also on Ayurveda, which emphasizes good health through lifestyle practices such as food, yoga, or meditation,” he explained.
Soul Spring Sanctuary is made up of ten rooms named after human virtues, such as the Harmony and Wisdom rooms. All are surrounded by lush gardens where yoga classes and cacao ceremonies are held, as well as having a beautiful temazcal, pool, and outdoor jacuzzi with lounge chairs to enjoy the vitamin D provided by the sun’s rays. Of course, we must mention the Soul Kitchen restaurant, run by chef Andrea Blanco, with a gluten-free, sugar-free, and dairy-free menu.
Among the must-try dishes are the shrimp pad thai with rice noodles and the Mediterranean pasta with walnut parmesan. “We have an anti-inflammatory kitchen and the challenge is to make everything you eat delicious. We take great care of the quality of the ingredients, we prepare tortillas with blue corn and gluten-free bread made with rice flour, oats and quinoa,” shared chef Andrea. Rooms: From $4,000 pesos at soulspring.com.mx
What to do in Morelos?
Jardines de México
Just a few minutes from the hotel are the largest flower gardens in the world, a lush theme park located in Tequesquitengo, Morelos: we are talking about Jardines de México. Thanks to the landscape design work of architect Raúl Avelar, as well as architect Isidro Velázquez, in charge of the architectural design, what 10 years ago were eroded fields today are six beautiful gardens to explore. You will walk between an Italian-style garden, a Japanese-style garden, a tropical garden, a cactus garden, a four-spring garden and a labyrinth of the senses. They are spread over 120 hectares in which there are more than 65 million flowers.
The Italian-style garden recreates a 16th-century Renaissance villa with marble fountains inside, while the Japanese-style garden, with its waterfalls, aquatic flora, wooden bridges and a tea house, transports you to the tea gardens. On the other hand, the Labyrinth of the Senses, a sculptural space designed by the Mexican museographer Iker Larrauri, is full of works by artists such as Pedro Friedeberg and Rodrigo de la Sierra. Finally, Consentidos is the area designed for the little ones, from 1 to 12 years old, where they carry out craft workshops using recyclable materials. Perfect for those looking for what to do in Morelos with children.
There is even a restaurant inside, run by chef Alberto Escobar, who serves dishes inspired by the park’s gardens: there are homemade pastas reminiscent of the Italian Style Garden, and fresh fish with sauces influenced by the Japanese Style Garden.
Ricardo Blanco, operations manager of Jardines de México, emphasizes: “This restaurant is the largest in Morelos due to its capacity for up to 600 diners, and we are also building a hotel, with plans to open it in 2025,” he concluded. Entry fee: $320 pesos. jardinesdemexico.com
Natural Adventures Tepoztlán
What else to do in Morelos? There are also activities to do in the Magical Town of Tepoztlán, perfect for exploring the charm of this destination from another perspective, on wheels! Adrián Cortés, director of Natural Adventures Tepoztlán, shared more details with us about this project that began in 2015 with the intention of promoting sports tourism in Tepoztlán. “There are many places that people don’t know about and you can get there by bike. We offer mountain bike rides, horseback riding and hiking. Tepoztlán has a natural and cultural wealth that is very safe for the whole family,” he said.
Our suggestion is the family route through the Valley, eight kilometers long, perfect for beginners and families with children over eight years old. If you are looking for more options, they also have a 22 kilometer route that takes you through the town of Amatlán de Quetzalcóatl, and another called Campo Traviesa, where you travel along a dirt road only. Tickets: From $500 pesos (includes bike, helmet, hydration and guide). naturaladventures.com.mx
Where to eat?
Margarita Concept Garden
Also in Tepoztlán is Margarita Concept Garden, a restaurant that was born from the idea of bringing nature back to urban places and generating a connection with Mother Earth in every sense: from the design to the food. Surrounded by more than 600 species of plants, with privileged views of the Cerro del Tepozteco, it has small tables hidden among gardens, provides a copal aroma in the environment and sounds of nature as a playlist. Of course, it has a delicious proposal of vegetarian cuisine and botanical cocktails.
Santiago Camarena, designer of Margarita Concept Garden, gave us an even broader context about the project. “We are in what was the property of Margarita Urueta, my great-grandmother, cousin of David Alfaro Siqueiros. She was the owner of the Posada del Tepozteco, a villa where they received great personalities from the golden age of cinema, theater and music. Specifically here was the paddle tennis court,” he shared.
This space also allows you to get closer to the plant world through its kitchen, run by Chris Laguna, chef manager of Margarita Concept. “We have a vegetarian, contemporary and conscious cuisine that takes local ingredients as its starting point. We rotate with the season, and everything revolves around nature and its processes, which we take as inspiration,” he explained.
The menu fuses Mexican cuisine with French techniques and Asian umami enhancers. The tacos of confit peas with rice cracklings, which are sure to please even the most demanding carnivores, are not to be missed, as well as the fried gorditas of Jamaican tinga with ayocote, quesillo and pumpkins; also the green mole with pumpkin seeds with roasted pumpkins, toasted seeds, purslane, curry and cilantro. Everything can be accompanied by a Romarín cocktail, made by Marco Allende, head bartender of Margarita Concept Garden. It is made with macerated basil, cilantro, activated charcoal and gin infused with rosemary and lemon. CH: $600 pesos per person. IG: margarita.concept
This is how the herbs, flowers and roots of the garden became our food and drink of the day, before a beautiful sunset that we enjoyed among the mountains, with which we concluded this family road trip aboard the new Chevrolet Traverse.
Source: foodandtravel
