Hey Spanish Travelers! 👋

Time for our favorite weekly tradition: the Photo of the Week! This time, we’re sharing a lovely snapshot from one of our most popular student excursions out of Cuernavaca: a trip to the truly enchanting Pueblo Mágico of Malinalco, Mexico.

This week’s star is the beautiful and historic Parroquia de Santa Mónica.

For those of you who have joined the IDEAL Cuernavaca crew for this trip, you know this church well. It marks the first leg of our journey! It’s the charming, serene spot we walk right past when we are full of energy and just starting our hike up to the famous archaeological site perched high on the hill. We always pause for a moment to admire its pretty facade and maybe grab a quick picture before hitting the ascent.

It’s the perfect, picturesque introduction to Malinalco’s colonial heart before we climb back into Aztec history!

And yes, we see it on the way back too. 😅

By the time we pass the Parroquia on the return trip, our Spanish conversation practice is usually peppered with a few extra sighs and maybe a limp or two (those pyramid steps are a workout!). We’re a little sun-kissed, a lot satisfied with our history lesson, and definitely ready for the next phase of the Malinalco experience: refreshment!

If you haven’t been, the reward is worth the climb. After we descend, we’re never far from finding a nice, cold cup of local pulque (the traditional fermented agave drink) or a refreshing, vibrant glass of agua de muitle (a regional herbal water).

It’s these little moments—the stunning history, the well-earned rest, and the unique local tastes—that make learning Spanish so special.

Have you been to Malinalco? What’s your favorite part of the trip? Let us know in the comments!

¡Hasta la próxima semana! (See you next week!)

The IDEAL Spanish Mexico Team

Cuernavaca & Oaxaca