Iguala

Iguala is a city of 133,000 people (2020) in Guerrero, Mexico. It is known as the "city of tamarinds" for its tamarind trees surrounding the downtown cathedral. It was the birthplace of the Mexican flag: José Magdaleno Ocampo who crafted the Flag of the Three Guarantees here after Mexican gained independence from Spain in 1821.

Understand
In 2014, a tragic kidnapping and murder of 43 students took place in Iguala. Demonstrations followed for years, though justice has been elusive. Foreign visitors are advised not to engage in protests.

Climate
The climate is very warm throughout the year, exceeding the maximums of more than 30 °C every month. The hottest months are April and May where the maximums always reach 37-39 °C, arriving on some days with temperatures equal to or higher than 40 ° C. In winter, the days are still warm with mild nights, the maximums are between 30-33 ° C, while the minimums are between 14-16 ° C. The rainy season is from June to October. An average of 1022 mm of annual rain falls in Iguala.

Get in
Iguana is 102 km (63 mi) from the state capital, Chilpancingo, and 190 km from Mexico City.

By car

 * Federal Highway 95D (Iguala - Cuernavaca - México, DF ) toll
 * Carretera Federal 95 (Iguala - México, DF, Iguala - Acapulco )
 * Federal Highway 51 (Iguala - Teloloapan - Ciudad Altamirano )
 * State Highway 1 (Iguala - Huitzuco - Atenango del Río - Copalillo )
 * Federal Highway 95 Federal Highway 55 Iguala-Taxco-Ixtapan de la Sal

By bus
There are two bus terminals:
 * Iguala Central Terminal
 * Central de Autobuses "Estrella de Oro" (Iguala)

Get around
The city has Urban Combis with a cost of M$8, and there are also different types of routes which lead to different rural communities that border the city, such as Santa Teresa, Sabana Grande, Col, Lázaro, Cárdenas (the botanana), Tuxpan, Tomatal, Tepecoacuilco de Trujano, Coacoyula, Zacacoyuca, Metlapa and the municipality of Buenavista de Cuéllar and of which its price ranges between M$19 and M$24 depending on the community to which it is directed.

There are also 2 urban bus routes with a cost of M$12.

The minimum taxi fare is M$30, within the outskirts of the city.

Do

 * The Iguala Flag Fair is held in late February annually. It is one of the most important annual festivities for the people of Iguala. It is celebrated with a parade of floats, cockfights, and Mexican handcrafts and folk art exhibitions. Iguala's local artisans create gold and silver jewelry.

Coffee
Coffee is a very popular drink in Iguala and you will find plenty of small coffee shops (and a few chains) in the Centro Historico, particularly along Av. Vicente Guerrero and Av. Bandera Nacional. Most of the cafes offer light food.



Go next

 * Tuxpan
 * Taxco
 * Grutas de Cacahuamilpa National Park