Best known as “Heaven’s door”, this town can be found among forests, mountains and lakes, and it is considered to be the Eden of the state of Michoacán.
Pátzcuaro is denominated as a Magic Town due to its colonial buildings and streets that guard the glorious past of this glimmering place.
Be sure to visit its lake and at least one of its 7 islands.
The Janitzio Island is a whitefish manufacturer, a specialty of the region; this island was also the set of one of the many films of María Félix.
During December, an exhibition and a butterfly canoe parade takes place, which make this tradition a visual spectacle that is worth watching.
The crescent-shaped Yunuhen Island guards a type of heron that paints the skies with its beautiful plumage every morning.
Jarácuaro is a small island where the villagers still speak and follow the costumes of the Purépecha culture.
The Pacanda Island has a lagoon within its center.
Tecuena is the smallest island.
Urandenes is a three-island formation united by canals where whitefish is caught with butterfly nets, turning this fishing method one of the most internationally recognized icons of the region.
The last island is called Copujo, which gets flooded when the raining season comes.
To observe the voices from the past embodied in Baroque and neo-Classical architecture, take a look at the Virgen de la Salud Basilica, the antique San Nicolás School (which now is the Artes Populares Museum), the San Francisco Church, “La Casa de los Once Patios” (The House with Eleven Patios), and the Huitzimengari Palace, offering arched patios, roof tiles and dog-shaped reliefs.
The main plaza is called Vasco de Quiroga, named this way in honor of the protector of indigenous towns and costumes.
Mansions surround it because it was formerly a project that wanted to unite only the richest of families.
The town's cuisine is based on products retrieved from the lagoon like whitefish; it also offers tarasca soup, enchiladas, boquerones, corundas and uchepos.
The Achoque syrup is not a drink but rather a quick remedy for throat infections that you can purchase in this region.
One of the most popular festivities is the National Copper Fair, celebrated during August, where hundreds of craftsmen gather around to negotiate and share the brilliance and technique of their creations.
If you visit us during November, be sure to enjoy many of the greatest emblematic celebrations of México, like Day of the Dead; this town gives it a colonial touch by decorating the streets and graveyards with cempasúchil flowers, shredded paper and the merriment of the townspeople.
During these dates, the Mojigangas party is also celebrated, and it is the beginning of regional celebrations.
In the northern parts of Santa Fe de la Laguna, you will be able to find the Zirate, the tallest spot of the region where a volcano can be found, measuring up to 3300 meters in height.
This is the ideal place to practice camping and hiking.
Remember that the most famous flowers of the region are the begonias, but many others are cultivated, such as the bougainvillea, roses, malvones and different medicinal herbs.
The Magic Town of Pátzcuaro will give you unforgettable memories.

Infinito México recommends
visit the Zirahuén Lake, located 17 kilometers from Pátzcuaro, where you will be able to take boat rides on the bluish and greenish waters of this lagoon.
You can also visit the Zirahuén Forest & Resort Park, which offers hanging bridges, ATVs, horseback riding, and mountain biking.
Remember to try the famous tarascos or blackberry tamales with acúmara.
For dessert, try the “pasta” ice cream and metate chocolate.
This town traditional cuisine also offers cane brandy or charanda.
Remember that Pátzcuaro has 3 archeological sites.
The first one is known as Tinganio (place where fire ends), with an architecture composed of tipped murals that reminds us of Teotihuacán, and that offers a Mesoamerican ballgame pitch, two shrines and a tombstone.
The second one is called Ihuatzio, which served as an astronomical observatory and that has a plaza and a pyramid construction area called “yacatas”.
Lastly, we have Tzintzuntzan (place of the hummingbirds), which was a ceremonial center built as a platform.
So remember, if you visit Pátzcuaro, the most representative souvenirs that you can purchase are wooden toys, iron articles, shawls, gabanes, dresses, blouses, pottery and artisanal crafts like baskets and corks.
Have in mind that the weather fluctuates quite a lot, so be sure to bring a comfortable coat.
Enrich your trip by including these destinations to your visit: Morelia (54 kilometers away, offering gastronomy, museums, temples, convents, plazas, a zoo, parks, theatres, caverns, forests, hot springs, festivals, hiking and monarch butterfly sightings) and Uruapan (57 kilometers away, offering artisanal souvenirs, gastronomy, parks, waterfalls, hiking, horseback riding and architectonical sites).

Things to see and do
tours, walkways, routes, hiking, excursions, trekking, fishing, boat rides, horseback riding, ATVs, hanging bridges, fairs, islands, lagoons, mountain biking, artisanal crafts, museums, temples, plazas, archeological sites and mountain climbing.
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