Tour Details

370km (229 miles) NW of Mexico City; 285km (177 miles) SE of Guadalajara; 69km (43 miles) SW of Morelia Pátzcuaro is perhaps the loveliest town in Mexico. Crooked cobblestone streets, smooth stucco walls painted white with dar red borders, blackened tile roofs that join to form ramshackle rooflines -- it is a town meant to be photographed and painted.

During the rainy season, when low clouds roll in and curl through the trees, and water drips from the low-slung overhangs, a sweet melancholy descends upon the town.

Pátzcuaro is in the heart of the Purépecha homeland. Beside it is Lake Pátzcuaro (one of the world's highest, at 2,200m/7,216 ft.), whose shores border dozens of Indian villages. In these villages and in town, visitors frequently hear the soft sounds of the Purépechan language in the background as they take in the sights.

Although distinct regional costumes are seldom seen today, Indian women still braid their hair with ribbons and wear the blue rebozos (long woolen wraps).

Itinerary - 6 Days

DAY 1 – TRAVEL DAY
Early departure from SMA towards Patzcuaro (3.5 hrs.)
Arrive into town and have lunch.
Check into our hotel in Downtown Patzcuaro.
Meet our local guide in the lobby of our hotel.
Briefing about the tour program and guided walking tour of Downtown Pátzcuaro.
Dinner.

DAY 2 – TZINTZUNTZAN and yunuen

Have early breakfast at our hotel.
Drive northeast towards the town of Tzintzuntzan for birding at the archeological site of Las Yácatas.
Have lunch at a nearby restaurant.
Drive towards Downtown Tzintzuntzan, visit the Franciscan Monastery and then renowned folk-art master artisans.
Return to Patzcuaro, or: on our way back have the option to stop at the Ucazanaztacua pier and take a private small-boat tour to the island of Yunuen (20 min.) to experience the arrival of birds at the so-called Egret Sanctuary at sunset.
Return to Pátzcuaro.
Dinner.

DAY 3 – EROGARICUARO, TOCUARO & JARACUARO

Enjoy breakfast at our hotel.
Drive northwest towards the town of Erongarícuaro, make a stop at Jarácuaro Bridge to look for local specialties such as the Blackpolled Yellowthroat, an endemic bird of highland marshes of central México. Then continue onto birding the grounds surrounding the old train station at Erongarícuaro.
Have lunch at Hacienda Porumbo.
On our way back visit the workshop of Felipe Horta, renowned craftsman from Tócuaro, devoted mainly to the elaboration of carved wood masks.
Later stop at Jarácuaro to visit high quality, natural-fiber hats’s workshops before returning to Patzcuaro.
Dinner.

DAY 4 – ZIRAHUEN - SANTA CLARA DEL COBRE

Enjoy breakfast at our hotel.
Drive southwest towards Zirahuén for birding along the trails on the west side of the lake.
Have lunch at one of the restaurants that overlook Zirahuén Lake.
Drive east towards the town of Santa Clara del Cobre where we’ll visit the workshops of local master artisans.
On our way back to Pátzcuaro we’ll stop at the village of Cuanajo to visit a women’s coop where traditional indigenous belts with prehispanic motifs are woven.
Return to Patzcuaro.
Dinner.

DAY 5 – West PATZCUARO
Visiting Cerro del Estribo for birding and hiking.
Visiting on the way back an important historical temple: Iglesia del Calvario. Have lunch at a restaurant overlooking Lake Pátzcuaro.
Return to hotel.

DAY 6 – TRAVEL DAY
Enjoy breakfast at our hotel.
Drive back to San Miguel de Allende.
Arrive to town, drop off at your house.
- End of services, thank you!

WHAT TO TAKE           Official ID your current Passport, Mexican residency ID (copies are fine)   Original INAPAM ID (if you have one)   Allow $ 150-200 USD for meals not included   Water Bottle   Camera   Binoculars   Flashlight    Hat   Sunblock   Insect repellent   Sunglasses   Umbrella and rain gear    Hiking sticks   Insect repellent   Day pack    Light-weight walking/hiking shoes    A fleece garment can be useful in case of chilly mornings    Pack your binoculars, toiletries and travel documents in your day pack, a supply of  resealable plastic storage bags can be handy for storing food items from the breakfast,  to be used as mid-morning snacks    Be sure to bring your own kleenex and small change for bathroom fees   Money belt   Personal prescription drugs   First-aid kit (should contain lip salve, Aspirin, Band Aids, anti-histamine, Imodium or similar tablets for mild cases of diarrhea, re-hydration powder)