Pátzcuaro

Getting there

Patzcuaro is most easily reached by bus or car.

By bus Several first-class bus lines have infrequent service to Patzcuaro. The Purhepecha bus line (a subsidiary of Flecha Amarilla) runs very frequent buses between Patzcuaro and the larger cities of Morelia and Uruapan. From Morelia, a Purhepecha bus leaves for Patzcuaro about every 30 minutes between 6AM and 8PM for a fare of M$65 (May 2023). Tip: If your plan is to go directly to Janitzio, get off the bus at the Pemex station when you first come into town -- there will often be several people getting down there. The boat dock is a few short blocks walk.

1 Estacion de Autobus (Muelle) (Bus station), Jaime Torres Bodet 150, Revolución, ☏ +52 443 118 3799. Small bus station near the docks (there is another station downtown (Centro). Buses from Morelia and Uruapan stop here. Bus lines include Purhepecha, Estrella Blanca, and Primera Plus. Limited services. (updated Jul 2025) 2 Estacion de Autobus (Centro) (Bus station), Lib. Ignacio Zaragoza s/n, Central Camionera, ☏ +52 800 507 5500 (in Mexico). Small, older bus terminal served by several lines with mostly second class buses. Destinations include Morelia and Uruapan as well as cities around the Lake Patzcuaro area such as Quiroga and Erongaricuaro. (updated Jul 2025)

By car Patzcuaro is an easy drive from the Pacific coast towns of Ixtapa, a resort community, and former fishing village Zihuatanejo, which has a large airport. Visitors may take a modern toll road (about $8 in tolls for a four hour drive) or the essentially parallel "libre" road, which winds through beautiful country; turn north northwest of Ixtapa and follow road signs to Morelia. Don't forget that in Mexico, a left hand signal from the car in front of you [generally] means it is safe to pass. You can also arrive from Guadalajara via the Guadalajara-Morelia-México toll Highway: exit at Coeneo Huaniqueo (Coeneo direction), after Coeneo, head to Quiroga, then to Tzintzuntzán and finally to Pátzcuar

Getting around

The central downtown area is easily explored on foot. Taxis are readily available when you need to get to the bus station or boat docks, and are an excellent option for exploring the villages that surround Lake Patzcuaro. Prices of taxis from the bus station to: Morelia (M$200), Uruapan (M$200), Quiroga (M$90), Erongaricuaro (M$80). Frequent collectivos (combis) connect centro Patzcuaro with nearby colonias and villages so that trip to Erongaricuaro (Eronga) need only cost M$9. Most connect at Plaza Chica. Ferries to the island of Janitzio leave from the city's docks.

See

1 Casa de los Once Patios, Madrigal de las Altas Torres. Daily 09:00 - 19:00. Large collection of small artesania shops, most selling authentic crafts from the Lake Patzcuaro region, set in an historic downtown landmark. (updated Mar 2026) 2 Plaza Vasco de Quiroga and Plaza San Francisco (Plaza Grande and Plaza Chica), Ponce de Leon. Life in Patzcuaro revolves around its two central downtown plazas, with manicured landscaping, local monuments, boutique shops, quaint inns, and casual sidewalk cafes. (updated Mar 2026) 3 Basilica de la Nuestra Señora de Salud, Gral. Benigno Serrato. Patzcuaro's most important church, and the resting place for the remains of Bishop Don Vasco Quiroga, a local hero much loved by the Tarascan people. The church is opulent with carved doorways and architectural details, colorful stained glass windows, many 17th century oil paintings on the walls, and a spectacularly painted ceiling over the main altar that features panels with different biblical scenes. (updated Mar 2026) 4 Biblioteca Gertrudis Bocanegra, Padre Lloreda. M-F 09:00 - 19:00, Sa-Su 10:00 - 16:00. Beautiful public library which also houses a famous mural by famous Mexican artist Juan O'Gorman that was commissioned by President Lazaro Cardenas. Free. (updated Mar 2026) 5 Parroquia El Sagrario. Stunningly beautiful Gothic 17th century church with a long, low nave, stone archways, and flying buttresses along the outer walls, its mildewed grey stones make it look ancient beyond its years. Built by Dominicans as a mission, the old convent is now the Casa de Once Patios. An adjacent cemetery is full of old headstones and iron gates. It is a tranquil place where locals have been dying to be buried for centuries. (updated Mar 2026)

Do

Celebrate Day of the Dead (El Dia de los Muertos): Celebrated on November 1st mostly throughout central and southern México, el Día de los muertos (Day of the dead) is especially important in Michoacán. Janitzio, an island in Lake Patzcuaro, is a tourist magnet for the occasion. The highlight is the cultural festival with folk dance, music and song. Find out the schedule for the festival beforehand to gain a good place and enjoy the free show. Transport to the island is by boat, expect long queues for a 30 to M$40 roundtrip ticket on the main Pátzcuaro dock. If you are parking at the municipal parking lot during this period, keep in mind that you may/will most likey be blocked into your parking space with no chance of moving your car until the next day. During the Day of the Dead festivities, if you dislike unordered Mecca-size crowds, spare the visit to Janitzio and plan to travel to nearby Tzintzuntzán instead, for a more authentic and a bit less crowded experience. Consider that the highways in the area get crowded as well, so to be safe, arrive at either destination before noon, and book a hotel reservation several weeks in advance (there are several hostels and hotels in Pátzcuaro). You can also pack your camping tent and sleeping bag and pay around 50 pesos per night/person in a trailer-camping park near Pátzcuaro.

Sidetrips to local villages A visit to Patzcuaro is not complete without a sidetrip to the town of Paracho de Verduzco, home to master guitar craftsmen who pass their trade down from generation to generation. If you visit, hire a local lad to guide you to craftsmens' homes. About an hour's drive. You may also hire a guide at Patzcuaro's Hotel Mansion de Iturbe (on the west side of the main zocalo) who will take you to several of the outlying villages, including Paracho. If you wish to escape the tourists in Patzcuaro head 17 kilometers around the lake to Erongarícuaro a lively pleasant town. Cuanajo is another town worth seeing for the hand-made fu

Buy

Day of the Dead Souvenirs A door in a building on the east side of the main zocalo opens around 10AM; sometimes a sign proclaims it be the entrance to an artisan's market - sometimes not. Follow a short alley to several charming shops offering spectacular Day of the Dead statues and souvenirs - Patzcuaro is home to a famous Day of the Dead celebration centered around Lake Patzcuaro. Not run-of-the-mill junk intended for tourists, these handicrafts are truly wonderful and well priced. Statues can be handpainted to your specifications, though it's hard to imagine one could create better combos than do the artists.

Eat

Typical of the region are:

Charalitos: small lake fish, frie