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Parícutin is one of the youngest volcanoes on Earth, born in 1943 when a fissure opened in a farmer's cornfield in the highlands of Michoacán. Over the next nine years it grew into a full cinder cone and sent lava across the surrounding land, burying the village of San Juan Parangaricutiro. Today the area is a stark landscape of black rock, pine forest and Purépecha farming communities.
Most trips start in Angahuan, a Purépecha village where local guides offer horseback rides and walks. The classic excursion crosses the lava field to the San Juan Parangaricutiro church, whose bell tower and facade still rise above the hardened rock, an unforgettable sight. A longer, tougher outing climbs the volcano itself, with steaming vents and the area known as Los Hornitos along the way. Residents of the buried town rebuilt in Nuevo San Juan Parangaricutiro, where the church draws many pilgrims.
The visit suits travelers comfortable with rough, dusty terrain and full days outdoors. Hiring a guide in Angahuan is customary. Uruapan, the nearest city, offers lodging along with the lush Barranca del Cupatitzio National Park, the historic La Huatápera and a busy market and central streets.
WiserMap travel guideParicutín Mexico Volcano Hike and the Buried ChurchVisit Paricutín in Michoacán: hike or ride to the volcano born in a cornfield in 1943, see the buried church, and base yourself in Angahuan or Uruapan.Read the guide
A cinder cone volcano that burst out of a cornfield in February 1943 and grew to over 400 metres before it stopped erupting in 1952, one of the youngest volcanoes on Earth. A long hike or horse ride from Angahuan reaches the crater rim. Hire a local guide and start early.
A vast, rough field of black basalt lava that flowed from Paricutín and buried two villages, still bare of most plants after decades. Trails cross it toward the volcano and the buried church. Wear sturdy boots and long trousers, as the sharp rocks easily cut skin and shoes.
The ruins of the old village church, whose stone bell tower and altar wall rise out of the lava field that buried the rest of San Juan Parangaricutiro in 1944. It is the most famous image of the eruption. Reach it on foot or horseback from Angahuan in about an hour.
A Purépecha village on the edge of the lava field that serves as the base for visits to Paricutín, where many residents still speak Purépecha and wear traditional dress. Local guides and horses wait near the entrance road. Agree on the route and price clearly before setting out.
The town built in the 1940s by residents who fled the lava, carrying their revered image of the Señor de los Milagros, now kept in a large sanctuary that draws pilgrims. The community is known for its forest management. The main fiesta in September is very busy.
A 16th-century church in Angahuan with a richly carved stone doorway showing Mudéjar and indigenous influences, one of the finest in the Purépecha highlands. Inside is a carved wooden ceiling. Visit respectfully and ask before taking photos of people in the village.
A lookout at the tourist centre on the edge of Angahuan with a sweeping view over the lava field, the buried church tower and the cone of Paricutín beyond. Simple restaurants serve local food nearby. It is the best option for anyone without time for the full hike.
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Photo: LBM1948, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Photo: LBM1948, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: LBM1948, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: LBM1948, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: LBM1948, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: LBM1948, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: LBM1948, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Photo: LBM1948, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
